Looking For Someone To Transcribe Reel to Reel To CD

Mark R

VNV VVA 228
Subscriber
Back in the 80's I worked at an Atlantic City NJ Casino In the main showroom. I was In charge of electronic repair on all of the Casino's Audio Equipment. I also worked as "A2" Audio Engineer in the showroom and was responsible for receiving the multi track audio from the main mixing console in the showroom to my Head end shop which was equipped with several reel to reel tape decks.

On some occasions, the preforming artist would request a recording of his or her show. The mix from that show was mixed from 48 channels down to the 8 sub-masters and sent to my head end room via hard line where I would receive them on 12 channel mixer.

The tracks were then remixed by me to 2 track stereo and sent to the reel to reel tape decks in the racks. The signals were processed by "DBX 180 and DBX-180A" Noise Reduction Units then onto the Reel to Reels.

Two types of reel to reels were used. Some were recorded on a Revox PR-99 1/2 track at 15 IPS or 7.5 IPS.
And some were done on a Teac X-2000R 1/4 track at either 15 IPS or 7.5 IPS.

Copies were given to me as compensation for my time and some were remastered to "DAT" and given to the Artist. I have had them for years safely stored. I have 10 Reel to Reel Tapes that are on "10.5 inch Reels with 3" NAB Hubs.

I am cleaning hose and it would be nice to have them put on a CD. I do have the DBX units here but no tape decks to run them on. The DBX units must be interfaced with your tape tape decks in order to be decoded properly. If you Have any of these decks maybe we could work something out.

These Recordings are not for sale in any way as this is not legal. They are by 2 or 3 top Big Band well know artist's that appeared together at one time years ago.

If you are interested in a challenge and listening to some great Big Band music by a 43 piece orchestra and some world famous Artist ...let me know.

Thanks In Advance
 
Hi Mark,

I might be willing to tackle this to some degree. How are your digital editing / CD mastering skills? I can make a single digital WAV file per tape, in as high as 96/24 res, but I don’t have the software to chop it into tracks. Files would be large so would have to be sent back to you on a flash drive.

Are the tapes DBX I or II? I can decode DBX I. But if what you have are the actual encoders that were used, I guess that might be better, although that adds a good bit to the cost of the operation, shipping the decoders about.

Lastly, what tape stock are these tapes?

-Rob
 
Hi Rob, and thanks for the reply. The Revox PR 99 is a Half Track recorder that some of the tapes were made on. That was hooked to the DBX type 1 180A Noise reduction outboard unit. So those tapes require the 1 rack space unit which I have.

The 1/4 track Tapes were cut on the X2000R Teac which use the internal Teac DBX system. So you wouldn't need the outboard DBX. That would only be used for the 1/2 track recordings. I have to look again to see how many were made on each tape deck. ( After checking it looks like all were made on 1/2 track)

As far as editing goes.... there is really nothing to edit. The show 's start at Point A ..and goes thru to the end to Point B. These shows were live and in between songs there is bantering and chit chat and then the artist goes right into the next song.

It would be best to record the show the way it happened with out any tracks...Just let it run thru. These shows ran approximately 1 hour ten min to 1 hour 15 min.

As far as the DBX unit you might have ...(In the tape machine) or external ....It would still come out Ok as long as it is Type 1 DBX. So no worries there. You did not mention what type of tape deck you have although your Avatar looks Like a Revox.

I know how to burn CD and have the programs to do them. My editing skills are not up to par. It would be easier to just let the Flash Drive run and burn to disc according to the show and tape. File one .. Fie two ..Etc.There might be also two tapes from the same night show 1 and show 2.

After check the tapes I find that it looks like most are 1/2 track Also most were recorded on the Revox PR 99 and a few were on the older B-77 Revox also Half track. One or two are not marked. Back when they were recorded I was also doing a second job in the head end room so some tapes are not marked clearly.

The Tape brands used are Ampex 456.....Maxell XL1..

As far as shipping is concerned, I'd pay for all shipping and flash drives. I think it best if you email me and I'd provide you with my phone number so we can talk to work thinks out. My email is... mrkrichman@comcast.net

Thanks: Regards: Mark
 
Happy to be a backup resource for this, in case there is another Skylab de-orbit. ;) (Unlikely, though...) Though I would need the DBX units as well, I've used DBX quite a bit in my former recording studio life.
 
Thanks Chip,
Will see what Pans out. I'm sure who ever does this transfer will enjoy these extremely famous Artist's. These are Live productions with Banter and Music that could only be enjoyed by a private Casino Showroom Hi Rollers. These shows were free week ends to only special invited Hi Rollers.
 
Ampex 456 is most likely going to be a problem due to the breaking down of the back coating (sticky shed syndrome). Definitely don’t run it into the recorded portion of the tape or attempt to fast wind it until it’s confirmed good (FWIW I’ve never come across a reel of 456 that wasn’t defective by now). Maxell XLI should be fine.
 
Ampex 456 is most likely going to be a problem due to the breaking down of the back coating (sticky shed syndrome). Definitely don’t run it into the recorded portion of the tape or attempt to fast wind it until it’s confirmed good (FWIW I’ve never come across a reel of 456 that wasn’t defective by now). Maxell XLI should be fine.

Yup. Anything Ampex gets the dehydrator treatment before I do a transfer. For 1/4" tape, 135-degs for 4-hours. Let it cool, load the deck, take the transfer in one pass.

Ampex.jpg
 
Yup. Anything Ampex gets the dehydrator treatment before I do a transfer. For 1/4" tape, 135-degs for 4-hours. Let it cool, load the deck, take the transfer in one pass.

Ampex.jpg

I’ve got the same one, works perfectly for bringing tapes back for a transfer. :thumbsup:

Anything Ampex that’s back coated you can count on being bad. Non back coated Ampex is actually very stable good stuff.

Last one I baked and transferred was amateur opera, had to sit and listen to the whole thing! :no:
 
I’ve emailed Mark. In the event that i work on these I know how to bake SSS tapes properly in my trusty NESCO food dehydrator ;)
 
Thanks Guys for the gack heads up.... Pulled a few feet of of the 456 reel and it looks ok. But We'll see how deep in that goes...Yikes....!!And Rob..I got your email....Sent you a reply.
 
Just for posterity - one cannot tell if 456 tape has SSS or not by looking. Personally, I would never even try to play 456 without baking it, if I cared about what was on the tape...
 
Sounds Good Rob... Put on Your Bakers Hat and Have at it.

Ha! It’s funny but that’s about the ONLY thing I know how to bake are tapes ;)

Fortunately with a food dehydrator it’s really pretty easy. Just takes time.
 
Ha! It’s funny but that’s about the ONLY thing I know how to bake are tapes ;)

Fortunately with a food dehydrator it’s really pretty easy. Just takes time.

Just Make sure you don't add "frosting" after their done....L.O.L.
 
The built in DBX on the TEAC is type II, not type I.

So the tapes were recorded with Type II? I've got a couple of outboard Type II units for my decks. The Type I (Tascam DX-4Ds) units I have are for 3X series Tascam decks (38, 34, 32). I'd do a loaner Type II unit, if need be.
 
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