Getting into NAB?

[weegee]

To be able to play NAB tapes is all that is required is to buy a slip on adapter to fit NAB reels and press play? Or is there more to it?

I have a Revox B-77 and a Akai 4000DS. Are NAB adapters fungible? Can I use the same adapter on either of these machines?

I am not looking for highest fidelity. Just for decent transcription purposes.

Thanks

 

[jlb2]

I assume you are talking about the NAB hub, not the NAB equalization curve. Unfortunately not all adapters fit all machines. I have both Revox adapters and old-style Teac adapters (similar to these), and as it turned out the Revox adapters are not usable on the Teac decks and vice versa, the spindles are too different. I cannot comment on the Akai, I have never had an opportunity to test it. In your case, I would buy a Revox adapter and use it on the B77 since it is the best machine of the two, but it really depends on the case at hand - if your B77 is 1/2-track and you need to play 1/4-tracks tapes for instance.

Don't worry for sound quality, the NAB hub will not make any difference. NAB adapters are not fungible, and you need only one, not one for each tape. You only need one adapter if you use a regular (cine-style) reel on the take-up side.

 

[weegee]

Thanks! And didn't think about not needing 2 of them.

 

[eddisc]

It >>IS<< recommended to use same size (10-1/2") reels on feed & take-up, so you WILL need two (how else will you get all that tape from
the left 10" reel to the right hand reel??)

 

[rojoknox]

Greetings from RojoLand!

The Akai 4000DS has no need of NAB adapters, as it is a seven-inch machine and cannot accept NAB reels (10-1/2").

Take care,
—
J. E. Knox "The Victor Freak"

 

[eddisc]

OP states:
"I have a Revox B-77 and a Akai 4000DS."
Is there a B77 that doesn't take 10-1/2" reels?

 

[rojoknox]

Greetings from RojoLand!

OP: "…Can I use the same adapter on either of these machines?" I simply pointed out that his Akai doesn't need and can't use an adapter. Of course, his B77 will need two adapters. (The Teac TZ-612 NABs seem to work fine on my B77 Mk-II.)

Take care,
—
J. E. Knox "The Victor Freak"

 

[weegee]

Greetings from RojoLand!

The Akai 4000DS has no need of NAB adapters, as it is a seven-inch machine and cannot accept NAB reels (10-1/2").

Take care,
—
J. E. Knox "The Victor Freak"

OK, learning every day. Thanks.

 

[weegee]

It >>IS<< recommended to use same size (10-1/2") reels on feed & take-up, so you WILL need two (how else will you get all that tape from
the left 10" reel to the right hand reel??)

Yes, good point. So much to learn with reel to reel. I was also told you have to have the same size take up reel or the speed may be off whether NAB or even little reels.

Currently have no NAB, do not want to get into NAB, but have to be prepared if NAB comes my way. I had just missed a nice B-77 set up for NAB on eBay. Went for about $1250. Got too high for my limited budget.

 

[oldvinyldude]

I believe the reel size matching is preferred, as this will keep the tension settings correct for the tape in play. If mismatched, it puts additional strain on the reel motors and their associated drive electronics. If there is incorrect tension, you could spill tape, or effect W&F if tension is excessive.

Of course, the effective size of the tape reel changes as it's played, so these tension settings are set as to be in an acceptable range over the course of the reel being played.

At least, this is my understanding, so please feel free to correct my statements.

 

[safebet]

I bought a 10.5" trident center reel for my Otari when I had only one reel holder. Still useful.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

To be able to play NAB tapes is all that is required is to buy a slip on adapter to fit NAB reels and press play? Or is there more to it?

I have a Revox B-77 and a Akai 4000DS. Are NAB adapters fungible? Can I use the same adapter on either of these machines?

I am not looking for highest fidelity. Just for decent transcription purposes.

Thanks

Are you talking about NAB equalization (recording curve) or NAB reels (The 10.5" large reels)? The Akai 4000 DS is 7" largest reel size. The ReVox can handle 10.5" reels and can use NAB hub adapters for large reels.