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Help connecting multiple decks

JohnInICT

JohnInICT

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I need helping connecting multiple decks to my Pioneer SX 5580.

I have a Pioneer RT 707, Akai GX 630D, Pioneer CT-F9191 and an RCA 8 track changer which will probably get replaced with a single 8 track deck. I want to be able to record from one to another and also record from my turntable (which I figure I'll have to hook up each time). So, just the four decks are my concern.

My receiver has two tape inputs and dubbing feature. Will connecting one reel to the other and then to input 1 allow me to record between reel decks if I use a DIN cable between the decks and rca from deck 2 to receiver?

The 8 track changer is going to be connected to 9191 and 9191 to tape 2.

Connected like this and using the dubbing feature, will I be able to record between all of them?
 
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I doubt you can achieve your goal without some sort of patch bay or a couple of simple multi source to one output devices.
My only experience with something like your description was not successful. (I think I am understanding that you are proposing some sort of daisy chain of two components on one tape loop?)
The downstream component that was recording (2nd on the chain) had terrible level and noise issues on the recording.

Some simple passive switches that allow say 2 inputs to 1 output might do the trick, but you will still be pushing buttons to select the correct path on multiple devices.

However, I bet someone else out there has rigged up something more elegant. There are a lot of very clever AKers out there.

Paul
 
There are several readily available switch units available regularly on Ebay to allow hooking up 3 tape decks and also allowing inter-deck dubbing. Sony makes a good one, Realistic, Akai - these are usually the ones I see. I have the Sony model - well made, looks great! The Realistic one is kind of plasticky, but it works. The Akai unit always seems to bring big bucks. I have the unit plugged in to 1 of the 2 available tape in/outs on my preamp - so I still can run an additional switchbox off of the other one to hook up multiple cassette units! So I can run 3 RTR and 3 cassettes without pulling any cables! Or you could run 6 RTRs!
 
i might go for a mixing console .. more buss lines the better .. 2 channels per stereo deck .. do the maths ..it might take up a lot of space if its an old mixing desk .. new ones are rather compact .
 
I actually have a Realistic Tape Control Center # 42-2105. I had forgot about it until you mentioned using one. I picked it up a while back at an estate sale for $1. It looks like it has room for 3 decks. Not sure how it will work, but if I run 3 decks into this and then to one input in the receiver, then I should be able to run the 4th deck straight into the receiver and use the receiver's dubbing function to go from the 4th deck to one of the other three?

I hadn't thought about recording to 8 track, but my Akai CR 81D and a couple other decks I have will record and I have some blank Maxell 8 track tapes...maybe I will.
 
BushmasterM4 said:
I use two of these. One to choose what deck or item I listen to. The other to select the deck or item I record out to. Works quite well.

Link to item

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/50-6202
Click to expand...

That is an ingenious idea, but can it dub between the two so you can copy simultaneously on all decks?
I have been using the realistic unit and it's nice, plastic but solid. Now if you want ultimate quality you want the akai DS-5 deck selector. Beautiful unit, I sold one a while back for over 250. They do bring big bucks, but it's so nice.
 
wow that's insane for a DS-5! Wish I still had mine to sell!
John the RS ones are fine.
 
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captaingamez said:
That is an ingenious idea, but can it dub between the two so you can copy simultaneously on all decks?
I have been using the realistic unit and it's nice, plastic but solid. Now if you want ultimate quality you want the akai DS-5 deck selector. Beautiful unit, I sold one a while back for over 250. They do bring big bucks, but it's so nice.
Click to expand...

Cant output to all decks (I have 3 R2R, 1 cassette, 1 8-Track, a Mackie Mixer and a PC) at the same time. But thats nothing a **** load of "Y" cables wouldnt fix :) How many need to record to multilple devices at the same time ? Not me. But I can choose what I want to record from and where to record it to, quite easily. And the switch boxes are "transparent" and have a metal housing. Now I do have a Mackie Big Knob, which is capable of sending the same signal to multiple devices. But I use it in my recording studio. It is capable of consumer output levels via a level switch on each of its input/outputs. But at $299 it may be overkill for most. It does include, of all things, a turntable preamp also. I may have to find a used Big Knob and give it a try.
 
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You might try to hunt down an old DBX 400x (I think?). It was a switcher that had little cool LED lit clear pushbuttons. You could do a lot of routing with that thing.

It may have used some relays inside, but I think every thing was direct switched and the power supply was for the LED's.
 
I have been looking at DBX's online, but I like the old school look. The cool thing about the realistic is I can hide it behind something...lol. I am looking at other things as well.
 
I had to solve a similar problem with connecting multiple decks to an amplifier where I also wanted to connect my PC as TAPE 2, for digitiziing from R2F, cassette, DAT, etc and also recording to some of these formats.

I obtained a dbx200 that allows for 3 decks to be connected to it. You can dub between any of these decks directly and also between the decks and other units connected to the amplifier.

What's really useful with the dbx200 is the facility to connect an external NR unit (I have hooked up an external dbx NR unit there) and also up to three signal processors that can be engaged or bypassed during recording or playback.

I have already used up one of these slots with a Behringer Denoiser 200 unit, thought of this:

One could connect additional decks onto the signal processor terminals for REC and PB. Engaging a signal processor would send the signal that deck and disengaging the processor would bypass that deck.

So, in addition to three "normal" decks attached to the dbx200, we could add another 3 as "signal processors" and be able to record and pb from them, even dub between "normal" decks and "processor decks" as it allows to choose to engage in "pre" and "post" modes concering the "normal" decks.

Will try that tonight and report back.
 
I've got a DBX400 and I love it to death!
I've got 5 decks, 1 EQ hooked up, with the additional 2 inputs on the EQ, I can have up to 7 sources, all going into one tape loop on my preamp.
Everything can be brought in and out of the signal path, it's all passive switching.
How can you not love that?!?
 
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