Apparently this is my most popular video. For anybody who needs to know, here are the basics. I think I made a right hash of this video but anyway here it is.
There's another very useful function with this deck, sound on sound. You can create multi-track recordings with this feature. For years I composed music with this deck. Guitars with keyboards, electronic drum machine, vocals, you name it. You can stack and bounce quite a few tracks before noise becomes an issue if you gain stage properly. Still have this deck!
Nice Job! My Dad had a 1968 Ampex I used to play with it now and then until I left my rock record on his turntable (Boy was he surprised!). Fond memory of Dad's music and my recording on it. My brother has rebuilt the deck and still has it :)
this reminds me of me in my early days of playing with tape cassettes... plus trying to get the best sound possible with the cheapo microphones i bought at the time. Like watching these vids and your style Clem. Good fun
Thank you so much i'm getting a reel and I wanted to see how to set my vu meter to get the best recording keep bringing the best reel to reel videos and ten thumbs up !
If you use 7 inch reels you can get about 8 hours recording and playing 1 track at a time (each track of the tape can hold about 2 hours at 1 7/8 ips). I'm not familiar with your reel-to-reel so I cant give any help about how to set it up and select what tracks to use, but thegeekgroup put up a video on youtube about 4-track reel to reels recently, that might be helpful.
Hey Clem I use a Sony TC-353 3-head reel to reel. It plays perfectly, pre-recorded tapes,... however when I record in stereo,... the left channel records and plays back kind of muffled sounding,.... My heads are clean,.... and I'm rather nervous about trying to align the record head,... any suggestions?
what model is that particular akai reel to reel machine? im going to be in the market soon for a newer reel to reel unit that can play/record my quarter track tapes
I will do a video of my recorder when i get it... IN 2 WEEKS !! i cant wait, it seems to have a lot of features from what iv read about the one im buying.
If pre-recorded tapes sound ok, but it's own recordings sound muffled and it is a 3 head system, it's most probably the record head being mis-aligned, I would make a recording, and while recording listen to the tape (I don't know if yours has a tape monitor switch so I'm just assuming it does) and try aligning the record head while doing so.
There are actually two different type if ful track recorders. 1 is professional such as rhe AMPEX 600 or a consumer model. All consumer models have a guard band, the 600 has bi guard band for better fidelity
Clem i can't hear any audio on this video from start to finish, my soundcard is fine all other videoson youtube can be herd but this one cant... is it just me experiencing this
hi to all just to let you all know I had a mono 4 track recorder. yes it can part on akai unit but on some of the oldrecorders the tape speed was not right. when I got my first 4000ds -4000 you could hear the tape playing was not right.tip when recording keep a note with the tape what make of recorder you used. it's the big 4 track recorders that came in acase with a lid. and used tubes. I love akai units they are like tanks.
Hey thanks for this, very helpful. I just got hold of an old Teac X300 and a few tapes. I don't seem to have the black plastic doodads that you're saying hold the tape spools on. Is this a universal thing, so I should be able to pick some up somewhere? Cheers.
Do you know how to set up a reel to reel that has strange inputs on the back? I'm fine with the outputs as they're just 5mm jacks but the inputs are either like TV type input plugs or those weird ones that old mice for DOS computers had.
I'm sorry but I don't know what you mean my "TV type input plugs" Do you mean DIN plugs? If that's what you mean, you can buy a DIN to RCA (the 5mm jacks) cable that has the DIN on one end and 4 RCA plugs on the other end (2 are for input, the other 2 are output).
A friend got me a tape, but we have no idea whats on it, if anything. I'd like to find a way/place to play it, preferably in private of course if I can't get a recorder/player.
How can I find old reel to reel tapes to use with mine? I can't seem to find them anywhere online? Also is there a way that I can use this to record my guitar songs I'm writing?
I got most of my reel to reel tapes from eBay, and one of my neighbours. And yes you should be able to record your guitar through this, plugging it into the mic jack will work.
Hi my friend could you please tell me the dimension of the speed roller adapter to play the 7 1/2 inch tapes .. Mine is missing and can't play any of my tapes .. could you please measure and let me know please ... Thank you very much ..
Most reel to reels have a line in jacks, so your could connect anything that has a line out to it's line in for recording. Some reel to reels have built in amplifiers some don't, this one doesn't so for listening to it you would need to connect it to an amp.
May I ask were you plug in your mic because I noticed you didn't plug it in to the far left holes with mic written on it. This being on your machine I have the same one. Nice video by the way.
akai r- reel 4DS25 bought one for 300 bucks in 1975 ( musicraft illinois),had high tape noise, classical music was my first recordings,,wow flutter & warble it had all of them i sold it for 50 bucks
Nice video man! Just tell me one thing please. I'm using GX215D for recording and adding some character, so i like to keep my reels on. Is that ok, and if so, is there anything i should pay attemtion to when the unit is off? Cheers!
my recorder has 8 tracks'8 channels, too bad it's broken. I'm still working on repairing it. How much are you into reel to reel recorders? Mine has some electronic issues... I'm still waiting for the manual to arrive. It took me quite some time to find it. I've got the tascam atr-60-8
If the turntable doesn't have a built in pre-amp, you'll need a separate phono pre-amp (if you don't have one allready), simply connect the turntable to the pre-amp's input, and connect the pre-amp's output to the tape recorder's line in. (or connect the turntable's output directly to the recorder's line in if it has a built in pre-amp)
Are reel-to-reel tape recorders still manufactured? If so, who does it, and if not, when was the last unit made, and where, and what was the make? September 1, 2015
+Fersomling I don't think reel to reels are still being made since everything is digital now, a brand new analog reel to reel just probably won't sell. I think 1982 was when the last home reel to reel was made, I think that was an akai.
Gigino Inc. I love 'em. I remember the sound quality, and I need one for to play all my old tapes, for to record the audio onto CDs or some other lasting format. By the by. Magnetic tape was invented in Germany, and the first tape machines were liberated by GIs at the end of the war and brought back to America.
he doesn't... pffff.... You know those kind of people who take EVERYthing personal and assume it's either meant as critics or adressed to THEM and them only? I guess you don't... *facepalm* I COULD explain to you that's a simple (very old) youtubehabit by giving a timestamp so people can skip to the point in the vid which shows (in this case) the practical part, but then again, you'll probably also misunderstood that, just as the rest of the comment I'm typing right now. Just don't take everything so serious, dude....
I wish people would stop asking me that! But anyway it was one of the in-game musics from Sonic Rush (or maybe Sonic Rush Adventure (I can't remember witch)) It's just that I have to go through the video (unless there's a time stamp), listen to my horrible voice, see my horrible face, and the song in question may not even be one I know, just one I recorded it because I think it sounds good.
Hi CoolDudeClem, nice channel, i'm french and you help me a lot with tape recorders. I have a question, i just got my first Akai4000DS MkII, really good condition, but i have a problem. I don't seem to understand how to make a stereo record from my JVC AX-142 Stereo Integrated Aplifier. I'm currently changing pieces on my vinyl platin, so i've only been able to make records from my laptop using a jack/2RCA into the akai, and it's output into the 4 plugs tape of my amplifier. When i'm on the source, both Vu meters are moving, put the levels, but when i listen to the record, only have the right speaker working. I don't really understand, as they both work when i use the left or the right mic (even when i chose 3-2/Stereo/1-4 mode). Any idea? I'm sure i don't have the right process. Thank's for your job!
+r .vitalis Are you sure the mono/stereo knob is not pulled out? The right microphone knob can be pulled out for mono operation witch will result in only 1 speaker working.
+CoolDudeClem Hey, thanks for the answer! The knob isn't pulled, i'm on stereo mode, SOS Off, the equal on 7.1/2 and tape selector on low noise. I have both Vu meters moving and the sound comes from both speakers when i monitor the source, everything is ok, i can record with both speakers. But during the record, if i pull the tape monitor, only have sound on the right speaker (and the left vu meter doesn't move). Same thing when i listen to the record.
+r .vitalis I don't know if it doesn't come from the wire between the laptop and the akai, which isn't 2 pairs of RCA but with a jack into the computer and the 2 RCA into the akai. I should wait until i get back my vinyl platin to try in better conditions.
+r .vitalis Maybe the heads or even the contacts in the switches just need a cleaning. I've had that happen to me sometimes. Do you have any pre-recorded tapes you could try in it? You could play one of those and see if it plays those ok.
+CoolDudeClem Hi CoolDudeClem, i'm back from work and i can take a look to it! I've had 3 old tapes with but absolutely don't know if they're in Stereo. I'm gonna open the beast and see if there's something to clean, but the first time i did it, everything seemed nice. My heads look a bit worn but i should look after the contacts. I don't want to bother you, but i'll tell you how it was!
I don't know if that would make much of a video, but basically on an analog recording you can go a little closer to 0 db than you can with digital. Analog doesn't hard clip the sound even if there is the odd peak here an there that goes slightly over.
yes, most reel to reels can rewind. Some of them such as the little Nagra spy recorders (I would LOVE to get one) have a hand cranked rewind, but recorders such as the one I showed here can rewind.
And I suppose you do? EDM and Rap suck, get over it! Besides, I have to be very careful about what I show, trying to find music that CZcams wont flag me for is not easy.
There's another very useful function with this deck, sound on sound. You can create multi-track recordings with this feature. For years I composed music with this deck. Guitars with keyboards, electronic drum machine, vocals, you name it. You can stack and bounce quite a few tracks before noise becomes an issue if you gain stage properly. Still have this deck!
Nice Job! My Dad had a 1968 Ampex I used to play with it now and then until I left my rock record on his turntable (Boy was he surprised!). Fond memory of Dad's music and my recording on it. My brother has rebuilt the deck and still has it :)
This is very helpful, I just bought a Sony Reel-to-reel manufactured around 1971/1972.
Thanks for putting up this video .I have just acquired a similar machine and had no idea how to use it .Thanks again .
this reminds me of me in my early days of playing with tape cassettes... plus trying to get the best sound possible with the cheapo microphones i bought at the time. Like watching these vids and your style Clem. Good fun
Thank you so much i'm getting a reel and I wanted to see how to set my vu meter to get the best recording keep bringing the best reel to reel videos and ten thumbs up !
Absolutely brilliant young lad!
I have the exact same reel system! Thanks for this video.
Great video. You can use the SOS switch as well for creating an echo.
Very good! Reel-to-reels are making a comeback and are sought after the same as vinyl
Would have been nice for you to show where the lines in and out go.
Hi Clem thanks for the video, I like your table too, I've them same one at home,
Thanks this helped alot
I was thinking about getting one of these to make a tape delay effect for my guitar
Thnx 4 the upload, v.informative
If you use 7 inch reels you can get about 8 hours recording and playing 1 track at a time (each track of the tape can hold about 2 hours at 1 7/8 ips). I'm not familiar with your reel-to-reel so I cant give any help about how to set it up and select what tracks to use, but thegeekgroup put up a video on youtube about 4-track reel to reels recently, that might be helpful.
very good sound quality
Nice Akai! I will be making a video with my GX-220D soon!
good,,,I need to see it,,,,,please let me know when you post it please
Tape recorded sound is much warmer than todays digitally recorded sound. It has great warmth to sound
It was! Except this was an 8 bit remix I did, it's not on CZcams tho.
I would LOVE to get one of those! But no such luck around here.
hello,
where did you get those blacks covers you used to safe the tape?
like those sort of black hats that avoid to the tape to actually come off
Hey Clem I use a Sony TC-353 3-head reel to reel. It plays perfectly, pre-recorded tapes,... however when I record in stereo,... the left channel records and plays back kind of muffled sounding,.... My heads are clean,.... and I'm rather nervous about trying to align the record head,... any suggestions?
How do i record my guitar for example into this? once it's been recorded into the tape machine how can i then transfer the audio to a computer?
what model is that particular akai reel to reel machine? im going to be in the market soon for a newer reel to reel unit that can play/record my quarter track tapes
All done in Reel Time 👍🔝💯
I will do a video of my recorder when i get it... IN 2 WEEKS !! i cant wait, it seems to have a lot of features from what iv read about the one im buying.
If pre-recorded tapes sound ok, but it's own recordings sound muffled and it is a 3 head system, it's most probably the record head being mis-aligned, I would make a recording, and while recording listen to the tape (I don't know if yours has a tape monitor switch so I'm just assuming it does) and try aligning the record head while doing so.
I have a full track monaural recorders. Makes use of the full tape for better quality. Sounds grear at 7.5 ips and 15 too
There are actually two different type if ful track recorders. 1 is professional such as rhe AMPEX 600 or a consumer model. All consumer models have a guard band, the 600 has bi guard band for better fidelity
Did I just hear the amiga game "Chuck Rock" theme tune?
Thanks 🙏❤️
EEV blog on the monitor. Good choice.
I have 1 only working on 3-3/4 what could be the issue with 7-1/2
This is similar to my parents' machine, the 1722L (or W; I've forgotten, and I'll have to go double-check when I get back there next).
i have a akai crossfield m-8 and the play knob is stuck on record. any suggestions on how to solve this issue
Clem i can't hear any audio on this video from start to finish, my soundcard is fine all other videoson youtube can be herd but this one cant... is it just me experiencing this
what album is that you are playing around 6 mins?
hi to all just to let you all know I had a mono 4 track recorder. yes it can part on akai unit but on some of the oldrecorders the tape speed was not right. when I got my first 4000ds -4000 you could hear the tape playing was not right.tip when recording keep a note with the tape what make of recorder you used. it's the big 4 track recorders that came in acase with a lid. and used tubes. I love akai units they are like tanks.
Hey thanks for this, very helpful. I just got hold of an old Teac X300 and a few tapes. I don't seem to have the black plastic doodads that you're saying hold the tape spools on. Is this a universal thing, so I should be able to pick some up somewhere? Cheers.
synthdemo x300 has tridents that lock when you turn the top of the axis, try it
thankyou Philip, I did discover this eventually after a bit more reading. Cheers for the reply, though.
Do you know how to set up a reel to reel that has strange inputs on the back? I'm fine with the outputs as they're just 5mm jacks but the inputs are either like TV type input plugs or those weird ones that old mice for DOS computers had.
I'm sorry but I don't know what you mean my "TV type input plugs" Do you mean DIN plugs? If that's what you mean, you can buy a DIN to RCA (the 5mm jacks) cable that has the DIN on one end and 4 RCA plugs on the other end (2 are for input, the other 2 are output).
Thanks
I had a R to R just like that one..I gave it to my nephew who plays in a band
A friend got me a tape, but we have no idea whats on it, if anything.
I'd like to find a way/place to play it, preferably in private of course if I can't get a recorder/player.
How can I find old reel to reel tapes to use with mine? I can't seem to find them anywhere online? Also is there a way that I can use this to record my guitar songs I'm writing?
I got most of my reel to reel tapes from eBay, and one of my neighbours. And yes you should be able to record your guitar through this, plugging it into the mic jack will work.
Great video.tnx a lot :)
I want to get a wire recorder or make one.
Make sure It's has 3 heads if you plan to do that.
i will make one of mine once i get it
I Have just, got the sound working it was muted on the volume control on my desktop, but it wasn't showing as being muted.
Do you need a preamp between the tape deck and the tuner/receiver?
No. Only between a record player and a tape deck and it should be RIAA equalization
Hi my friend could you please tell me the dimension of the speed roller adapter to play the 7 1/2 inch tapes .. Mine is missing and can't play any of my tapes .. could you please measure and let me know please ... Thank you very much ..
Its double the radius
Hi, did you just connect the source directly to the reel to reel line in for recording or need to put it through an amp? Thank you
Most reel to reels have a line in jacks, so your could connect anything that has a line out to it's line in for recording. Some reel to reels have built in amplifiers some don't, this one doesn't so for listening to it you would need to connect it to an amp.
May I ask were you plug in your mic because I noticed you didn't plug it in to the far left holes with mic written on it. This being on your machine I have the same one. Nice video by the way.
I bought one you see so I don't know an awful lot. You taught a fair bit on how it works and I'm very great full for that thank you.
Have you ever considered doing Davy Jones impressions ?
That was the first thing i thought. Is this kid actually Davey Jones?
hello mate you seem like a nice lad.
Clem how long will i get on a 4 track recorder, will i get more recording time on lower speed ( 1 7/8 ?
Ugh if u care about quality, never go under 7.5 ips
akai r- reel 4DS25 bought one for 300 bucks in 1975 ( musicraft illinois),had high tape noise, classical music was my first recordings,,wow flutter & warble it had all of them i sold it for 50 bucks
Nice video man! Just tell me one thing please. I'm using GX215D for recording and adding some character, so i like to keep my reels on. Is that ok, and if so, is there anything i should pay attemtion to when the unit is off? Cheers!
Nothing to worry about.
CoolDudeClem thanks! :)
my recorder only uses all 4 tracks at once i beleive i cant record which track i record onto ....
Thanks man,... 10-4. :)
my recorder has 8 tracks'8 channels, too bad it's broken. I'm still working on repairing it. How much are you into reel to reel recorders? Mine has some electronic issues... I'm still waiting for the manual to arrive. It took me quite some time to find it.
I've got the tascam atr-60-8
Sergiu-Dorin Tarmure have u fixed it 8^]
and now for a wire recorder
:P
how to tune sony tc 377 heads
*RANDOM FOREIGN DUDE MAKED VIDEO ABOUT REEL TAPES BETTER THAN ALL RUSSIANS*
Is there any inbuilt speaker in the tape player or u r using an external 2.1 channel amplifier ?? Please reply friend
No, there's no built in speakers, you would need to connect up an external amp and speakers.
@@CoolDudeClem Thank you friend. Love u from India.
I want to purchase a spool 4 track spool tape recorder. Can you help me
Ebay is probably your best place to look. Although most of my stuff was donated to me by other CZcamsrs.
Nice video, how do one connect it to a turntable or record player.? Can one use a modern turntable as well.? I do have a atlp60xbt
If the turntable doesn't have a built in pre-amp, you'll need a separate phono pre-amp (if you don't have one allready), simply connect the turntable to the pre-amp's input, and connect the pre-amp's output to the tape recorder's line in. (or connect the turntable's output directly to the recorder's line in if it has a built in pre-amp)
@@CoolDudeClem Thanks much appreciated. It does have a built in pre-amp i believe
Are reel-to-reel tape recorders still manufactured? If so, who does it, and if not, when was the last unit made, and where, and what was the make?
September 1, 2015
+Fersomling I don't think reel to reels are still being made since everything is digital now, a brand new analog reel to reel just probably won't sell. I think 1982 was when the last home reel to reel was made, I think that was an akai.
CoolDudeClem
Thank you very much indeed!
Like many men, I am interesting in the history of technology.
Gigino Inc. I love 'em. I remember the sound quality, and I need one for to play all my old tapes, for to record the audio onto CDs or some other lasting format.
By the by. Magnetic tape was invented in Germany, and the first tape machines were liberated by GIs at the end of the war and brought back to America.
It's called the first tape
I'VE GOT THE 4000 DB DOLBY B SYSTEM RECORDER
Putting the tape on: 2:43
I know I'm putting the tape on, you don't need to tell me what I'm doing.
he doesn't... pffff.... You know those kind of people who take EVERYthing personal and assume it's either meant as critics or adressed to THEM and them only? I guess you don't...
*facepalm* I COULD explain to you that's a simple (very old) youtubehabit by giving a timestamp so people can skip to the point in the vid which shows (in this case) the practical part, but then again, you'll probably also misunderstood that, just as the rest of the comment I'm typing right now. Just don't take everything so serious, dude....
Very informative video, Clem - thanks for doing this.
Is there a way to record your voice on a reel to reel tape recorder?
Of course, most of them have a mic input.
hey cool video m8, what's the song playing at 4:41 ?
I wish people would stop asking me that! But anyway it was one of the in-game musics from Sonic Rush (or maybe Sonic Rush Adventure (I can't remember witch)) It's just that I have to go through the video (unless there's a time stamp), listen to my horrible voice, see my horrible face, and the song in question may not even be one I know, just one I recorded it because I think it sounds good.
aww you are not horrible friend, you'll grow more confident with time, you'll see. thanks for the tip
I want to purchase spool tape recorder. Some one can help me
Hi CoolDudeClem, nice channel, i'm french and you help me a lot with tape recorders. I have a question, i just got my first Akai4000DS MkII, really good condition, but i have a problem. I don't seem to understand how to make a stereo record from my JVC AX-142 Stereo Integrated Aplifier. I'm currently changing pieces on my vinyl platin, so i've only been able to make records from my laptop using a jack/2RCA into the akai, and it's output into the 4 plugs tape of my amplifier. When i'm on the source, both Vu meters are moving, put the levels, but when i listen to the record, only have the right speaker working. I don't really understand, as they both work when i use the left or the right mic (even when i chose 3-2/Stereo/1-4 mode). Any idea? I'm sure i don't have the right process. Thank's for your job!
+r .vitalis Are you sure the mono/stereo knob is not pulled out? The right microphone knob can be pulled out for mono operation witch will result in only 1 speaker working.
+CoolDudeClem Hey, thanks for the answer! The knob isn't pulled, i'm on stereo mode, SOS Off, the equal on 7.1/2 and tape selector on low noise. I have both Vu meters moving and the sound comes from both speakers when i monitor the source, everything is ok, i can record with both speakers. But during the record, if i pull the tape monitor, only have sound on the right speaker (and the left vu meter doesn't move). Same thing when i listen to the record.
+r .vitalis I don't know if it doesn't come from the wire between the laptop and the akai, which isn't 2 pairs of RCA but with a jack into the computer and the 2 RCA into the akai. I should wait until i get back my vinyl platin to try in better conditions.
+r .vitalis Maybe the heads or even the contacts in the switches just need a cleaning. I've had that happen to me sometimes. Do you have any pre-recorded tapes you could try in it? You could play one of those and see if it plays those ok.
+CoolDudeClem Hi CoolDudeClem, i'm back from work and i can take a look to it! I've had 3 old tapes with but absolutely don't know if they're in Stereo. I'm gonna open the beast and see if there's something to clean, but the first time i did it, everything seemed nice. My heads look a bit worn but i should look after the contacts. I don't want to bother you, but i'll tell you how it was!
6:22 Chuck Rock spotted
Love your video can you show how to set your vu meter to record
I don't know if that would make much of a video, but basically on an analog recording you can go a little closer to 0 db than you can with digital. Analog doesn't hard clip the sound even if there is the odd peak here an there that goes slightly over.
@@CoolDudeClem analog will certainly distort if over 0vu
Is one of those songs from the game series Dizzy?
I don't think I did any Dizzy music covers on here. Thing is I just cant bear to watch my own videos.
Its around 5.45 - its probably not anything from Dizzy it just sounds similar, most games from the C64 sound similar.
can it rewind?
yes, most reel to reels can rewind. Some of them such as the little Nagra spy recorders (I would LOVE to get one) have a hand cranked rewind, but recorders such as the one I showed here can rewind.
how come most of the videos on reel to reel are hosted by teenagers?!?!
because we love old technologies
Because the revolution has begun
what are those two songs from 5:54 to 6:25?
Just some 8 bit covers I did, the first was "Maze Mania" an old C64 game, and the other one was one of the Sonic Adventure songs (I forget whitch)
CoolDudeClem they are very good
CoolDudeClem can you upload these songs if you can?
they are so good.
CoolDudeClem glad you didn't get a copyright warnings from CZcams. Nowadays CZcams gets upset when posting any video with songs on it.
Can you get me a tape recorder, please?
nice lav mic ;)
make one!??
just buy the chinese kit of it :P
11:14
i have made a video for you
the recording is crap becaus i dont have the mic it needs (yet)
ash you skipped 4 track. but why oh why is there only shorty info on these. gotta read a book? what is this 1999? well,, i guess i can try. possibly
ты неправильно им пользуешься
Sorry, I don't understand, you'll have to comment in English.
U don’t listen to real music lol
And I suppose you do? EDM and Rap suck, get over it! Besides, I have to be very careful about what I show, trying to find music that CZcams wont flag me for is not easy.
Thanks
Thanks man,... 10-4. :)