Fostex E16 tape Recorder

[SJRS]

Just wondering if anyone has used one of these an what did you think. I am after something like this for my little home studio. Is it true these machines won't handle tape like 499 or GP9? What is Dolby C like as noise reduction?

Cheers

[Adam Dempsey]

Is that the 1/2" 16 track? If it's anything like the D8 (1/4" 8 track) it may have copped quite a bit of head wear. The last D8 I saw was in need of head relapping & wasn't handling EMTEC (it was either 911 or 468) too well, as if it were shedding.

Dolby C works well (better than B type) for some semi-pro machines but (and I know this is comparing apples with oranges) it's no match for using an outboard DBX NR as with a machine like the Otari MX5050 4 track.

I leave recommending a decent 8 track machine to someone else. We would generally use DBX with an MX55 (2 track), IEC EQ with HX Pro (head room extension) - excellent top end response at 15 ips and still great at 7.5ips. Or, far better still, Telcom C4 NR or Telefunken C4 cards in the Dolby frame.

Happy New Year, all.
Boomshanka.

[SJRS]

Thanks for the reply Adam.

The tape machine is a 16 track 1/2". The guy selling it said the head have been relapped and then he stopped using it. Its fifteen years old but he only used it for five years and then it has been sitting for the past ten. Its meant to be in great nick and the pinch roller is fine. Any idea on what it might be worth?

SJRS

[mfdu]

now i'm not the man, but here's what i have gathered.

i think that a 16track 1/2" format head simply can't generate a large enough magnetic force to record to / erase the high impact tapes like 499/GP9

my 8track 1/2" was doubtful, but thankfully it can take 499 now that the electronics have been tweaked by z m electronics in melbourne.

thats just what i have gathered from my own research. results may vary.

chris.