Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

All about the tools and techniques involved in capturing sound, in the studio or on location.

Moderator: Moderators

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Hugh Robjohns »

:headbang:

Yes... running a tape machine is an expensive business...

But hey -- think of the distortion you can create with it!

...assuming it does actually still work. :lolno::silent:
User avatar
Hugh Robjohns
Moderator
Posts: 38835 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am Location: Worcestershire, UK
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual... 

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Arpangel »

Hugh Robjohns wrote::headbang:

Yes... running a tape machine is an expensive business...

But hey -- think of the distortion you can create with it!

...assuming it does actually still work. :lolno::silent:

It’s a gamble Hugh, I’ve found another place Protape, and I’m around the corner from them now, I’m going to buy a 7 inch reel, they’ve got empty spools too, £28, not much, but it’s something!
User avatar
Arpangel
Jedi Poster
Posts: 16330 Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:00 am

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by James Perrett »

Arpangel wrote: It’s a gamble Hugh, I’ve found another place Protape, and I’m around the corner from them now, I’m going to buy a 7 inch reel, they’ve got empty spools too, £28, not much, but it’s something!

Protape have been around for years just off Tottenham Court Road but last time I was after tape they didn't have as wide a selection as Tape City.
User avatar
James Perrett
Moderator
Posts: 14250 Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2001 12:00 am Location: The wilds of Hampshire
JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration. JRP Music Facebook Page

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Arpangel »

James Perrett wrote:
Arpangel wrote: It’s a gamble Hugh, I’ve found another place Protape, and I’m around the corner from them now, I’m going to buy a 7 inch reel, they’ve got empty spools too, £28, not much, but it’s something!

Protape have been around for years just off Tottenham Court Road but last time I was after tape they didn't have as wide a selection as Tape City.

Yes, I remember Protape, I used to get my cassettes from them in the 80’s, I actually thought they’d gone out of business.
User avatar
Arpangel
Jedi Poster
Posts: 16330 Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:00 am

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Arpangel »

Managed to get some sound out of it today, it powers up, all lights working, capstan working, and engages, I just threaded a tape, and pulled it through, got something on the meters, seems like it should be worthwhile getting an empty spool, my masters are stereo half track, but at least I can see if the mechanism is OK.
User avatar
Arpangel
Jedi Poster
Posts: 16330 Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:00 am

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Martin Walker »

Promising start Tony! :thumbup:

Martin
User avatar
Martin Walker
Moderator
Posts: 20599 Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:44 am Location: Cornwall, UK

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Hugh Robjohns »

I have visions of Tony recording a masterpiece with a coiling pile of tape slowly building on the floor! :lol:
User avatar
Hugh Robjohns
Moderator
Posts: 38835 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am Location: Worcestershire, UK
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual... 

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Folderol »

Hugh Robjohns wrote:I have visions of Tony recording a masterpiece with a coiling pile of tape slowly building on the floor! :lol:

Not a problem if he runs the machine at the top of his tower :lol:
User avatar
Folderol
Jedi Poster
Posts: 18065 Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:00 am Location: The Mudway Towns, UK
Yes. I am that Linux nut {apparently now an 'elderly'}
Onwards and... err... sideways!

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Drew Stephenson »

I was more imagining a spontaneous work of genius emerging to the tempo of the tape end flapping round the reel... ;)
User avatar
Drew Stephenson
Jedi Poster
Posts: 24450 Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 12:00 am Location: York
(The forumuser formerly known as Blinddrew)
Ignore the post count, I still have no idea what I'm doing...
https://drewstephenson.bandcamp.com/

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Arpangel »

Folderol wrote:
Hugh Robjohns wrote:I have visions of Tony recording a masterpiece with a coiling pile of tape slowly building on the floor! :lol:

Not a problem if he runs the machine at the top of his tower :lol:

I’ll give you a mention on the album if it works……….

:D:D:D
User avatar
Arpangel
Jedi Poster
Posts: 16330 Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:00 am

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by ken long »

Folderol wrote:
Hugh Robjohns wrote:I have visions of Tony recording a masterpiece with a coiling pile of tape slowly building on the floor! :lol:

Not a problem if he runs the machine at the top of his tower :lol:

LMFAO
User avatar
ken long
Frequent Poster (Level2)
Posts: 3510 Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:00 am Location: Somers Town
I'm All Ears.

Re: Akai 4000DB tape recorder.

Post by Arpangel »

Update, surprisingly, it’s all working fine, I got an empty reel, and some master tapes on seven inch reels, I recorded years ago.
They play back fine, although at half speed, as they were recorded at 15ips, on a half track machine, so I had to fiddle around with the head selector switch to get anything out of it.
I found some blank tape, all fine, records well, although the heads need a good clean, and I’ll de-mag them too.
So money well spent.

:thumbup:
User avatar
Arpangel
Jedi Poster
Posts: 16330 Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:00 am
Post Reply