I'm starting a tradition with my child once a month on a Sunday we go digging for samples.. I already have a nice turntable but I'd like to get a older bulky well built tape recorder.. its definitely slim pickins due to tapes being obsolete to the mass public.. but it would be nice to have maybe a old studio tape recorder.. any recommendations to keep my eye out for ive been looking on ebay.. but wanna hear a veteran opinion. Thanks guys

 

If you can get a Studer, or a Nagra, you'll have one of the best.

 

Budget? Mono or stereo? How many tracks?

 

Studer/Revox are indeed very good, however, super expensive and costly to maintain. A Studer A710 can cost at least $1000. That is the reson why I asked about budget. You can get better value for your $ out of Tascam/Teac, Fostex and even Nakamichi. Last week they had on Craiglist a 4-Track Fostex for $25.

Edit: I just remembered this well-maintained website which can be used as reference when looking for a cassette deck. https://www.cassettedeck.org/

Edit: For whatever reason every time I try to write Fostex the Foster dude shows up. Even when dead, trolls continue to troll you.

 

Last edited: Feb 9, 2021

One Foster is more than enough thank you very much.

 

I have a trick for tape users : you can use "repro" mode

It records AND play just after.
No need to "rewind" : instant external effect

So you get tape sound directly, by letting the tape "running" as external effect.
When it ends, just reverse tape/deck and "repro" again.

To compensate output/return delay , there is latency compensation in Reaper
Or free Voxengo VST Latency Delay :
https://www.voxengo.com/product/latencydelay/

Once you set the correct "repro" latency compensation, your tape return track will be aligned automatically each time.

Kind of external tape plugin

 

Budget I'd like to be under $200 .. id like it to be Stereo.. something midrange it doesn't have to be "the best" just be able to get tracks into my DAW via a mixer and obviously it would be nice to be able to record into it ... for effect but I'd take build quality and a steady play over that .. if that was something I had to cut out of my feature list

 

Damn that site is super cool I never knew there were that many companies that made cassette players/ recorders

 

Revox A77 2-tr, 15 ips (inch per second). Widely available, easily serviceable, well dependable.

 

I found a akai gxc 709d for $135.. im gonna do some more research on these things I had tape players/ recorders as a kid .. but they were always the cheaper side of Sony I just love the ugly colors some of these units come in that tan yellow Grey just makes me feel really good inside for some reason

 

And I wanna make a correction I said studio tape recorder which I think some of you guys thought I ment reel to reel.. sorry for the confusion thats my fault.. I do want one someday just have other stuff I need to get first.

 

Sorry for my off topic answer then. I should have read your comment more carefully

 

No need for it because I am not the OP. I just made an observation knowing that not everyone is willing to pay over $1000 for a cassette deck plus the cost of maintaining it.

 

The A77 is not a cassette deck, it is a reel to reel but you have to be extra careful with them because they stopped being manufactured back in late 70s and the parts are VERY expensive. Another thing to be aware of is the fact that NOT all are running at high speed (15 ips) the majority are 3 3/4 and 7 1/2 ips.

 

Those AKAIs are garbage. You have to look up several models and compare these specs:

• Noise Reduction

• Frequency Response

• Signal to Noise Ratio

• Wow and Flutter

• Total Harmonic Distortion

For around $200 I have seen TEAC/Tascam and some Nakamichis. The problem with the Naka is that tapes recorded on them sound great as long as you use the same or another Naka during playback. Check your texts for a phone number to a collector from Miami who has a warehouse full of cassette decks at excellent prices. Find out what he has. He had like 25 Nakas 3 weeks ago.

 

Cassette deck is trendy now, I guess that it will soon have a comeback (as happened with vinyl). Unfortunately, no reputable manufacturer has started building decks again and the used market prices on Ebay are going up. To buy a used one you have to be very careful about the condition of the mechanics, very often the spare parts are no longer sold. Of course, on Ebay you can also find real jewels: perfect maintenance, 3 heads, new belts, calibration etc .. but the price goes up a lot.
Some time ago, just for fun I bought a working Nakamichi BX100 ($ 40): it gives me great emotion to use it, sometimes I get moved to hear that classic rewind-ff noise…

By the way a well-recorded cassette sounds MUCH better than any spotify 128k stream

Last deck I used professionally was a tascam 122, a must for any recording studio of the last century. If you are looking for excellence I recommend that: a real workhorse. Important tip: it seems that many of the new tapes sold now are fakes (I have heard there are shoddy clones of the original TDK, Maxell, BASF on the market). Always buy tapes from reputable dealers

 

Yes, I know that of course, I've got two well-maintained units, one hi IPS, one lo. But

so I figgered I would mention the model. And, frankly, no, parts (not necessarily new, anyway) are not too hard to find on shopBay or whatever you buffs call it. I have a guy living near me who regularly buys, services and flips Revox A77 and B77's as well as QUAD 303/405 main amps at quite reasonable prices.

 

AKAI has one major advantage: Glass ferrite heads. These don't wear out like other heads do.

These days, a Nakamichi or Tascam with decent heads is crazy expensive. Not worth the money, imho, unless you go all the way and invest in a complete restore. If it's mainly for playback, too expensive in my mind.

There's a lot of lesser known decks out there from Sony, Denon and other brands lesser known for tape that can be had for little money if you do your research and have some time to look. Contrary to "professional" decks these seldom have worn heads.

 

True, AKIAI glass ferrite last long but if you want the best S/N ratio, these heads are not the best at it. Something like Sony's F&F heads will last almost as long with the benefit of better sound. I personally dont trade off sound quality for durability.