I had one in 1996, loved it. 8 tracks, two songs fit easily on each HQ cassette. I got it for about $320. I had a 16ch Tascam board that connected up with it via RCA plugs in 8-ch RCA snakes, worked great. Insert channels were terrific, I had several outboard hardware effects that worked well and connected easily to the sends. A really good product before Frontier when Tascam's stuff went to shit. The remote with its ridiculous length was FANTASTIC!
I've always wanted one of those 16 channel dual-unit boards, they're so damn cool! Actually I almost got one of those BRC big ass controllers for a handful of ADAT decks I had, mostly cause it was more fluorescent displays to ogle lmao
It was the most weird AF board I've ever owned. I/O was all RCA but it had 1/4" inserts that were great for outboard gear. I still have some of that gear, like a Roland SDS-2500 delay. I had an early ART reverb that was really, really good. I miss that stuff and would still use it today with my current DAW, no question.@@DylanPackard
Nice. Was hoping you were gonna delve into a fix of the classic runaway capstan motor issue. I have to do that fix on my 238. Hoping to do it without buying the ebay replacement pcb.
Oh hell yes, the model 80 is a gorgeous little bastard. Pair it with one of those mixing boards in the same style and you'll be in forgotten home studio equipment heaven :D
everything's easier in retrospect while reviewing the video... and I guess the runaway capstan is a common problem on these units with failing capacitors, and can be fixed with a recap?
It is a huge problem with these guys, and you're 100% on point too. The caps on the servo controller board just fizzle out, they're those crummy 90s-ish SMD ones that seem to just fail across the board. I'm lucky, mine is still working okay even though it did occasionally take off on me. Learned that the board is also insanely sensitive to humidity that way haha!
So sorry, I somehow missed this comment entirely! It's actually an MXR 185 I finally managed to snag for a reasonable price. Such a crunchy and kinda bizarre drum machine, but man do I want an RZ1 as well haha! I'll just amass a ton of poor man's linndrums
great vid- very helpful! I'm wondering if the 238 might work well for playing backing tracks during a live set? (Hoping to avoid computers and digital) ?
So sorry for the delay, and thank you very much! The biggest issue I'd say would be syncing to external stuff since you know how tape drifts and slowly falls out of line even if the decks perfectly calibrated. But with 8 channels you could always throw a click track on one to keep either musicians or equipment synced to the beat. Only potential issue with that would be track bleed with how thin those 8 tracks are on the cassette tape. I think there's a diagram online for track positioning on the 238, could always pick one of the outermost tracks to reduce bleed. Sorry for the delay in response also, thanks so much!
you know that's a good question, biggest thing I can think of is price of the fluid and all that stuff coagulating into a shitty gunk. I'm sure someone way smarter than me would know though haha
I had one in 1996, loved it. 8 tracks, two songs fit easily on each HQ cassette. I got it for about $320. I had a 16ch Tascam board that connected up with it via RCA plugs in 8-ch RCA snakes, worked great. Insert channels were terrific, I had several outboard hardware effects that worked well and connected easily to the sends. A really good product before Frontier when Tascam's stuff went to shit. The remote with its ridiculous length was FANTASTIC!
I've always wanted one of those 16 channel dual-unit boards, they're so damn cool! Actually I almost got one of those BRC big ass controllers for a handful of ADAT decks I had, mostly cause it was more fluorescent displays to ogle lmao
It was the most weird AF board I've ever owned. I/O was all RCA but it had 1/4" inserts that were great for outboard gear. I still have some of that gear, like a Roland SDS-2500 delay. I had an early ART reverb that was really, really good. I miss that stuff and would still use it today with my current DAW, no question.@@DylanPackard
Nice. Was hoping you were gonna delve into a fix of the classic runaway capstan motor issue. I have to do that fix on my 238. Hoping to do it without buying the ebay replacement pcb.
i came here for the same thing, my 122 has the runaway issue as well but uses the same motor as the 238
Awesome job, man! I have a Fostex model 80 that's been staring at me waiting for some TLC. Also, 8-track on cassette just blows my mind.
Oh hell yes, the model 80 is a gorgeous little bastard. Pair it with one of those mixing boards in the same style and you'll be in forgotten home studio equipment heaven :D
your music is exactly what I like.
Why thank you
Rxact same, but opposite...
What kind of music is playing at 1:40?
You know, I'm not sure what to call it other than some random jam I did lol 😁
Loved this could have watched hours of it
everything's easier in retrospect while reviewing the video... and I guess the runaway capstan is a common problem on these units with failing capacitors, and can be fixed with a recap?
It is a huge problem with these guys, and you're 100% on point too. The caps on the servo controller board just fizzle out, they're those crummy 90s-ish SMD ones that seem to just fail across the board. I'm lucky, mine is still working okay even though it did occasionally take off on me. Learned that the board is also insanely sensitive to humidity that way haha!
Song is dope Is that RZ1 drums? Nice Casette machine u got there, I use a vestax mr-66 pretty interesting in itself
So sorry, I somehow missed this comment entirely!
It's actually an MXR 185 I finally managed to snag for a reasonable price. Such a crunchy and kinda bizarre drum machine, but man do I want an RZ1 as well haha! I'll just amass a ton of poor man's linndrums
great vid- very helpful! I'm wondering if the 238 might work well for playing backing tracks during a live set? (Hoping to avoid computers and digital) ?
So sorry for the delay, and thank you very much! The biggest issue I'd say would be syncing to external stuff since you know how tape drifts and slowly falls out of line even if the decks perfectly calibrated. But with 8 channels you could always throw a click track on one to keep either musicians or equipment synced to the beat. Only potential issue with that would be track bleed with how thin those 8 tracks are on the cassette tape. I think there's a diagram online for track positioning on the 238, could always pick one of the outermost tracks to reduce bleed. Sorry for the delay in response also, thanks so much!
@@DylanPackard thanks for the response! I actually ended up going with a 8 track Reel to reel instead. But this was my second choice.
Good choice, I've got to get my old 1/2" otari working again so I can get back to 8 track r2r recordings haha
Is there a reason you don't just drench boards in contact cleaner? Noob question.
you know that's a good question, biggest thing I can think of is price of the fluid and all that stuff coagulating into a shitty gunk. I'm sure someone way smarter than me would know though haha