@@TwinCreekAudio Big fan of the channel. Invested in an M-35 as well as Interface Electronics 300 series console thanks to your videos👍 Keep up the good work!
I have used one of these for years. Absolutely love the 80-8 and everything about it. I have been recommending this unit for years all over UA-cam and the internet. I put up a review on Hi-Fi Engine. The unit I purchased was recapped unbeknownst to me at the time and there is zero hiss on mine even with all tracks used and mixed together. Mine was factory set up for Maxell UD 50-10r tape. ATR also sounds like magic on this deck. I couple mine with a 3340s and 35-2 2 track deck. Awesome song, reminds me of 90’s punk/grunge sort of like Nirvana. Great video series and congrats on the 80-8. Happy analog recording! Cheers!
Thank you! I love the 80-8 and hope to get it recapped one day. It sounds much better than I expected and is really simple and fun to use and also pretty reliable for an older tape machine. Teac really knew how to build things back then. I have an Otari and an MSR-16 so I love Japanese tape machines. I prefer British consoles to Japanese however although I used to have a pretty cool Ramsa(Panasonic) that had great EQ!
Thanks for sharing, and no question it sounds like an 80-8. The mix sounds warm and even, but I would’ve liked to hear some more overhead on the cymbals, but that’s just a personal taste of mine. During the 1980s and part of the 90s I recorded a lot of tracks on an 80-8 with a SM 58 as the vocal mic. At the time I always wish I had a better vocal mic, but when I listen back to it now. the recording sound just fine on the vocals. Thanks again for sharing the tracks.
I had to submix the drums to 2 tracks so I probably got the balance a little wrong for the overheads in the process. I try to work quickly with short demos like this so I probably didn't take as much time as I should have with the drums. The 80-8 sounds great and makes everything sound better than the source for the most part. I like 58s for a lot of things and have tracked vocals for albums I engineered with dynamic mics many times with good results. I just used an SM,48 for harmonica a few weeks ago and it sounded great.
Sounds big! I’ve been running everything through the 80-8 pre amps lately and making stems . I’m absolutely loving the sound of these things! Only wish I had more tape to lay these ideas down. Keep rocking!🎸🔥🔉
I was really surprised at how thick and nice the 80-8 sounds. I had an MCI JH16 and this small machine gets pretty close and is a lot smaller and doesn't use expensive 2" tape. I love it!
This mix is excellent ! And with only five track you have done a tremendous job. I would use a bass preamp, such as a Sansamp, to give the bass a little bit more presence and clarity. Cheers from Canada.
Thank you! I will sometimes use an overdrive pedal with a re-amp off of an aux send to add that to a bass track. I'd really like to have a Sansamp one day too but I'll use a JHS modded EH Soul Food and cut some low out if that leaving the dry bass to carry the low end so it doesn't get too mushy.
@@TwinCreekAudio try the Geddy Lee SansAmp it has two outputs, one for low and one for high (saturated) frequencies. I always double my bass tracks and do that with high and lowpass filters and blend to taste. Same trick I use on the kick, one track for the body and one for the attack 👌🏼
You got me again. I’m looking for an 8track reel to reel. I got a tascam m-308 mixer for a steal of a price. I have a couple of questions?I’m looking to team it up with a reel to reel which one would you recommend ? When shopping for one what do I have to look for to make sure it’s a good unit? If there are problems how to fix them? Are they fixable diy? Last questions are about fixing scratchy knobs, faders, and line in connections how to fix them? I appreciate your channel my man, keep it up
Tape machines are a lot of fun but tape cost and maintenance can get really expensive. The most cost effective tape machine I've had is the little Fostex R8. Like most old tape machines, they can have issues. The R8 used plastic reel pulleys that usually need to be replaced with aluminum versions like I did in my video. The R8 records 8 tracks on 1/4" tape. 1/4" tape is the most common to find and less expensive than 1/2". The Teac 80-8 besides being the oldest, also needed the least amount of work and probably sounds the best if the smaller machines I've used. It doesn't have varispeed without additional hardware though. As far as consoles, the basics are just keeping connections clean and making sure the power supply is supplying correct voltages. I'm really not a tech. I only work on my own gear and I usually research further on forums and Google since there really aren't many people that repair older pro audio gear. I've just had to learn on my own about each piece of gear and it's issues through research. The M,-308 should have a sound similar to the mixer in the famous 388. Tascam gear is usually really reliable. My M-35 didn't need any work at all and works 100%. It was made in 1982 and still sounds great! It's not even noisy.
I love it! So How did you actually route everything: Through the Soundcraft and Direct outs to tape, or was the Tape on the Busses, or...? Also, I'd love to see you play with Record (aka Saturation) levels. Maybe Print some tracks back from the Reaper hitting the Tape at various levels from clean to cooked. I'm contemplating running the 8-Busses on my Soundcraft Ghost Through my 80-8 on the Insert jacks, simultaneously recording STEMS to 8-Track, and then the Mix to 2-Track on the BR-20T. What say you?
You should try it. It might work really well. The drum mics were all grouped to 2 buses on the console and sent to 2 tracks on the 80-8 so I had to get the drum levels balanced well before recording. The bass and guitars were the CAPi pre and MP20 straight into the 80-8. All 8 tape outs connected to tape inputs on the console so monitoring and mixing. I was going for a fairly basic demonstration of how the 80-8 sounds but the preamps and console pres are a great sounding front end. I may try making more videos working with different levels to tape. I need to get a calibration tape so I can calibrate the machine for higher levels but there be might erasure issues with the hot signal. It already sent to have trouble erasing tapes recorded on my newer MSR-16 but that's all something I need to look into. It sounds really good just running through the tape machine electronics too so that might be a way to push levels and get some saturation too.
@@TwinCreekAudio Absolutely! I intend to try everything, once I can free up the time (life's crazy right now). You may recall that I purchased the 80-8 and the M-35 and the DX8? as a package in fantastic condition for an even better price. And I did so inspired by You and this channel! Was also gonna pick up You M-35 on Reverb, but then you pulled it, for obvious reasons. And I can not Wait to see when you get the M-35 and 80-8 together again. Now, I researched and purchased new Belts & Rollers, but also Tape. You opted for the ATR Master Series and I was told the RTM was slightly better, but to decide between SM900 & SM911. One is +6, the other +9, and I went with +6 to precisely avoid the issue you described. As I understand, +9 will Saturate 3dB later, getting 3dB further from the noise floor, but the signal records so hot that it can cause more Crosstalk and can need multiple passes to Erase. Again, I don't KNOW any of this to be true or false from actual experience yet. Just Online research and talking with various shops here in LA. As to the MRL Tape. I absolutely intend to buy one, but kinda need to know if I'm calibrating for +6 or +9 first. Thier website has a ton of variables. Have you yet decided on How you wanna setup the machine? I'd maybe be willing to Buy the tape and have it shipped to you first so that you can set everything up, assuming we're on the same page about what levels and tape. Thoughts?
I was looking at a few of these for sale locally for $300-$400 when this video came out and now I can’t seem to find any for less than $900 locally unfortunately. where do you find all these 8 track reel to reels? Dying to get ahold of one
I mainly try to find things locally. The prices are better and there are no shipping hassles. I got my 80-8 for nothing when someone I know was cleaning out storage but it needed some work. All of mine were machines that needed some work and repairs and I was lucky I was able to figure out how to get them working again since I'm really not a tech. Tape machines are mechanical so they are fairly easy to figure out especially if you have the service manual. Best of luck!
I'll have a short video to explain later this week. It's not my intention to leave UA-cam permanent but this is a transitional time for my life and I am not sure how things are going to work out yet.
Mix sounds great🎉
Thank you! It was fun to mix for the video.
@@TwinCreekAudio Big fan of the channel. Invested in an M-35 as well as Interface Electronics 300 series console thanks to your videos👍 Keep up the good work!
I have used one of these for years. Absolutely love the 80-8 and everything about it. I have been recommending this unit for years all over UA-cam and the internet. I put up a review on Hi-Fi Engine. The unit I purchased was recapped unbeknownst to me at the time and there is zero hiss on mine even with all tracks used and mixed together. Mine was factory set up for Maxell UD 50-10r tape. ATR also sounds like magic on this deck. I couple mine with a 3340s and 35-2 2 track deck. Awesome song, reminds me of 90’s punk/grunge sort of like Nirvana. Great video series and congrats on the 80-8. Happy analog recording! Cheers!
Thank you! I love the 80-8 and hope to get it recapped one day. It sounds much better than I expected and is really simple and fun to use and also pretty reliable for an older tape machine. Teac really knew how to build things back then. I have an Otari and an MSR-16 so I love Japanese tape machines. I prefer British consoles to Japanese however although I used to have a pretty cool Ramsa(Panasonic) that had great EQ!
sounds great.
Thank you!
sounds ... HUGE !!😎
Yes!! I love it! And I didn't have to do much of anything at all.
@@TwinCreekAudio thats how it is with analog (especially when you're using 2 inch reel tape for 8 channels) !!
@@coffeehigh420 the only person I know using 2" 8 track is Jack White. He has a custom 2" 8 track machine.
Thanks for sharing, and no question it sounds like an 80-8. The mix sounds warm and even, but I would’ve liked to hear some more overhead on the cymbals, but that’s just a personal taste of mine. During the 1980s and part of the 90s I recorded a lot of tracks on an 80-8 with a SM 58 as the vocal mic. At the time I always wish I had a better vocal mic, but when I listen back to it now. the recording sound just fine on the vocals. Thanks again for sharing the tracks.
I had to submix the drums to 2 tracks so I probably got the balance a little wrong for the overheads in the process. I try to work quickly with short demos like this so I probably didn't take as much time as I should have with the drums. The 80-8 sounds great and makes everything sound better than the source for the most part. I like 58s for a lot of things and have tracked vocals for albums I engineered with dynamic mics many times with good results. I just used an SM,48 for harmonica a few weeks ago and it sounded great.
I would love to have a tape machine one day, gives me the feeling of sitting by a campfire 🔥 😊
They sound pretty good and are fun to use. At least with multitrack machines, you can use some more modern methods.
Sounds great!
Thank you!
Sounds big! I’ve been running everything through the 80-8 pre amps lately and making stems . I’m absolutely loving the sound of these things! Only wish I had more tape to lay these ideas down. Keep rocking!🎸🔥🔉
I was really surprised at how thick and nice the 80-8 sounds. I had an MCI JH16 and this small machine gets pretty close and is a lot smaller and doesn't use expensive 2" tape. I love it!
This mix is excellent ! And with only five track you have done a tremendous job. I would use a bass preamp, such as a Sansamp, to give the bass a little bit more presence and clarity. Cheers from Canada.
Thank you! I will sometimes use an overdrive pedal with a re-amp off of an aux send to add that to a bass track. I'd really like to have a Sansamp one day too but I'll use a JHS modded EH Soul Food and cut some low out if that leaving the dry bass to carry the low end so it doesn't get too mushy.
@@TwinCreekAudio try the Geddy Lee SansAmp it has two outputs, one for low and one for high (saturated) frequencies. I always double my bass tracks and do that with high and lowpass filters and blend to taste. Same trick I use on the kick, one track for the body and one for the attack 👌🏼
You got me again. I’m looking for an 8track reel to reel. I got a tascam m-308 mixer for a steal of a price. I have a couple of questions?I’m looking to team it up with a reel to reel which one would you recommend ? When shopping for one what do I have to look for to make sure it’s a good unit? If there are problems how to fix them? Are they fixable diy? Last questions are about fixing scratchy knobs, faders, and line in connections how to fix them? I appreciate your channel my man, keep it up
Tape machines are a lot of fun but tape cost and maintenance can get really expensive. The most cost effective tape machine I've had is the little Fostex R8. Like most old tape machines, they can have issues. The R8 used plastic reel pulleys that usually need to be replaced with aluminum versions like I did in my video. The R8 records 8 tracks on 1/4" tape. 1/4" tape is the most common to find and less expensive than 1/2". The Teac 80-8 besides being the oldest, also needed the least amount of work and probably sounds the best if the smaller machines I've used. It doesn't have varispeed without additional hardware though. As far as consoles, the basics are just keeping connections clean and making sure the power supply is supplying correct voltages. I'm really not a tech. I only work on my own gear and I usually research further on forums and Google since there really aren't many people that repair older pro audio gear. I've just had to learn on my own about each piece of gear and it's issues through research. The M,-308 should have a sound similar to the mixer in the famous 388. Tascam gear is usually really reliable. My M-35 didn't need any work at all and works 100%. It was made in 1982 and still sounds great! It's not even noisy.
I love it!
So How did you actually route everything: Through the Soundcraft and Direct outs to tape, or was the Tape on the Busses, or...?
Also, I'd love to see you play with Record (aka Saturation) levels. Maybe Print some tracks back from the Reaper hitting the Tape at various levels from clean to cooked.
I'm contemplating running the 8-Busses on my Soundcraft Ghost Through my 80-8 on the Insert jacks, simultaneously recording STEMS to 8-Track, and then the Mix to 2-Track on the BR-20T.
What say you?
You should try it. It might work really well. The drum mics were all grouped to 2 buses on the console and sent to 2 tracks on the 80-8 so I had to get the drum levels balanced well before recording. The bass and guitars were the CAPi pre and MP20 straight into the 80-8. All 8 tape outs connected to tape inputs on the console so monitoring and mixing. I was going for a fairly basic demonstration of how the 80-8 sounds but the preamps and console pres are a great sounding front end. I may try making more videos working with different levels to tape. I need to get a calibration tape so I can calibrate the machine for higher levels but there be might erasure issues with the hot signal. It already sent to have trouble erasing tapes recorded on my newer MSR-16 but that's all something I need to look into. It sounds really good just running through the tape machine electronics too so that might be a way to push levels and get some saturation too.
@@TwinCreekAudio Absolutely! I intend to try everything, once I can free up the time (life's crazy right now).
You may recall that I purchased the 80-8 and the M-35 and the DX8? as a package in fantastic condition for an even better price. And I did so inspired by You and this channel!
Was also gonna pick up You M-35 on Reverb, but then you pulled it, for obvious reasons. And I can not Wait to see when you get the M-35 and 80-8 together again.
Now, I researched and purchased new Belts & Rollers, but also Tape. You opted for the ATR Master Series and I was told the RTM was slightly better, but to decide between SM900 & SM911.
One is +6, the other +9, and I went with +6 to precisely avoid the issue you described. As I understand, +9 will Saturate 3dB later, getting 3dB further from the noise floor, but the signal records so hot that it can cause more Crosstalk and can need multiple passes to Erase.
Again, I don't KNOW any of this to be true or false from actual experience yet. Just Online research and talking with various shops here in LA.
As to the MRL Tape.
I absolutely intend to buy one, but kinda need to know if I'm calibrating for +6 or +9 first.
Thier website has a ton of variables.
Have you yet decided on How you wanna setup the machine?
I'd maybe be willing to Buy the tape and have it shipped to you first so that you can set everything up, assuming we're on the same page about what levels and tape.
Thoughts?
I was looking at a few of these for sale locally for $300-$400 when this video came out and now I can’t seem to find any for less than $900 locally unfortunately. where do you find all these 8 track reel to reels? Dying to get ahold of one
I mainly try to find things locally. The prices are better and there are no shipping hassles. I got my 80-8 for nothing when someone I know was cleaning out storage but it needed some work. All of mine were machines that needed some work and repairs and I was lucky I was able to figure out how to get them working again since I'm really not a tech. Tape machines are mechanical so they are fairly easy to figure out especially if you have the service manual. Best of luck!
I just saw your Facebook update😢
I'll have a short video to explain later this week. It's not my intention to leave UA-cam permanent but this is a transitional time for my life and I am not sure how things are going to work out yet.