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Re: [ARSCLIST] Cassette players
Hi Alec:
I have an MR-1 also and I agree it's an overly-complex and somewhat machine, especially when
compared to tank-like professional decks like the original Tascam 122. It does sound good, though,
and the variable speed is helpful but not essential since software can fix those problems quite well
nowadays, particularly with the quality of content likely to be on a cassette.
Richard makes a typically great point. Given finite resources, the first consideration of a
preservationist should be prioritizing what to preserve. Low-priority stuff should go to the bottom
of the heap and may well never get transferred.
If you are dealing only with Dolby B NR, I recommend you hunt down a refurbished Tascam 122. I
believe the 122MkII also has Dolby C. One place to check for Nak repairs, too, is NJ Factory
Service:
http://www.njfactoryservice.com/
Russ is a good guy, he'll give you straight answers. You should call him first and discuss your
problem. He may have a refurb'd Tascam kicking around or he may give you a better estimate on your
Nak or he may recommend someone who will give you a better estimate on your Nak.
Hope something in here is helpful to you. Good luck.
-- Tom Fine
PS -- given the fragility of the Nak MR-1, I only use it for high-quality content now. Voice-grade
and most music-grade content goes through my refurb'd Tascam 122, which is a tank. The 122 also will
playback at 3.75IPS for double-speed transfers, which is just fine for voice-grade stuff and saved
one client a substantial amount of money.
----- Original Message -----
From: "McLane, Alexander" <amclane@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 5:52 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] Cassette players
Hello list,
We have in our archive 2 Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1's and an MR-1, and of the 3 only one of the
former is now functioning. They've had an enormous amount of use, we haven't kept up with regular
maintenance, and we are now suffering for it. The estimate to replace the playback head and capstan
drive motor assembly on the MR-1 alone is slightly under $2000.
Anticipating that we have many cassettes down the road that need preserving, and that all we will
ever need on a cassette player is playback, we're looking for advice:
1. Is there anything being sold today (new) that costs considerably less than this, and can make
reliable archival-quality transfers?
2. Is the high cost of repairs on these legendary recorders partly due to the fact that they were
designed as much more complicated machines, with record and playback capabilities at variable
speeds, when now we need playback only, at a single speed?
3. Have we perhaps reached the point where it would be more cost effective to trust the maintenance
of equipment like this to professionals and outsource transfers like this?
Any and all advice welcome. Thanks.
Alec McLane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alec McLane
Scores & Recordings/
World Music Archives Phone: (860) 685-3899
Olin Library Fax: (860) 685-2661
Wesleyan University mailto:amclane@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Middletown, CT 06459 http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/srhome/srdir.htm