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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

976.0. "Yamaha MT2X" by SCOMAN::BOUCHARD () Sat Nov 12 1988 19:41

    Does anyone out there have any experience with the Yamaha MT2X four
    track recorder ???  any likes, dislikes, helpful hints . . . any
    replys will be muchly appreciated, thanks in advance.
    
                                                           smokin' bass,
    
                                                           dan . . .
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976.1I have an MT1XDREGS::BLICKSTEINYo!Mon Nov 14 1988 12:4926
    I have the MT1X and am quite happy with it.
    
    The major differences are the the 2X has 6 channels, and two speeds.
    
    I'm quite happy with the 1x.  It has a very generous amount of the
    important features (for me) including:
    
    	o dbx noise reduction
    	o good audio quality (quiet mixer)
    	o effects send with stereo return
    	o very flexible monitoring (stereo/mix/monitor)
    	o Tape sync with adjustable level (you may not need this)
    	o Foot controller for punching
    	o zero index rewind stop
    	o stereo *AND* 4 channel outputs (you may not need this either,
    	  but if you do tape sync stuff and have another mixer it buys
    	  you a lot)
    
    I basically went out looking for a deck that had all these features
    and fel very fortunate to find them all in the Yamaha decks.
    
    I wish I had a 2x instead of the 1x, but the additional features
    seem to be too small to make an "upgrade" step - the logical step
    up is an 8 track deck.
    
    	db
976.2SCOMAN::BOUCHARDTue Nov 15 1988 04:016
    YO,
    
             Excuse my lack of knowledge in this area, but what do you
    mean by "tape sync" ???
    
                                                          dan . . .
976.3That's another story...WEFXEM::COTESing with the clams, knave!Tue Nov 15 1988 08:5811
    Tape sync, in layman's terms, is the ability to put a tone on one
    track of a tape that can then be used as a sort of master clock
    signal for other devices (sequencers, drum machines, some other
    dex...).
    
    When equipped with tape sync, you start the tape and the other devices
    lock to it in (nearly) perfect syncronization.
    
    Which of course leads us to the concept of "virtual tracks"...
    
    Edd
976.4Tape Sync for laymenDREGS::BLICKSTEINYo!Tue Nov 15 1988 14:4828
    Tape Sync is used when you have tracks that are sequenced (played by a
    computer).
    
    The standard method of recording is to record a "click track" (a 
    metronome) and then you record your guitar/drums or whatever by listening
    to the click track.  It helps keep the tempo even for recording among
    other things.
    
    A tape sync track is a click track that a sequencer can synch up to.
    
    By recording a tape sync track, none of the sequenced tracks actually
    have to get recorded onto the multi-track.  You can just mix them
    directly onto the master during the mastering process.
    
    This means that you only need to spend one track for anything that
    you can sequence, which typically saves you a ton of tracks.
    
    The Tape sync feature on a multi-track recorder is usually some
    combination of the following features:
    
    	o A seperate input and output port for the tape sync 
          signal (you don't want it mixed in with your audio)
    
    	o The ability to defeat the noise reduction on a channel, as
    	  noise reduction can alter the tape sync signal such that
    	  the sequencer can't follow it.
    
    	db
976.5Another MT2X owner.IDONT::MIDDLETONTue Nov 15 1988 20:2246
	I have an MT2X, but my son uses it a lot more than I do.  For what
	it's worth,

	Likes:

		o  two speeds
		o  variable pitch
		o  reasonably easy to use
		o  solid feel to it, yet lightweight
		o  track-4 noise-reduction defeat (haven't had a need
		   for this yet, but we might someday)
		o  6-channel mixer
		o  dbx(tm) noise reduction
		o  eq
		o  produces very high quality, low noise recordings

	Dislikes (mild):

		o  somewhat "busy" styling (mostly the grooved top)
		o  the "flush" controls (I believe they are this way
		   to keep them from being accidentally moved when
		   making recordings in a hostile environment, such
		   as a club.  We use the MT2X as a home studio unit,
		   so this is a slight negative since the controls
		   are a little harder to use)

	My son uses the MT2X for saving/restoring ESQ-1 sequencer info
	and for recording the songs he composes.  A few months ago he
	produced a tape of his songs, and the sound quality is excellent.

	I can't say much about durability or reliability, since we've
	only had ours for about 8 months and it never leaves the house.
	It seems well made, but I'd probably want a good case for it
	if I was going to tote it around.  Then again, that would be
	true for any of the units I've seen.

	By the way, if you can live with a 4-channel mixer, no eq, and no
	track-4 noise reduction defeat, you might want to consider the
	Yamaha MT-100.  It looks like it has most of the features of an
	MT2X but for a lot less money.  I think it runs around $400, or
	a bit less.  There is an extended discussion of it in COMMUSIC
	note 1717 and its replies.


							John
976.6MT1X yes, question on DBX and synchGLIND1::VALASEKTue Nov 22 1988 14:3613
    
    I have a MT1X and like it very much, just read Dave's note , I agree.
    I can produce good quality recordings at home and not have to be
    a studio engineer. 
    
    RE. 4
    
    Can you defeat DBX on a single channel with the MT1X, for use with
    Tape synch ? I didn't think you could ?
    
    Regards,
    
    Tony
976.7MT1X tricksDREGS::BLICKSTEINYo!Tue Nov 22 1988 18:2554
    re: .6
    
    > Can you defeat dbx on a single channel with the MT1X for use with
    > tape synch?
    
    Absolutely yes.
    
    I do it all the time.
    
    Setting the tape sync selector to on, not only defeats dbx on track
    1 but routes the output of track 1 to the special sync outputs so
    that it's impossible to mix the sync signal with the audio.
    
    I also do something that sorta gives me a sorta 8 channel mixer.
    
    The MT1X really has two seperate 4 channel mixers, one main one
    for recording and mixdown, and another one for monitoring off
    the tape.
    
    The main mixers channels can do everything (eq, send to effects,
    pan, volume, etc.).  The monitor mixer can only do track volume
    and pan.
    
    When the headphone selector switch is in the MIX position, it mixes
    the stereo output of the main mixer and the monitor mixer.
    
    So you could sorta think of it as an 8 channel mixers with four
    fully functional channels and 4 channels with limited functionality.
    
    Now there problems are manyfold:
    
    1) You can't eq or add effect to whats coming off the tape which
       encourages you to record a wet signal.  Generally considered bad
       practice, but since the thing only has one effects send anyway
       you'd probably do this for some tracks anyway.
    
    2) Your output is a headphone jack - which is not an acceptable
       input to your mastering deck (I believe it's a 25 milliwatt
       output standard).  My dad made an adapter (which I currently
       can't find arghhh!!!) that deals with this.   I don't use this
       anymore since I got my keyboard mixer which I gang the MT to.
    
    But, it does mean that you can write tunes and make experiments using
    virtual tracks via MIDI sync without an additional mixer.  But you 
    can't master them without a seperate mixer (to mix the MIDI'd stuff).
    
    As you can see, it just has some convenient features, and perhaps
    some that are even accidental features, and that's why I found it
    attractive.
    
    	db
    
    
    
976.8Thanks, very helpfulGLIND1::VALASEKMon Nov 28 1988 17:125
    Thanks, 
    
    Those are helpful.
    
    Tony