Fostex X30 | Review, Tear Down & Tutorial

TETRAKAN - Fix & Use Tape Recorders

Overviews; tear-downs; repair vlogs; techniques; tutorials; demo recordings...
...covering every cassette multitrack recorder ever made!*
*(eventually)
   / tetrakan  

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT I USE;-
https://kit.co/Tetrakan

I post exclusive content on PATREON;-
  / tetrakan  

If you are within posting distance of Scotland and would like me to repair or service your multitrack cassette recorder, there is an email contact form provided on my facebook page, or you can message me using facebook or instagram.

DONATIONS are gratefully accepted via my BLOG, which also features written articles and FREE DOWNLOADS OF SERVICE MANUALS;-
https://tetrakansupermonobloc.home.blog/

I prefer to answer questions in the youtube comments where my answers can help more than one person, but if you need to share photos etc, you can message me via facebook.
  / tetrakan  


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CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
00:16.FIVE KEY FACTORS
00:17 Size & Weight
00:36 Tape speed and Noise reduction
01:08 How many tracks or inputs can be recorded
01:45 EQ & Effects Returns
02:27 Individual tape outputs
02:46 Signal routing overview
08:40 FEATURE BY FEATURE OVERVIEW BEGINS
08:45 Tape out RCA sockets
08:50 Monmix Pan & Gain
09:03 Routing inputs A & B to tape for recording
10:01 Input gain controls
10:10 Mic Line gain level switch
10:37 Two balanced 1/4" Jack input sockets
10:55 Buss level high & low shelving EQ
11:47 LED stereo meter
11:51 Stereo master fader
12:24 Norm Remix button
12:50 Headphone monitoring switch
12:54 Noise reduction B C off switch
13:20 Dolby is an encode decode system
13:56 Sync input
14:03 Buss input
14:17 Line out
14:34 DC input jack & adapter requirements
14:46 Power switch
14:54 Headphone & footswitch input sockets
14:59 Mechanical counter & autostop button
15:13 Autostop demonstration
15:30 Mechanical shuttle buttons
15:34 Rehearsal & take modes
17:30 User pitch control
17:40 TEAR DOWN BEGINS
17:43 Remove fader caps, etc.
18:41 Open case
19:45 Remove shielding
20:42 Disconnect upper & lower PCBs
22:07 Visual tour of lower board
23:28 Detach cassette player
26:08 GEC transport variations
26:15 For cassette player refurbishment, see my GEC playlist
26:21 Access underside fo bottom PCB
27:09 Detach mixer PCB from plastic case
28:16 Cleaning the mixer
28:41 Remove shielding & door from upper case
29:26 RECORDING TUTORIAL BEGINS
29:48 Connecting speakers, headphones & microphones
30:36 Gain levels and routing
31:14 Monitoring through speakers
31:34 Monitoring through headphones
32:35 Laying down the first tape track
33:11 Routing for overdubs
33:28 Monitoring for overdubs
35:00 Recording the second track
35:30 Recording the third track
36:15 Ping-pong recording for complex musical arrangements
36:33 Signal routing for a bounce
37:40 Erasing material
38:25 Running tape outs through insert effects
39:03 Demonstrating buss input
40:06 Final thoughts - Tascam vs. Fostex = Mac vs. PC?