Posted 13 years ago
firepig
(1 item)
I grew up listening to 8 tracks on this player, but I have never figured out what the player system is on the front of the machine. I don't know who made it or manufacture. The system still works awsome today. If anyone has information please let me know.
Thanks, Chad
Dude... it's an Akai (can't make out the model number)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akai
Thishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f63h9Md5-mU tells all...
erase the last entry please
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f63h9Md5-mU
You have a reel to reel tape player/recorder. I don't know where you might have fed the 8 track tapes, but I do think that certain models had that capability. Before it began using its own brand name, "Akai" was known here in the USA as "Roberts". Akai is a top brand machine, and is usually very reliable. Those two hinged metal flaps on the left and right sides of the machine are covers for the built in speakers. You can adjust the angle of each flap to project the sound in the direction that you want it to be heard. To play reel tapes, you would first remove the rubber caps from the two reel sprockets, place a prerecorded tape on the left side sprocket, place a take up (empty) reel on the right side sprocket, and replace the two rubber caps on top of the reels over the sprocket tips. Those rubber caps are necessary to keep the reels from coming off the sprockets when the machine is playing. Then you thread the tape through a maze of spindles and over the heads (hidden under the Akai plastic cover) and wrap the end of the tape onto the empty reel. In the center of the machine (on top of the face) there is a switch that allows you to choose what speed you want the machine to run. You will set it on the number that corresponds to the speed of the tape you are playing. Work the levers on the right side, and they should be marked to tell you what they are for. Look to the internet when you determine the model number of the machine you have and try to search for an owner's manual. You might get lucky and be able to find one. make sure when you are playing back tapes that you haven't set the controls on "record" because you might tape over your prerecorded tape. Taping is done in much the same way as playback as far as loading the tape to the machine. Gt yourself a blank tape and use trial and error to learn what to do. You won't hurt anything that way. But a cheap tape and play it back until you get the hanh of it, and you will find that these old machines are above and beyond the quality that you get for 8 trtacks or cassettes - especially if you tape at high speeds. If your sound isn't what you think it should be, then try to clean the face of the heads using alcohal and q tips. You might get some brown colored smudge off those heads. Keep cleaning until they come clean, and try the machine again. Usually, some tape residue comes off on the heads as you play it. The more you play it, the more stuff accumulates on the heads. They all need periodic cleaning to function properly. Enjoy!
Looks like an Akai X-1800 Player & Recorder
Hey ! you know it's Akai so heres how it works . The cross field heads let you record on tracks separately .You can also pull out tthe erase head and record over existing music to build fullness. You can also record at slower speeds to save tape (and lower quality )with the removal of the sleeve that fits over the drive capstan . I cant see in the picture if you have one but I may have one left over from a machine I had years ago . All in all this was a good product and was ahead of its time (early 70s) . Have fun , Jack Mason
http://shop.ebay.com/sis.html?_kw=AKAI+CROSSFIELD++X-1800SD+REEL+TO+REEL+RECORDER+COMBO
THIS IS AN AKAI OPEN REEL RECORDER WITH AN 8 TRACK ON THE SIDE. IT IS CAPABLE OF RECORDING 4 TRACK MONO OR STEREO 1/4' TAPES ON REELS. THE SPEEDS ARE (WITHOUT CAPSTAN SLEEVE) 1 7/8 IPS FOR LONGEST TIME BUT LOWER FIDELITY (CASSETTE TAPE QUALITY) OR 3 3/4 IPS (BETTER QUALITY SAME AS 8 TRACKS). WITH CAPSTAN SLEEVE THE SPEEDS ARE 3 3/4 AS MENTIONED ABOVE AND 7 1/2 InchesPerSecond. THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL SPEED USED BY MANY RADIO STATIONS AND IS USED FOR FIELD RECORDING OF HIGH FIDELITY SOURCES. I PERSONALY CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS QUALITY AND CD'S. FINALLY YOU CAN BUY A KIT THAT REQUIRES THE CHANGEOUT OF THE PINCH ROLLER AND CAPSTAN SLEEVE TO ALLOW FOR 7 1/2 IPS OR 15 IPS. THIS LAST SPEED IS FOR PROFESSIONAL USE AS THAT I THINK THAT ITS QUALITY EXCEEDS THAT OF A CD AND MAKES IT EASIEST TO CUT AND SPLICE THE TAPE. YOU HAVE A MAGNIFICENT MACHINE HERE WHOSE TAPE TIME VS QUALITY SELECTION CANNOT BE BEAT.