NOS Fostex X-15! - Unboxing and Demo

Keith Found a New Old Stock Fostex X-15. This was the first piece recording gear Keith ever owned.Keith tests out the unit and records a song "Old School"
TIME STAMPS
INTRO - 00:29
UNBOXING - 05:07
POWER UP TEST - 09:01
RECORD TEST - 10:58
TOUR OF X-15 - 11:44
BATTERY TEST - 17:56
DRUM WORK - 18:52
GUITAR/BASS WORK - 21:51
FOOT SWITCH - 24:58
WRAP UP - 26:47
DEMO SONG - 28:50
Keith Leedham is an independent recording artists/studio owner/tinkerer.
He owns "The Tape Farm" a recording studio that specializes in transferring "pro-sumer" analog tape formats from manufactures like Tascam and Fostex.
Website: www.thetapefarm...
Facebook: / thetapefarm
Twitter: / thetapefarm
As an independent recording artists Keith has released singles, EPs and full length albums. With styles ranging from Progressive Rock to Country to Singer/Songwriter to Hard Rock to what ever the song dictates.
Website: www.keithleedha...
He also tinkers with various audio equipment such as tape machines, guitars and guitar amps. When he comes across something interesting he posts the progress/results on KZbin.

[@Since-UniqueOriginalPersonaliz]

Ahh... memories. Great demo. The 'cellophane moment' was classic. I bought my X15 for $50 from a work buddy in '87ish, and bounced more tracks than allowed by law. Great video.

[@junomoon9945]

This was fascinating! I was in diapers 37 years ago, but I always love learning the old school ways, they seem to always work better when it comes to making music!! Learn something new everyday!

[@Thekarlskorner]

Very nice song that you came up with so fast. Great ending to this video. Now you have got me inspired to dig my old Fostex X-15 out with those old tapes! Thank You!

[@TheTapeFarm]

Thanks man!

[@RobKMusic]

Great video! I had a Tascam Porta 01, then "upgraded" to a Fostex X18. The last 4-track cassette recorder I owned was a Fostex X28 in the early 90s. I wish I still had ANY of those machines. :(

[@vitamindmusic607]

Dude....you made my day...I have a box of recordings that were made on the X-15 and have been in that box since 1991.. I bought my x-15 used in the late 80's and it started me on songwriting too. How frickin cool and how lucky you were to find that new..

[@Thekarlskorner]

Still have one I purchased from DJ's Rock & Roll LTD in Cicero, Illinois on June 26, 1984 (Receipt) and several cassette tapes with songs we recorded on it. Had to buy the AC adapter the following week as the store did not have one. We use to play back through my old panasonic 44 four channel receiver. Still a blast to see this NOS Fostex X-15 in operation. I think I will take mine out of th ebox and see if it works today?

[@peterkiefel4324]

wow takes me all the way back to 1985 when I got my first X-15 in Australia - such happy memories of this recorder. I learnt so much on the X-15, particularly when I got an external mixer with 3 band EQ and aux send to my Alesis quadraverb. Taking the 4 lines out from the X-15 into that rig and I was in mixdown heaven!

[@TheTapeFarm]

Same here. I had a 6 channel mixer and a Korg reverb. Those were the days.

[@StanSwan]

I got one for Christmas 1985. It did not come with the charger. Was a major pain buying batteries. It is a simple machine but at the time having 4 tracks was like your 1st log into the internet.

[@davidmac42]

Wow- what a find. Still using my Tascam 424 but it’s old. Would love to find a brand new old stock one too! Great video.

[@spooktasticaparanormal]

That's a great sound you have there. I have two of these machines that are in my workshop waiting for repair. Thanks for sharing.

[@igor_timofeev]

Fascinating! Awesome! What a great demonstration of a lovely X-15 4-tracker. And song is right. Thank you, good luck! I'm myself have Fostex X-26 and Tascam 414 mk2 but they aren't NOS but in great shape thought... LOL

[@MicrophonesInTheTrees]

My first four track. Well, it was actually a three track coz it was second hand and one track didn't work. Did my GCSE composition file on it. Good times!

[@matts8657]

Wow! So cool!

[@Jflux69]

I still have have two tascam portastuido ii

[@__Rob]

Can this model bounce to get more tracks?

[@TheTapeFarm]

You can bounce but being that the tape only runs at 1-7/8ips you do get some significant generation loss.

[@StanSwan]

Yes but when I used mine I ran a two track recorder so I could and did layer the elements 1st generation.

[@jebbishop3]

What good is punch in without punch out, I wonder.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Half as good?

[@nonegiven9528]

I had the original Tascam Portastudio. It was so cool for its day. Made a lot of embarrassing recordings.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Oh yeah... I have stuff that when I listen to it I say "what the heck was I thinking?" But, without those experiments I would never know how to not embarrass myself..... too much

[@eastwoofer]

How many volts is the power adapter?

[@TheTapeFarm]

Nor sure. I’d have to have a look.

[@TheTapeFarm]

My guess is 15v since what 10 batteries would add up to.

[@eastwoofer]

@@TheTapeFarm yeah, service manual says 11-15V, but was wondering what the fostex adapter was for voltage. thanks