Tascam MSR16 Analog Reel to Reel Walkthrough

A quick guide on the Tascam MSR16 reel to reel multi-track tape machine and how we use it when recording to tape at Guerrilla Studios. We'll take you through the main buttons and features and explain why analogue tracking to tape sounds better than digital recording.

[@jonstringer3436]

Nice explanation thank you. I have both MSR 16 and 24 and absolutely adore both. Makes recording a pleasure than stuck looking at a pc monitor all the time.

[@BounceboyProductions]

Back in the mid to late 90s it was my dream to have one of these and a 32 channel Soundcraft Ghost 👻. I went down the DA-88 route in the end.

[@romanrist3278]

Great machine. Mine’s paired up with a Tascam M520 desk. Does the job. Mine is linked to a A&H ICE16 A/D converter so I can go right to a DAW as well.

[@pcallas66]

Bought a broken one three years ago dirt cheap. It only cost me about $18 to fix and it sounds amazing.

[@pcallas66]

@@owunzulike I've published a few songs over the past two years using the deck. I played all the instruments on several of them and my friend played drums on three of them. It's actually made me a better musician. I've been playing bass for 38 years and been starting guitar over the past three years. Although I'm not that good at it, the playing that I'm doing works in what I'm doing. I played some light kwyboard parts too.

[@pcallas66]

@@owunzulike i got it for under $300.

[@pcallas66]

@@owunzulike I hope you find one soon.

[@Only1Science]

Showing how to load the MSR16 would make for a great vid!

[@guerrillastudiosmanchester]

We're literally editing that video right now. It'll be up in the next couple of days 😃

[@Only1Science]

@@guerrillastudiosmanchester LOL Dope!

[@delatronics3257]

As a service centre for various makes, I can vouch for Tascam. The Fostex B16s I worked on suffered with crosstalk. I ended up with a Tascam TSR-8 myself when I left the UK for Brazil.

[@searchiemusic]

that fostex E16 you showed is my reel to reel, i can say their later models kinda suck but that one in particular and the G series are pretty rock solid, mostly metal machines

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

I've the E16 - and whilst it looks like plastic on the photos, its actually black powder coated aluminium and all steel facias. You may be thinking of the smaller A80 or R8 8 track models.

[@BounceboyProductions]

I went to Tascam’s office as it was near to my home, and speaking to their service manager I never understood why they didn’t produce a 16 channel 1 inch head option for those who wanted to upgrade or switch from high end to demo projects.

[@searchiemusic]

atr 60 16

[@bobsbits5357]

hi i use alot of zonal used tape 1/2 1 inch as there was alot out there at the time zonal 1 inch i have hell of alot of it i know it's not liked i use it on my soundcraft 381-8 they are hard to find now i jazzed it 7 1/2 i ps to get the warm sound 1 hr tapes will go down lower to 4 1/2 ips about max the speed is done with a res - pot on the front panel

[@Disregardedinc]

Are each of the individual tracks mono or stereo? I’m a noob to tape recording and am wondering about purchasing one of these

[@mikkoheikkinen9476]

Hi, what is what is the tape you are using with the machine? Thanks for the vid!

[@guerrillastudiosmanchester]

Thanks for the question. We use RTM SM911 tape with this machine.

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

💯✊🏾💯✊🏾💯✊🏾💯✊🏾

[@bobsbits5357]

hi there is one big plus on this model the LED bar they don't burn out like the fostex models i will say i am a tec i 100% know all the fostex LED bar can be replaced in one go pcb way can easy make a 8 channel bar unit just to cost is very high do the M80 as the 8 track fostex wear out faster first and move good one's to the 16 track decks first

[@topa1798]

i want ittttttttttttttttttttt

[@guidopellegrino6029]

Good afternoon , do you make transfert from your tape to waves Thank you

[@guerrillastudiosmanchester]

Yes we have a digital recorder that we mix down to stereo. We can also do multi track digital tape transfers for any half inch reel.

[@toptenideas]

Hi! How do you monitor what you are recording?

[@guerrillastudiosmanchester]

The console has a monitor section where we can create a specific monitor mix. The console also has a selector for control room monitoring where we can choose to listen to the inputs, tape returns or outputs (post EQ and patch bay).

[@djslug2334]

How many simultaneous tracks can you record at once?

[@guerrillastudiosmanchester]

Hi thanks for the question. With this machine we can record up to 16 tracks at once.

[@djslug2334]

@@guerrillastudiosmanchester 🙏thank you

[@kevinsmusicroom1362]

How much do these go for?

[@guerrillastudiosmanchester]

Hi Kevin, it depends on condition. We've seen them range from hundreds in need of some repairs to a couple of thousand or more in tip top