bjoneson
Well-known member
Ok.. I have a 1/2" 4 Track Scully 280B deck sitting in my garage. Transport is running like a top, and have nice SAKI glass / ferrite heads that are seemingly indestructible.
I have no use for a 4 track deck. But do want a decent 2 track deck for mixdown. I already have another 280B in 1/4" I use for this regularly.
Nortronics (Scullys OEM head supplier), never made 1/2" two track heads for this machine. Custom manufactured heads are out of the price range I can justify for this project.
My idea is to build custom electronics to drive tracks 1/2, and 3/4 in parallel (or series, not sure which makes the most sense yet). Basically a "poor man's" 1/2" deck, but with true stereo electronics.
Everything would work and behave as a typical 1/2" two track, except there would be a guard band in the middle of each track.
If my goal was to have a fantastic 1/2" stereo deck, I would go buy a studer. That's not a feasible investment for me.
My goal is to make the best use of the stuff I have laying around, and keep myself occupied through the winter months.
I just need a sanity check on whether what I'm proposing is bordering on insanity.
I'm comfortable enough with theory and PCB fabrication to get through the design aspect, though I'm sure questions will arise. Has anyone done anything like this before? Am I out of my mind?
I have no use for a 4 track deck. But do want a decent 2 track deck for mixdown. I already have another 280B in 1/4" I use for this regularly.
Nortronics (Scullys OEM head supplier), never made 1/2" two track heads for this machine. Custom manufactured heads are out of the price range I can justify for this project.
My idea is to build custom electronics to drive tracks 1/2, and 3/4 in parallel (or series, not sure which makes the most sense yet). Basically a "poor man's" 1/2" deck, but with true stereo electronics.
Everything would work and behave as a typical 1/2" two track, except there would be a guard band in the middle of each track.
If my goal was to have a fantastic 1/2" stereo deck, I would go buy a studer. That's not a feasible investment for me.
My goal is to make the best use of the stuff I have laying around, and keep myself occupied through the winter months.
I just need a sanity check on whether what I'm proposing is bordering on insanity.
I'm comfortable enough with theory and PCB fabrication to get through the design aspect, though I'm sure questions will arise. Has anyone done anything like this before? Am I out of my mind?