Mitsubishi X-850 digital 32-track reel to reel tape recorder

a digital reel-to-reel 32-track recorder made in 1987. 44.1 or 48khz at 16-bit on expensive 1" tape, which is why nobody uses these anymore. The tape transport is based on the Otari MTR-90, which does not use a pinch roller.. the capstan is simply a rubber roller that holds the tape with friction using carefully controlled tape tension.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Mitsubishi
• x-850
• reel
• tape
• recorder
• digital
• 32
• track
• recording
• studio
• otari

[fertub26]

great machine, but without audio... :(

[propcycle]

It wasn't near a console when the video was shot, which these multitrack digital machines require for recording... and playing back 2 channels of what was on that tape would not have been interesting :)

[QuiltedPine]

That is a freakin damn shame... throwing away a 200k+ machine. they were the apex of electro-mechanical audio devices. So awesome. I would have flown to France or wherever just to have a chance to wrok on these machines. I repair studio/audio gear.

Open-reel recorders are amazing pieces of technology. not crap like others say

[pvx]

I think that might of been the hinges on the transport squeaking as it was lifted up, if you don't mind me saying so. It does sound like a cat meowing, tho....

[kittyfanatic1980]

ill bet anything that that unit will get far superior quality sound than and cd player out there. nice find thx for sharing. id sooooooo kill for one of these:)

[blackoudate]

Hey propcycle - is that still up and running? I've got two reels of once-used Ampex 467 Digital Mastering Audio Tape that I'd gladly send and donate to you in exchange for dumping their current contents to .WAVs. Old band, lost record, long story. (You may be shocked to hear this, but those machines aren't so easy to find.) Thanks - jim.kamp@bfkpn.com

[DigitalRazor]

Ahhh ... ProDigi

[alexbleks]

is it possible to store data on it?

[dap714]

awesome machine, i could imagine the pain to setting it up and aligning it would be, i heard these old digital machines are cold sounding, i just stick to analog but i have respect for these old machines!

[BANGERS68]

we chucked two of these away..no one wanted them, and it was imposible to get the tape..shame

[spongah]

holy crap that thing is a beast!

[SHAWNLARGE]

where can i buy one of these??

[coffeehigh420]

lol

this is a DIGITAL machine my friend. it appears analog to you because its using an open reel to reel digital tape-based system.