[sdiy] Fostex B16 manuals

[Dave Kendall]

Hi Magnus.

Back in the beginning of the nineties, I often used a Q-LOCK 410
synchroniser to sync an E16 to the timecode from Betacam SP VTR decks, 1"
open reel VTRs, or even Sony U-matics. Q-locks can be had pretty cheap if
you can find one these days - there are other types of synchroniser like
Timeline out there too. I guess some broadcast and post production places
still have some gathering dust up in the attic....

IIRC, it was quite a performance, with T/C on track 16 of the E16, and a
multi-pin cable from the back of the E16 going to the q-lock, which needed a
special card fitted. The beta had similar connections, including black
burst. A line-up/calibration tape got used on each session too. I think the
Q-lock needed a specific card for each type of machine connected, whether
master or slave. 

(sorry it's all a bit vague, I've forgotten many of the grisly details - I
don't miss open reel ATRs and VTRs in post production at all - Long Live
Digital! ;-)

I have a suspicion that the B16 doesn't have that rear panel sync
connection, but don't quote me on that......
Of course if the B16 is the T/C master, it's all a lot easier.

There's a small chance that there's still a service manual kicking around at
the old place where I still occasionally work - I'll have a look next time
I'm in, although it'll probably be for the E16.

Head wear was an issue back then, and the tape transport needed periodic
adjustment too - Fostex transport mechanisms were held to be generally less
robust than the equivalent Tascam ones by our service engineer at that time.
Small alignment errors  could throw the Dolby C tracking off, with quite
horrible results. Crosstalk was not great, due to the narrow track width,
but on the whole it sounded pretty good for the money.

I think our E16 had a facility to disable Dolby C on track 16, although it
worked OK with Dolby on, as long as the level on tape was quite hot.
I often left track 15 empty as a guard band to prevent audible bleed from
track 16. 

cheers,

Dave


on 9/8/06 14:17, Magnus Danielson at cfmd at bredband.net wrote:

> Hi!
> 
> This is slightly OT, but I am searching for the manuals (including service
> manual) for the Fostex B16. In particular, I want to learn about ways to
> synchronise it, in particular to SMPTE LTC.
> 
> I happend to score a B16 yesterday, so naturally I'd like to learn as much as
> possible about it.
> 
> Cheers,
> Magnus