Okay, so say you have an 8-track tape machine...

[titser_marco]

..how the hell do you:

1. Know what mixer you'd be needing to be able to do tracking and mixing?

2. Know how often heads have to be cleaned and de-gaussed?

3. Find tape in this country?

[mikep]

..how the hell do you:

1. Know what mixer you'd be needing to be able to do tracking and mixing?

2. Know how often heads have to be cleaned and de-gaussed?

3. Find tape in this country?

Any analog mixer that has a tape in/out (-10 or +4 depending on your type and kind of recorder).  If your recorder is an 8 tracker, you need an 8+ input mixer.  Since I believe you have a TASCAM 8 track recorder, look for a mixer that has a -10 input impedance.  A TASCAM will be your best bet.

You clean the heads before and after each recording session.  You degauss every before a session.

Tapes are not available locally.  Even the Hongkong Quantegy branch closed shop already.  You can still get them in the States.  I do not know about other places nearby.

FWIW

[KitC]

I saw this on the net: http://www.cheaptape.com/Tape/Quantegy/

He also has stocks of Maxell, TDK and Sony.

RMG has also bought the BASF/EMTEC machines used for tape manufacturing. You can find some details here: http://users.telenet.be/audiomedia/rmg.htm

[titser_marco]

Any analog mixer that has a tape in/out (-10 or +4 depending on your type and kind of recorder).  If your recorder is an 8 tracker, you need an 8+ input mixer.  Since I believe you have a TASCAM 8 track recorder, look for a mixer that has a -10 input impedance.  A TASCAM will be your best bet.

FWIW

Uh oh. I think I've opened a can of worms. Would the Behringer mixers work for my purpose? Can I use the same board for mixing and tracking?

[BALDO]

..how the hell do you:

1. Know what mixer you'd be needing to be able to do tracking and mixing?
 you can use a mixer with more than 8 inputs if you are adding keyboard sounds if you are sequencing via MIDI, i just dont know if the 8 track machine you will be using has SMPTE...a tascam 8 track machine ( cassette) i used before can stripe SMPTE.
  and if you want to add live tracks.

2. Know how often heads have to be cleaned and de-gaussed?
    MR mike P suggests every session.. i did the degaussing whenever there is noticeable degradation in the quality of the recorded tracks ( muddiness of the tracks). Tascam still sells excellent degaussing machines. Just be sure you are degaussing the head PROPERLY meaning you are turning the instrument a few feet before it reaches the tape head (dont turn it on when it is almost a few inches away) or else you will magnetize or ruin the tape head instead and it is irreversible. also make sure you are not wearing those kinetic watches - trust me i damaged 2 already 
3. Find tape in this country?
samash.com sells them but if you have relatives here in NY i can give you some- (scotch 7 inch reel is the one i have)..Ampex has 456 and 499 so with Quantegy 499 they make excellent tapes, but i think they are in the 10 inch format. i think that tascam machine uses 7 inch.

[BALDO]

but on second thought, i think recording digitally is the way to go because it has better dynamic range than tape, its easier to manage the recorded material in terms of forwarding and rewinding, the cut and paste feature and seeing the tracks on a computer screen makes recording easier.
ps
and dont forget the dust which can adhere to the tape and tape head. 

[titser_marco]

Thanks man! I believe the machine that I'd be getting would be using 10 inch reels. I'll check. In the event that you'd like to dispose them, I'd like to get them - I know shipping will kill, but heck, there's no such thing as free lunch or used tape.

[BALDO]

also be careful on your purchase and be wary on the quality of the tape head because if you need one it is hard nowadays to get it. i dont know if tascam still makes them. 

[titser_marco]

Thanks for the tip, Baldo! Any tips on knowing if the machine's head is still good? I'm checking it out later.

[BALDO]

it is hard to tell just by looking..who knows the tape is already MAGNETIZED.. some head may show physical sign of wear or abuse ( rust or uneveness of the metal part that is in contact with the tape) hehehe..best way is to record a track individually, say , just do a vocal or acoustic guitar track and see the quality of the recorded track. also check the pinch roller and  other moving parts.i think it is called a capstan- these are parts that is hard to buy/get. the rubber parts has a tendency to become cracked or soft and be deformed especially in hot weather.