Edirol R09

Reel-to-Reel Transfer

WAY OUT OF DATE...NEED TO UPDATE Purpose:

To transfer a reel-to-reel tape to digital and subsequently to a CD-R.  Basically, we transfer the tape to a digital recorder.  Then we take the digital recorder and transfer that to the computer and subsequently to CD-R or whatever.  (no R09 recorder anymore).

To record 4 tracks at once you have two options:

Option 1: Using Space and Xavier to record 4 tracks at once.  2 tracks go to Xavier and 2 tracks to Apollo and both get recorded by Vegas.

Option 2: Using Flag and Xavier to record 4 tracks at once.  2 tracks go to Xavier and get recorded by Vegas.  2 tracks go to Flag and get recorded by CineCap Velocity HD.

AKAI GX-630D SS reel-to-reel deck

Supplies/parts:

  • Edirol R09 or equivalent recorder
  • Akai 4 track reel-to-reel tape deck
  • Take-up reel
  • Head set with 1/4" phono plug
  • RCA (M) pair of cables to RCA (M) (4-6ft) (for option 2)
  • RCA (M) pair of cables to RCA (M) (10ft)(can use 3 cable video cable)(for option 2)
  • RCA (M) double to mini-phono stereo adaptor
  • RCA (M) double to mini-phono stereo adaptor (for option 1)
  • RCA (F) to RCA (F) dual adaptor (for option 2)
  • Xavier
  • Flag (for option 2)
  • (16mm Sniper unit)(for option 2)
  • Space (for option 1)

Reel-to-Reel Tape

Make sure the tape is run through the machine correctly.  The tape on the reel should have a glossy side up (in other words facing out).  The duller side should be facing the centre of the reel and when transported through the machine it is the dull side that should be facing the heads.

Before set-up and processing you can load the tape and check to see how many tracks have been recorded on...if there are only 1 or 2 tracks, then you only need one computer system.  Space may have a cable already plugged into the line-in jack.

Setup (using Xavier and Space)(option 1):

  • Cable from Akai to Space:
    • Plug the stereo phono plug into the line-in in the back of Space (this may already be plugged in and the RCA ends will be hanging at the front of the rack)
    • Plug RCA ends of the Y cable into outputs of track 2 & 4 (or the tracks that have audio)  on the back of the Akai
  • Cable from Akai to Xavier:
    • Plug the stereo phono plug into the line-in in the back of Xavier (this or another cable in)
    • Plug RCA ends of the Y cable into outputs of track 1 & 3 (or the tracks that have audio)  on the back of the Akai
  • Open Vegas:
    • On Space (and Xavier) open Vegas and insert an audio track
    • Make sure the correct audio card is set up
      • Under preferences - audio device
        • device type: windows classic wave driver
        • default audio recording device: Line-In (high definition audio)
    • Make sure the folder for saving the audio is created
    • Arm for record
  • Akai deck:
    • Clean the heads with alcohol
    • Mount the tape
    • Turn power on
    • Adjust volume
      • centre knob at the bottom and the front part (the ring at the back is for balance)
      • adjust so that the input to Vegas is reasonable
      • usually knob is around 11:00
    • Test the speed, etc
  • Record:
    • On Space – in Vegas, click the record button below the timeline
    • On Xavier – in Vegas, click the record button below the timeline
    • On the Akai deck, hit the play button
  • Monitor:
    • Monitor the vue meters on the Akai deck to make sure something is playing
    • Xavier’s audio should be outputting something if the vue meters are showing activity on tracks 2 or 4.
  • Done:
    • On Space: click stop button below the timeline
    • On Xavier: click stop button below the timeline
  • Clean-up:
    • Close Vegas on Space – don’t have to save the veg file.
    • Close Vegas on Xavier – don’t have to save the veg file.
    • Rewind the reel-to-reel and then turn it off
    • Unplug all the cables and plug the original ones back in

Setup (using Xavier and Flag)(option 2):

  • Cable from Akai to Xavier:
    • Plug the RCA to RCA 6ft cable into outputs of track 2 & 4 on the back of the Akai
    • Plug RCA female adaptor onto the 6ft cable
    • Plug the Y cable into the 2X RCA female adapters
    • Plug the stereo phono plug into the line-in in the back of Xavier (you may have to remove the black plug with the thing on the wire because it normally provides the audio from Flag thru Xavier)
  • Cable from Akai to Flag:
    • Plug the RCA to RCA 10ft cable into outputs of track 1 & 3 on the back of the Akai
    • Plug the other end of the 10ft cable into the Blackmagic cable harness at the back of Flag
      • Plug left into left audio input (labelled on the wire)(you’ll have to remove the cable coming from the switch box)
      • Plug right into right audio input (labelled on the wire) (you’ll have to remove the cable coming from the switch box)
  • Open CineCap Velocity HD:
    • On Flag open CineCap and enter the name of the customer
    • Turn on 16mm Sniper HD (this is needed so CineCap works)
  • Open Vegas:
    • On Xavier open Vegas and insert an audio track
    • Make sure the correct video card is set up
    • Make sure the folder for saving the audio is created
    • Arm for record
  • Akai deck:
    • Clean the heads with alcohol
    • Mount the tape
    • Turn power on
    • Test the speed, etc
  • Record:
    • On Xavier – in Vegas, click the record button below the timeline
    • On Flag: - in CineCap click the start button
    • On the Akai deck, hit the play button
  • Monitor:
    • Monitor the vue meters on the Akai deck to make sure something is playing
    • Xavier’s audio should be outputting something if the vue meters are showing activity on tracks 2 or 4.
  • Done:
    • On Xavier: click stop button below the timeline
    • On Flag: click the stop and keep buttons.
  • Clean-up:
    • Close Vegas on Xavier – don’t have to save the veg file.
    • Close CineCap on Flag
    • Turn off the 16mm Sniper
    • Rewind the reel-to-reel and then turn it off
    • Unplug all the cables and plug the original ones back in

Setup (for recorder device):

  1. Take RCA cable and plug it the two plugs into the back output panel on the AKAI deck.   Plug into "rear" "track 2" and "track 4".
  2. Take the other end of the RCA cables and plug them into the RCA to mini phono stereo adaptor.
  3. Plug the mini phono stereo adaptor into the Edirol R09's line input.
  4. Make sure the Edirol is set up correctly....
  5. ....check that the Edirol is not full
  6. ....check that the record format is 16bit wave
  7. ....make sure the unit is plugged into the AC outlet for power
  8. Mount the take-up reel on the right spindle and lock in place (pinch the spindle, pull out, and twist to lock)
  9. Mount the reel of tape to be recorded on the left spindle and lock in place (pinch the spindle, pull out, and twist to lock)
  10. Flip the head cover (the part in the middle of the AKAI deck that has the AKAI label) up to provide a clear view of the heads for threading the tape.
  11. Thread the tape as per in the picture above.  The tape under the head cover is just "lying there" because the tape simply gets pulled against the heads by the wheels and levels on either side of the head cover area (ie. no special threading under the head cover).
  12. Turn on the Edirol and turn on the record to ready mode (blinking red)
  13. Plug the head set into the AKAI deck's Phono so you can listen to the recording....try both the front and rear sockets (front lower left of the deck).
  14. Test the recorded tape.....
  15. .....check the tape speed (switch is next to the power switch)
  16. .....check the Edirol levels to make sure that the stereo is picking up correctly
  17. Rewind the tape to the start once everything has been tested
  18. Turn on the Edirol and push the record button.
  19. Push the play button on the AKAI.
  20. Make note of which VU meters indicate something on the track.  If  all four indicate something, then you'll have to redo the record for the other 2 tracks by switching the RCA plugs at the back of the AKAI unit when you finish recording the current 2 tracks.
  21. When the tape finishes, thread the tape back to the original reel  making sure to thread the tape the same as if you were going to play the tape.
  22. Push the rewind button and rewind the tape.
  23. You may have to go back to step 10 and repeat this if the other tracks have anything on them.  Switch the plugs in the back of the AKAI deck.
  24. Now take the card or use USB and transfer the audio tracks from the Edirol to the computer......

Further References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_tape_specifications

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reel-to-reel_audio_tape_recording

Voice-over Recording using the Edirol R09 for Film

r09-front-large

This image shows the record button off.

r09-record-highlighted

This image shows the record button on and recording.

All instructions refer to this image above. The main controls are located on the front of the unit. The controls for recording are all located on a big square (2 cm square) multi-propose button. In the middle of the button is the record button (REC in red letters).

Before starting:

  1. Place DVD in DVD player.
  2. Turn on TV.
  3. Set up TV to show DVD player. The films’ menu should be displayed on the screen.
  4. Turn off the TV’s audio. Some TV’s have a MUTE button…select the mute or turn the volume off.
Set up and start recording:

1.  Turn on the unit by pressing the little (2 mm dia) circular button and holding it until the LCD display starts to light up.

r09-left-side

This is the left side of the unit.   Note the small round on/off button.  Also, located here is the "DC IN" flap.  Lift the flap marked "DC IN" to plug in the DC power (ie. the power plug into the wall socket).

2.   Before or after step one, plug in the mic into the plug on top of the unit on the left hand side (says MIC…not the LINE IN).

r09-topNote the MIC and LINE IN holes.

3.   Push (tap) the record button (REC in red letters) once. The “oval frame” around the record button should now be blinking red. You are now PAUSED and ready to start recording.

4.   Test the recorder to make sure everything is ready by:

a.   Talking or making noise. The LCD display has two horizontal bars for the left and right channels. These bars should be moving back and forth as you are making noise. When you are talking into the mic, the bars should move between the 50% to 75% most of the time.

b.   At the top of the LCD window, you should see the track or recording number. This number will advance by one every time you stop and start a recording. The number will look like: R09-0001.mp3 The next time you STOP and start the number will be R09-0002.mp3.

5.   Push (tap) the top of the big square button (marked by an arrow-head and two bars). The blinking red light should now be solid red. The LCD display with the numbers, 00:00:00, should also be starting to count up. You are now recording.

6.   Speak/say which DVD disk and the menu item is being recorded (this will make it easier for matching the voice-over audio to the film).

7.   Push PLAY on the DVD player to start playing the film and start your commentary.

8.   If the phone rings or you just need to get up for a moment you can PAUSE the unit by pushing (tap) the top of the square button.

9.   To STOP recording, push (tap) the bottom of the button (marked by a little square).

10.   To turn the unit off. Push and hold the little round button on the upper left side of the unit until the LCD starts to turn off.

Bottom of the unit:

r09-bottomYou should not have to access this.  However, the bottom of the recorder has the two AA batteries, a slot for the memory card, and a USB plug to connect the recorder to the computer for downloading the audio files.

The back of the recorder:

r09-backThe four switches on the back should already be set correctly and should look as shown in the picture.

The right side of the recorder:

r09-right-sideA head-phone jack is located at the top.  If you wish to listen to the audio that has or is being recorded you can plug headphones into this hole.  The volume of the headphones is controlled by the "volume - and +" buttons located just below the headphone jack.  The hold button should be in the off position.