DBX Recordings

[moviebuff2]

Hello everyone

I have a lot of reel-to-reel tapes which I made with DBX. Unfortunately, my DBX reel-to-reel tape recorder is no longer working. I only have an old Sony tape recorder that does not have DBX. I plan to tranfer my DBX recordings to wave files, using my Sony tape recorder. Is there any softwares that can process the DBX sound?

Thanks

[Dr_Layne]

Idealy, the tapes should be played back on the same machine you recoreded them with. Things like tape speed variations and head alignment could affect the results. Your best bet might be to find a used outboard dbx unit on ebay. Make sure it's the same type. dbx had different types of noise reduction. For example my Teac reel to reel includes a dbx nr type II decoder/encoder.

Steve Bennett

[moviebuff2]

Thanks, Steve

My DBX reel-to-reel is a TEAC X-2000R. Everything works fine (fast forwarding, rewinding, etc.), except the playback function (in both directions). I will have to find out some ways to fix it.

But in the meantime, I have no choice but playing my dbx-encoded tapes with my old Sony. I think the dbx in my TEAC is dbx I.

[Cornucopia]

Good thing is, you could (once making sure the heads are in alignment, calibrated, etc) use another deck to transfer those tapes into a computer and then use a dynamics processor to mimic the way the dBX decoders would work. But,

I hope you have good test tones at the beginning of those tapes. Here's why:

dBX companding works by compressing the dynamic range linearly...

Lowest---Lower---Low---Mid---High---Higher---Highest     becomes
Lower---Low---Midlow---Mid---Midhigh---High---Higher

docoding works in reverse.

For this all to work correctly, it must have a good reference for what "mid" (the compression/expansion pivot point) is.

If the deck isn't calibrated and the average volume level varies too much from intended, it will all be out of whack!
If it stays constant, but you set the pivot point (the "threshold") or the attack or release times or the companding ratio incorrectly, it will also be out of whack! (there should be some sites on the internet that mention what those settings are supposed to be, if not I could get them to you in a couple of days).

Scott

[Dr_Layne]

Thanks, Steve

My DBX reel-to-reel is a TEAC X-2000R. Everything works fine (fast forwarding, rewinding, etc.), except the playback function (in both directions). I will have to find out some ways to fix it.

But in the meantime, I have no choice but playing my dbx-encoded tapes with my old Sony. I think the dbx in my TEAC is dbx I.

My Teac does the same. I think the capstan belt(s) are worn. Used to work fine then one day, no go in play mode. Fortunatly I did not record anything on it with dbx so I can play tapes back on my Technics RS1500U.

Steve