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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

2384.0. "DBX 124" by MAIL::EATOND () Thu Jul 05 1990 13:07

    I have come across a possible deal for a dbx 124 - is anyone familiar
    with it?  The seller says it is a 4-channel dbx noise reduction unit
    (actually 2 X 2).  Can anyone verify?  Is it a good unit?  Any gotchas?
    
    	Dan
    
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2384.1OK If It's Cheap EnuffAQUA::ROSTGet up and get hip to the tripThu Jul 05 1990 16:5112
    Yeah, it is indeed a 4 channel dbx unit.  I'm not sure how compatible
    it is with other dbx units, i.e. it's 1970s vintage.   It was intended
    for use with quad open-reel machines in a home stereo.
    
    Gotchas?  The channels operate in pairs only, I believe.  So if you
    want to bounce three tracks down to one, you have to use the whole
    thing to decode the three tracks, nothing left to encode the last
    track...
    
    Going price these days, in the $50-150 range.
    
    						    Brian
2384.2dbx 124XERO::ARNOLDRead my quips.Thu Jul 05 1990 18:0331
    >>> Yeah, it is indeed a 4 channel dbx unit.  I'm not sure how compatible
    >>> it is with other dbx units, i.e. it's 1970s vintage.   It was intended
    >>> for use with quad open-reel machines in a home stereo.
    
    	I have one of these on my 1/4" 4-track strereo reel-to-reel deck. 
    It is dbx type II which is not compatible with tapes encoded with dbx
    type I.
    
    >>> Gotchas?  The channels operate in pairs only, I believe.  
    
    Yes, this is true.  Each pair can be switched to either be encoding the
    incoming signal or decoding the oout-going signal.  So, the reason I
    use a 4-track dbx on my reel-to-rell is so I can monitor DECODED dbx
    while it is being encoded on the inputs.  
    
    Before I used it for this purpose, I used it as a dbx unit for a
    4-track multitracker.  Since they work in pairs, if you want to record
    track #4 while playing along with tracks 1-3, you have to listen to
    track 3 in encoded form (i.e., highly compressed).  Not ideal but you
    might be able to get used to it.  (I did.)
    
    For what it's worth, dbx also made a 2-track version called the 122 (I
    think) that has only 2 tracks worth of the same circuitry.  It was for
    use as a front-end to people who wanted dbx encoded stereo cassettes or
    reel-to-reels.  I've got one of these, also.  In fact it's not even
    plugged in right now so if anyone wanted to make an offer for it, they
    could send me mail.
    
    I'll try to answer any other questions if you can think of any.
    
    - John -