Fostex XR-3 - Page 5

Tape and tape speed
The XR-3 has been designed to use a high-position (Cr02, TYPE II) cassette tape, such as the
Maxell XL-II or the TDK SA series, for best performance. We recommend that you use one
of these tapes, or an equivalent.
The XR-3 also runs a tape at double speed (9.5cm/s), which is twice the speed of a standard
boom box (4.75cm/s) for improved recording quality. Therefore, if you try to play back a tape
that was recorded on the XR-3 on a boom box, it wi II not play back correctly because of the
difference in the tape speed. If you wish to listen to an XR-3 tape on a boom box, first you
need to dub the sounds to a master recorder (such as your boom box) using the XR-3's
mixdown function. (Refer to page 20 for mixdown.)
The time duration you can record on a tape using the XR-3 varies depending on the type of
tape, as follows:
Tape type
Recording time (one side)
Boom box XR-3
C-30 Approx. 15 min. Approx. 7.5 min.
C-46 Approx. 23 min. Approx. 11.5 min.
C-60 Approx. 30 min. Approx. 15 min.
C-90 Approx. 45 min.
Approx. 22.5 min.
C-120 Approx. 60 min. Approx. 30 min.
Note:-
Do not use a C-120 tape. This tape is very thin, and may easily become tangled or cut on the MTR,
on which you are likely to repeat various operations in a session. We recommend that you use a C-90
or shorter tape.
Now, you understand some differences between the MTR and a boom box. In the next
paragraph, we will explain the function of the XR-3's controls and switches so that you will
can prepare to use the XR-3.
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