Tape Project Forum
Tape Machines => Reel to Reel Tape Machines => Topic started by: Lance Lawson on August 14, 2009, 04:36:59 PM
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Years ago I had an inexpensive mono RTR that could run at 2 speeds. I believe it was 3.5 and 7.50 ips. The method of changing speed was quite novel and worked well all things considered. To change from low to high speed you simply placed an engineered sleeve over the capstan which increased the diameter of the capstan and increased the transport speed.
My TEAC A-2300 SD runs at 3.5 and 7.50 ips. I'm considering having a friend who is an experimental machinist turn me a sleeve from brass that will slip over the capstan of my A-2300 to allow it to run a faster tape transport speed. This in effect would turn the TEAC into a 4 speed machine. While I'm not looking to run at 15ips as it only takes 7" reels I'm thinking that a speed of 10-12 ips would improve sound and still not be an absolute tape eater. I'm not overly concerned that recordings made at 10-12ips would only be playable on my modified deck as I'm looking for a method of recording high quality 2 track live performances and perhaps some special digital to analog mastering.
Anybody know if this has been tired in modern times. The little recorder I had with the speed sleeve was made in the very early 1960's and was not a major make.
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It's not that simple. Changing the tape speed will require changes in both the record and playback equalization circuits.