Messages

1

Tape Tech / Re: Otari MX-5050 BII Azimuth Adjst. Using MRL Short Cal. Tape?

« on: July 11, 2012, 10:48:17 AM »

Hi Steve,

As usual, lots of good info in your email. I had cleaned the tape path pretty well prior to checking and adjusting the azimuth, but I have to admit that I probably could have been spent just a little bit more time to make sure everything was pristine. Now that I have the software issue solved and know what to do in terms of adjusting the heads, I may try again in a few days after doing a more thorough cleaning.

I had thought about bringing my MX-5050 BII to a tech for a once-over, but I'm hesitating because it seems to operate fine and sound great. I also took care of lubricating the capstan motor using the correct Otari oil, so I know that's ok. Still, I am tempted to have it checked and serviced. I live in New Jersey, and JRF Magnetics isn't that far of a drive. I don't know anyone else in my area I would bring it to. What should I expect something like this to cost, ballpark?

Matt

2

Tape Tech / Re: Otari MX-5050 BII Azimuth Adjst. Using MRL Short Cal. Tape?

« on: July 10, 2012, 08:52:18 PM »

Success! Well, sort of. I was finally able to figure out what I was doing wrong with the AudioTester program. The good news is that I was able to adjust the azimuth at 1kHz to produce a pretty stable and solid 45-degree angle line. It was more difficult--make that impossible--to get the same kind of 45 degree line at 10kHz and 16kHz, but from what I read, that's normal and you're just shooting for the narrowest oval possible. My concern is that the image wasn't holding steady at those higher frequencies, which I also read could indicated problems with the tape path and/or head wear. Thoughts?

Matt

3

Tape Tech / Re: Otari MX-5050 BII Azimuth Adjst. Using MRL Short Cal. Tape?

« on: July 02, 2012, 08:34:06 PM »

Hi Steve,

Thank you. This is invaluable information (at least for a azimuth-adjusting newbie like me). I'll be taking another stab at the adjustment sometime in the next few days. I'll report back on how it went.

Matt

4

Tape Tech / Re: Otari MX-5050 BII Azimuth Adjst. Using MRL Short Cal. Tape?

« on: July 02, 2012, 10:35:04 AM »

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the great info. I really appreciate you taking the time.

Regarding the short tapes, in hindsight I agree that I probably would have been better off going with the regular tape for my Otari. Live and learn.

Let's see... I believe the heads are in good shape?this had been a maintained recording studio machine?and I really just wanted to confirm that the azimuth was correct. Of course, I already started fiddling with the 2-track playback head without marking the setting I started with.... So now I definitely need to check and adjust that one (I didn't touch the 4-track head).

I think I know how to get the lissajous figure in Audiotester's oscilloscope function. There's a settings screen that has an adjustment for "Timebase." I believe that should be "X-Y" for lissajous. Does that sound right? I'm unsure about a few of the other settings:

1. Any idea what dig. Level/ dB FS should be set at?

2. Should I choose Sine or Dual Sine for the sound output?

3. Under Timebase, there's another oscilloscope setting that lets me choose between Channel 1 and Channel 2. I would think I want both, but when I tried checking both boxes last night, it wouldn't let me.

In terms of my soundcard, I have an M-Audio 192 Audiophile with balanced inputs. My cables are balanced Mogamis from Redco Audio.

EDIT: I forgot something, Steve. If there's software that you've used for azimuth adjustment, I'd be fine with trying that instead of Audiotester, especially if it meant you could tell me exactly which settings to use.

Thanks,

Matt

5

Tape Tech / Otari MX-5050 BII Azimuth Adjst. Using MRL Short Cal. Tape?

« on: July 01, 2012, 07:23:28 PM »

Hi,

Has anyone used one of the MRL Short Calibration Tapes from Audio Village http://www.audiovillage.org/gear.html and software like that from http://www.audiotester.de or http://www.sillanumsoft.org/ to adjust playback azimuth on their MX-5050 BII? If so, I could use some help, including with which settings in the software to use.

Thanks
Matt

6

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Otari MX-5050 BII--XLR to RCA cable question

« on: July 05, 2010, 05:14:54 PM »

Great site! First time posting.

I just bought an Otari MX-5050 BII and need to pick up some XLR female to RCA male cables to connect it to my Anthem TLP-1 preamp. I've pretty much always used Monster, but want to try something different this time, such as either Mogami or Canare. So first question: What are other MX-5050 owners using? Second question: Any thoughts on this option from Markertek?

http://www.markertek.com/Cables-Connectors-Adapters/Audio-Cables/RCA-to-XLR-Cables/TecNec-Cables-Connectors/MSC100XJR.xhtml?MSC6XJRRD

Matt