Messages

1

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: MX5050II - Issues with the recording meters

« on: November 16, 2009, 01:13:17 PM »

 The only thing bias related are the 2 knobs in the front labeled "Record Bias Ch1 - Ch2" and i know i kept them at equal settings - anything else related
to bias i should know about??

I'm gonna look into the head scenario tonight and see what i find out.
I know what you mean about taking it somewhere, i'd love to but where i'm at i don't have many choices in that department and one place i called to ask
about doing calibration would charge around $300, at least, which is more then i've paid for the machine itself....i don't know, it seems so much i could
probably buy another machine for that much that's already been calibrated.

I'll report later with results and i will check the guide as well.And thx for the great and fast responses you've been providing me with :))

2

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: MX5050II - Issues with the recording meters

« on: November 16, 2009, 11:18:59 AM »

  I had this machine for maybe a year and it had this issue from the beginning so i've basicaly figured out the difference between the channels and
whenever i had to record something i would compensate by turning the right channel up - e.g., channel 1 would be around -1db and channel 2 would
be maxxed out in the red when in record mode, therefore on playback both channels would be really close to equal in loudness. like i've said before,
when you record and have the monitor selector to "Source", you get an equal loudness reading and when you select "Tape" you can see the difference
between channels so you just turn up the one that looks low in volume- makes sense??

I did playback the recorded material i have, from multiple tapes, at the other head selection [mine says "2Trk or 4Trk"] and the difference between the
two channels becomes even greater.

I don't know if i can get a recorded tape from anybody around here, not many 'tapeheads' i know of but i'll try.....
maybe it's time to invest in a MRL tape?

3

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: MX5050II - Issues with the recording meters

« on: November 15, 2009, 11:43:51 PM »

  yes, i've checked the head selector and it was set right- also, it's been cleaned with deoxit.
and it's definitely an audio problem as well, the playback of the recorded material follows what the VU meters are showing - they're both lower in 1 channel.

4

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: MX5050II - Issues with the recording meters

« on: November 15, 2009, 10:19:54 PM »

Try adjusting the VU meter needle position with power to the deck off to make sure they are both resting at the same far left position equally.

  -- done that


Sorry for the general information (it's bee a while since I played with an Otari...)
Then, if you have an external signal generator set its output to your operating level at 1Khz.  Measure the output with a multimeter to confirm the exact output level.
You would set the deck in input mode and check for the VU meter to read 0VU.  If not, you would need to adjust line output section.
As long as your operating level signal is reading 0VU, your VU meter is working properly in most cases.

--the only generator i have is coming from computer which goes thru my System 8 Console then to GL2 Mixer then to the tape machine.
  that's too many in the way, right? i shoul have a straight path from generator [computer interface] to the tape machine - i need to make cables for that.....


The Otaris' have 1Khz and 10Khz tone generator built in.  I would engage the tone generator, disengage cal, and check both VU meters.  One of them is more than likely be reading properly.  You adjust the other one to get them to be equal.

 -- also done that .


 well no luck so far. i also finished cleaning and lubing just about everything inside and out plus demag .
so what happens is if i record say at 0db on both channels on playback left channel comes out about 7-8 db quieter.
so if i was to select "SLR Output" then it'll play with left channel quieter while switching to manual and turning the
left channel up to compensate for the 7-8 dbs lost, it'll get louder but it also introduces more hiss. could this be head
related? and if so is it the recording or playback? i mean, when i read the VU meters while recording, that's before
the recording takes place, before the recording head - am i correct ??
the same thing happens when i'm monitoring while recording, if i select "Source" it shows me the VU meters being
equal and if i select "Tape" it shows me left channel lower in db......

5

General Discussion / Re: How do you take the capstan motor out?

« on: November 11, 2009, 11:04:10 AM »

 ok , cool. i might just stay away from it for now until i think it's necesary.
i'm doing some over all cleaning, lubing, and lubricating and i thought while
i'm at it i should check the capstan motor.....

6

General Discussion / How do you take the capstan motor out?

« on: November 11, 2009, 12:36:26 AM »

 off Otari MX5050?
i'd like to take a look inside and maybe lube it......

7

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: MX5050II - Issues with the recording meters

« on: November 10, 2009, 04:21:43 PM »

 Awesome info Ki - i will do that tonite.
Feel free to post more info after ur done with ur friend's machine....

8

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / MX5050II - Issues with the recording meters

« on: November 10, 2009, 01:10:44 PM »

 I had this machine for a bout 8 months but didn't get many miles out of it yet, just dumping loops etc. and i don't think it got much love before me.
The problem i have is that the recording meters are off by a lot, e.g. my right ch shows it's about 8-10 db louder when recording but when i play back
the material it sounds pretty equal in volume on both channels. I made the cables myself, twice actuallt because i've changed the configuration and i'm
positive they are wired correctly.
What could this be? I have the machine opened up and doing some cleaning and lubing so i figured while i'm at it try to fix the issue......

thx/

9

General Discussion / recording on mx5050

« on: October 06, 2009, 05:59:32 PM »

 really?can i not record on both sides of the tape with this machine?

10

Tape Tech / Re: Info on tape length in min...

« on: November 22, 2008, 10:02:49 AM »

 Thank you guys, that's exactly what i was looking for. I'm surprised this
info is not so easily available, it seems so basic.

Reelnut, i think your explanation was very well written, you should get on the
Wikipedia and write some stuff for the 'reel-to-reel tape' description.


rek.

11

Tape Tech / Info on tape length in min...

« on: November 21, 2008, 09:42:46 PM »

 I dont seem to be able to find this anywhere, not even on wikipedia.
Anybody knows or has a link to where i can find out how long in minutes,
depending on their size [7", 10.5"] and thickness [1200'. 2400' etc.]and
depending on what speed [7.5ips, 15ips] they're been played/recorded at?
thx.