Fostex E16 track on not recording

[dfgh11]

Hey

I have a fostex E-16 and like the title says, track on is not recording.It'll record the track but really low and muffled and somtimes it won't wipe over what was on there previously, so you get a mixture of them both. I also occassionally have trouble with track 16, but nothing a little alcohol on a swab can't fix. I'm just wondering does this mean that the head needs demagnetizing? and anybody got any tips on how to do this really well? I remember someone once telling me to get an oscillator to help guage optimum demagnization. true or false?


thanks

[Track Rat]

Sounds like it needs to be aligned.

[dfgh11]

I've never done this before how would I go about it? although I have done it on smaller 4 track recorders and only by ear- took ages. Wouldn't I need calibration tape or something for a reel to reel recorder?


I also read somewhere that people that have had this problem and it turned out to be a stuck signal transfer switch. And using jiffy/lube spray on it solves the problem. However, that only helps if you know what a signal transfer switch is and where on the E16 it resides..

[dfgh11]

anyone care to help me out?

[The Ghost of FM]

Originally Posted by dfgh11

anyone care to help me out?

Most of us here are TASCAM guys though there are a few Fostex dudes too so please be patient. They'll be along soon enough.

Cheers!

[A Reel Person]

a thorough cleaning.

I've seen countless decks being signed off as "defective", that just needed a thorough and deliberate scrubbing of the head. Not this pussy-wipe type of cleaning that most users would do. I mean a scrubbing,... a repeated scrubbing, with adequate fingertip pressure and alcohol soaked wipe or swab. Do it! Scrub it!

[Jonny Storm]

Clean everything and see if it helps. And since this is a 15 or 16 year old reel, and if you have never had it recalibrated, I would sayt its time. Now if you bought it new it came with a calibration tape. But
I have found that most people got foolish and taped over them. Big mistake. I would take it to a authorized Fostex service center and have them recalibrate it. Its not expensive and they should have the calibration tapes on hand. The are a few places here in Atlanta that can do it, and I had both my Model 80 and my E-16 done and the run like new.

[dfgh11]

I have cleaned it a few times and it's worked for about one or two recordings. It seems to only be track one now. Track 16 seemed fine after I cleaned it about 10 times in a row. However, track one is recording but it's muffled and and barely none existent on playback.I'll try giving it a real intensive scrub tomorrow and see if that cures it. thanks

Where can I get some calibration tape from does anyone still stock it? I bought this second hand about 3 years ago without calibration tape and would prefer to learn how to do it all myself. thanks again

[acorec]

Originally Posted by dfgh11

I have cleaned it a few times and it's worked for about one or two recordings. It seems to only be track one now. Track 16 seemed fine after I cleaned it about 10 times in a row. However, track one is recording but it's muffled and and barely none existent on playback.I'll try giving it a real intensive scrub tomorrow and see if that cures it. thanks

Where can I get some calibration tape from does anyone still stock it? I bought this second hand about 3 years ago without calibration tape and would prefer to learn how to do it all myself. thanks again

I would guess the problem would be one of two things:
Track 1 and 16 usually go away first when the heads need re-lapping.

Another cause would be bogus tape that sheds its oxide coating and gets ground in to the heads so far that a cleaning no longer gets it out.

The usual fix is head re-lapping on both counts. If it were alignment, the usual failure mode is that all tracks exhibit low output and erratic erasure of all tracks.

Worn heads are suspect here and onlly JRF can tell you how worn and if they can be re-lapped. The only way to find out is to pull the headstack and send it to JRF for an evaluation.

[A Reel Person]

definitely get some new tape, and just keep doin' what I'm doin'.

[FALKEN]

Originally Posted by dfgh11

I have cleaned it a few times and it's worked for about one or two recordings. It seems to only be track one now. Track 16 seemed fine after I cleaned it about 10 times in a row. However, track one is recording but it's muffled and and barely none existent on playback.I'll try giving it a real intensive scrub tomorrow and see if that cures it. thanks

Did this work?

[Beck]

Originally Posted by FALKEN

Did this work?

It could be something serious like a head that's spent.

Shedding tape can be more pronounced on outer tracks though and it's worth following the cleaning recommendations. What you use to clean it is an issue. 70% isopropyl alcohol won't touch sticky binder.

You'll need at least 90% Isopropyl, or better yet denatured alcohol to get the job done. There are too many perfectly good machines out there that have been put on the auction block because the owner never heard of sticky tape shed. It mimics symptoms of more serious nature.

All tape decks should be demagnetized regularly, but that probably wouldn't cure this problem.

-Tim

[FALKEN]

Originally Posted by Beck

It could be something serious like a head that's spent.

Shedding tape can be more pronounced on outer tracks though and it's worth following the cleaning recommendations. What you use to clean it is an issue. 70% isopropyl alcohol won't touch sticky binder.

You'll need at least 90% Isopropyl, or better yet denatured alcohol to get the job done. There are too many perfectly good machines out there that have been put on the auction block because the owner never heard of sticky tape shed. It mimics symptoms of more serious nature.

All tape decks should be demagnetized regularly, but that probably wouldn't cure this problem.

-Tim

I am having the same problem on my E-16 on track 16. I am using radio shack head cleaner and I don't believe It gives any %s.... I think the tape that is creating the sticky shed is my test tape; which presents a problem...

[A Reel Person]

.............

[FALKEN]

Originally Posted by A Reel Person

.............

which???

I think the head cleaner is ok. i think.

[Beck]

Originally Posted by FALKEN

which???

I think the head cleaner is ok. i think.

Uh oh, Radio Shack brand is 70% isopropyl.

Get 90 or even 99% at a pharmacy like Osco, Wal-Green, etc. Denatured alcohol is found with paint supplies at Lowe's, Home Depot, even Wal-Mart I think. I've used denatured on all my machines since the 80's.

http://www.kleanstrip.com/Art/Produc...ents/GSL26.png

[A Reel Person]

...................

[FALKEN]

Originally Posted by A Reel Person

...................

I came up with a solution to this that anyone with a computer and no test tape can use:

play the tones out of the computer. I can record a whole new test tape; and calibrate the machine @ the same time. I don't think I'll be using that old tape anymore.

+ will be going to walgreens later. thanks.

[dfgh11]

OK, what I did was bought some 99% alc fluid and scrubbed away at the heads for ages. After every 2 or 3 I'd check the channel and at first it appeared to work.It recorded perfectly on to a new tape (all my tapes are near brand new, none more than 2 years old) so I left it for a while thinking it was ok and went away for a while. I came back and cleaned it again and then tried recording over what I had taped earlier. On play back I noticed that it hadn't erased what I had previously recorded, so I went back and cleaned again, and it still hadn't and this time I noticed something even stranger. On certain peaks of sound, it would actually have some sort of reverse delay. So if if you shouted "shit!!" for example on at say 2.22 on the tape, it would actually sort of delay in from about 1.19 but really faintly, which I thought was odd. But anyway, the point is it didn't work and now I'm stuck with what to do next. I was gonna try demagnetize, but I guess if the heads are shot there's not point..heh

Also is head re-lapping exspensive, also I'm not currently residing in the US or Canada, so the possibility of giving the heads to JRF may not be possible

[Beck]

I think it's time to have your machine professionally inspected and aligned.

Another note on sticky shed -- in bad cases it is a nightmare to eliminate. Every part of the tape path must be thoroughly cleaned -- rollers, tape guides, and all heads. But it gets worse. A new tape can be contaminated with sticky-shed from an afflicted machine.

Even after you clean the machine that tape will then recontaminate the machine. The tape does not actually catch sticky-shed, but it picks up the sticky goop from the tape path. Therefore the tape has to be cleaned as well. It's like pinetree sap -- the gift that keeps on giving.

Sticky-shed is a mess. It is time consuming and costly. That's why I'm basically a fire & brimstone preacher when it comes to avoiding older tape.