Trying My Hand At Tape Recording Once Again

[60's guy]

Gentlemen,

I have been reading this analog forum for quite some time now and it has rekindled my interest in taking advantage of a Akai GX-4000D tape recorder that I still own. It’s still in mint condition, but I have been primarily recording to a Yamaha AW16G digital recorder for the past couple of years. The Yamaha is a great recorder, but, I’m beginning to feel that I’m missing something in the sense that…..maybe you know what I’m thinking. I'm hoping to perhaps take advantage of what both mediums provide.

Here’s the situation:

I set up a pair of Studio Project C4’s through a DMP-3 into the mic inputs of the Akai to record my acoustic guitar. All appearances are that regardless of gain settings on the DMP-3 and the Akai that I’m getting an extremely hot uncontrollable signal into the recorder. At least this is what I am hearing while I monitor with headphones. At this point, I haven’t recorded yet, and I’m thinking that it’s possible that the distortion I am hearing is strictly headphone related because the meters on the Akai only clip occasionally.

The last time I used the Akai to record was perhaps 5 or more years ago and I did not experience any problems such as this which led me to recall that years ago I used dynamic mics straight into the Akai.

My questions:

Is it possible that the condenser mics and pre are simply “too hot” for the Akai to handle?

Should I just resort to using a pair of dynamic mics?

I’m going to mess with it some more on my own, but, I thought I’d throw the questions your way in the meantime.

Oooooooh! On a side note…I just may have the opportunity to acquire an 8 track tape machine in the near future if I can strike a deal.

Any advice or thoughts you may have will be appreciated!

Ciao

[Beck]

Originally Posted by 60's guy

I set up a pair of Studio Project C4’s through a DMP-3 into the mic inputs of the Akai to record my acoustic guitar. All appearances are that regardless of gain settings on the DMP-3 and the Akai that I’m getting an extremely hot uncontrollable signal into the recorder. At least this is what I am hearing while I monitor with headphones. At this point, I haven’t recorded yet, and I’m thinking that it’s possible that the distortion I am hearing is strictly headphone related because the meters on the Akai only clip occasionally...

My questions:

Is it possible that the condenser mics and pre are simply “too hot” for the Akai to handle?

I wouldn't be using the mic inputs with the setup you describe. Try the line inputs of the tape deck and see if that makes a difference.

-Tim

[arjoll]

Originally Posted by Beck

I wouldn't be using the mic inputs with the setup you describe. Try the line inputs of the tape deck and see if that makes a difference.

I'd agree with this - use the RCA jacks on the back as they take a higher level signal than the 5 pin DIN connector.

The headphone out of your Akai won't be controlled.

Would also be a very good idea to clean all the switches.

Cya
Andrew

[60's guy]

Thanks guys. That makes perfect sense now that you mention it.