sleepy tascam 38

[tapeboy]

I have a problem with track 1 and 6 on my tascam 38. Track one doesn't play when in sync mode but can be sparked back to life if I record on it but soon goes to sleep again! Track 6 is taking longer and longer to play even though I can see the vu meter moving nicely, unlike on track 1 where there is no VU movement in sync mode, except when it comes back to life!!! Love to sort this out 'cos apart from this it's a great machine.

[arjoll]

Originally Posted by tapeboy

I have a problem with track 1 and 6 on my tascam 38. Track one doesn't play when in sync mode but can be sparked back to life if I record on it but soon goes to sleep again! Track 6 is taking longer and longer to play even though I can see the vu meter moving nicely, unlike on track 1 where there is no VU movement in sync mode, except when it comes back to life!!! Love to sort this out 'cos apart from this it's a great machine.

Without knowing the machine, from what I've experience with older recorders and what I've read here I'd start by cleaning edge connectors, cleaning switches and checking relays. Sounds like dirty contacts.

[A Reel Person]

The audio cards/motherboard interface with pin/molex connectors!

That being stated, there could be a connection problem, as ajroll states.

There is a "dip" (16-pin) connector directly off the head, on about a 2" pigtail, which plugs into a head-sub-connection board. There could be a faulty connection there. This card routes it's connections to the motherboard, where it connects to individual audio cards. Any of these connectors may be having a problem.

I've found that despite all the connectors, a lot of times this type of problem is due to sticky and/or faulty relays on the audio cards, which either don't switch properly between sync and repro modes, or maybe have a dead side of the relay connection. Each audio card has this switching relay. It might pay to swap the positions of the audio cards, to verify the "slot" (motherboard), or the "card" (relays).

There can be "cold" solder joints in the connectors, but the relays are usually the culprit, and you should start your troubleshooting on the "card" level, before getting down to the "pins".

Did we run you through the "leave it powered on to warm up for at least 24 hours", regimen?

[tapeboy]

we did run through the 24 hour warm up and it seemed to work in the start although it has to be on for a REALLY long time and running before track 6 comes up and it doesn't seem to help with track 1 at all now. I will try the card swopping. When I looked at the cards once I could see that the lower cards are hard to get at? But maybe I dont need to tinker with those anyway....Let you know.