Tascam 388 playback issues

[Brunothemad]

Another reel noob here. I just recently acquired a Tascam 388 and everything seems to be in working order (VU meters run fine, Mic inputs come through headphones) but when I attempt to play back after recording a few seconds onto track 1, I can't here anything unless I switch the input to RMX, and then I can only here a tiny muffled version of what I just recorded, and it's barely audible. Any ideas?

[The Ghost of FM]

If you're a true noob, you have to look at the basics first.

Are you using fresh, healthy tape?

Is it threaded correctly and not inside out...in other words, wrong side of tape contacting with the heads?

Are the heads clean and by clean, I mean spotless! Sometimes a coating of dirt on them will kill your signal. Scrub them clean with 99% pure alcohol and try it again.

Use your meters to check levels also to ensure that you're recording a healthy signal to tape in the first place. Average meter movement should be between -5db and 0 on the meters.

If you have the manual, read it!

If you don't, order one from TASCAM's parts department or check on ebay for copies for sale. There are no free versions of it around in .pdf.

Good luck!

Cheers!

[Brunothemad]

Thanks for the tips, I went back, cleaned the heads with isopropyl, but the first and only the first track still suffers from the problem. Could the head be damaged? It looks like it could be slightly oxidized (it's tinted darker towards the bottom and looks unnatural,) and I don't think the unit was very well cared for before me so I wouldn't be too surprised. Would low volume and poor recording quality result from a semi-oxidized head (or damage in some other way) if it is contained on one track?

[Beck]

Originally Posted by Brunothemad

Would low volume and poor recording quality result from a semi-oxidized head (or damage in some other way) if it is contained on one track?

Yes, and edge tracks are the first to go. One can't say whether this is the problem at this point, but yes it could be. There are many other issues from the channel strips to amp circuits to switches to physical head alignment to bad tape... you name it, there are several things to eliminate before reaching a conclusion.

I'm also curious... are you using healthy tape and what is it?

[MCI2424]

Originally Posted by Brunothemad

Thanks for the tips, I went back, cleaned the heads with isopropyl, but the first and only the first track still suffers from the problem. Could the head be damaged? It looks like it could be slightly oxidized (it's tinted darker towards the bottom and looks unnatural,) and I don't think the unit was very well cared for before me so I wouldn't be too surprised. Would low volume and poor recording quality result from a semi-oxidized head (or damage in some other way) if it is contained on one track?

Those decks have had the problem of clogged heads from bad shedding tape. Although the edge tracks are the first to go, a good test is to record a 10kHz frequency track and playback each track. If the playback is steady and not wavering, you most likely have a clogged track. If the playback is wavering all over, worn heads they are.

The solution to clogged heads is to re-lap them as I have seen them so clogged, regular cleaning could not touch them.

You can consult here:
www.jrfmagnetics.com

These are THE guys to do any head work.

Good Luck.

[Brunothemad]

Originally Posted by Beck

I'm also curious... are you using healthy tape and what is it?

I was using a reel of unused (I don't know how old it is but it appeared to be in good condition) Memorex tape. I am considering sending the head into JRF, but want to verify that there is no other way for me to service the head into working order before I do. Also, if I send in the head, should I send in the erase head as well? That doesn't look nearly as dirty, but I don't know how to test it.

[MCI2424]

I suppose we should do the whole thing right.

Get a indelible ink marker and color the head in question. Use a scrap reel of tape and run the tape over the heads. Note the shape of the wear marks on the head. The black color will be worn off to reveal either a sraight up and down, narrow perfect headwear pattern, and hourglass pattern of an upside down, rightside up triangle pattern. The first pattern is a good sign as the re-lapping process will not remove too much material. The others are varying degrees of trouble and at the worst, will require new heads.

Using this teat and the 10kHz test will really determine where you stand.

Good Luck!

[MCI2424]

Originally Posted by Brunothemad

I was using a reel of unused (I don't know how old it is but it appeared to be in good condition) Memorex tape. I am considering sending the head into JRF, but want to verify that there is no other way for me to service the head into working order before I do. Also, if I send in the head, should I send in the erase head as well? That doesn't look nearly as dirty, but I don't know how to test it.

If you have to send the heads, you will probably have to send the whole headblock as they have to laser align the stack. I don't know about the 388 but everyother deck I know of requires sending the headstack as a total unit.

To test it, use the techniques I posted above.

[thegunshyboy]

could it be a magnetising issue? i had a similar problem on my 388 until i demagnetized it. old tape definetely gives the same result. i'd try to get a demagnetizer and a new reel of tape before sending the heads anywhere. btw, the switch always has to be on rmx for playback. you can try recording to track one from a different channel to determine if it's a channel problem or a recorder problem. good luck.

[Somnium7]

I used a 388 for several years and never had any problems with the deck. I did however, have a multitude of problems with the faders, which resulted in the symptoms you describe. If you can rule out the deck issues mentioned by the others then also have a look at the faders. They are very easily cleaned or replaced too.

[A Reel Person]

intermittent track problems like this sometimes benefit from removing & reseating the audio cards, which can develop marginal connections from oxidation or jostling of cards from transport.

[MCI2424]

Originally Posted by A Reel Person

intermittent track problems like this sometimes benefit from removing & reseating the audio cards, which can develop marginal connections from oxidation or jostling of cards from transport.

Absolutely true. After trying the headwear test and 10kHz test, Dave's advice is your next best bet. The best cleaner I have ever found is the De-Oxit line. They have great clean/lube connections products that make it work and keep it working. '

Dave has much more experience with these 388s and I guess I would try his advice first. If you get to the head tests, by the time you are done you will know the basic condition of them and where to go next.

Good Luck.

[A Reel Person]

Reseating the cards is the first thing I'd do for any intermittent track problem on a 388. It might seem nearly impossible to pull the cards out, but they do come out. Then inspect the connectors, clean them if you wish, and carefully reseat the cards back into the motherboard. Sometimes popping it out & back in is all it takes to clean up the conections. Anyway, you only need to concentrate on the card for track 1, which IIRC is the card in the top/left position.

The advice of verifying the headwear & cleaning the pots & switches still holds true, though I've seen similarly wierd problems in seating issues of the cards. (F/I), Not only does the "Input Select" switch send audio thru a different part of the circuit and relay, but it also sends the audio thru a different set of pins to the audio cards.

Something about the 388, is there's a lot in the box.

Good luck.

[thegunshyboy]

Originally Posted by A Reel Person

Something about the 388, is there's a lot in the box.

oh man, isn't that the truth!

[Beck]

I would do the simple tests first as it could be many things or a combination of things that can have you chasing your tail.

Another test is to record a 1kHz tones on tracks 1 and 8 and then flip the reels so that what you recorded on track 1 is playing back on track 8 and visa versa. This is how you narrow down whether it’s a record problem, a playback problem, or both.

Since you have already established that track 8 is functioning properly, if the tone recorded originally on track 1 does not play back on track 8 or plays back weakly you know you have a record problem with track 1. If the tone recorded originally as track 8 does not play back well on track 1, you know you have a playback problem with track 1. You might have both. But this can help narrow things down as to whether it’s at the head or in the circuitry. Recording and playing back only with the same track cannot tell how the chain is failing.

Reseating the channel cards can't hurt, as they have a high failure rate due to oxidation of contacts.

Your tape can also have edge damage only on one edge, if it was stored flat or used on a machine with bad physical alignment of the tape path. I would always have doubts if I were using old used tape. A new reel can give you peace of mind that you have that area covered before moving on.

[A Reel Person]

Missed it by -->|that|<-- much!

[shedshrine]

If you do need a copy of the manual:

http://www.marjorie-plastille.com/

[Herm]

I think you should go through the top panel first. That is where the channel cards are at. And I wouldnt pull the card all the way out. I would try just rocking it a little and press it down firmly first and see if that works. Those connectors on the channel cards are fragile and will break.
The bottom that you are showing is the preamp cards.
One thought here did you try using a differant preamp on track 1 or just the track one preamp?

[Beck]

Originally Posted by A Reel Person

Missed it by -->|that|<-- much!

He he, I was always watching his sidekick...