Tascam Msr-24 Problems- Need Help!

[acoustix]

Hi- I bought a Tascam MSR-24 a few months ago, and am just now getting around to trying out the recording side of things. Yesterday, I discovered that 6 tracks out of 24 are distorted when going into the machine. The other 18 tracks are fine. The machine came with a pre-recorded tape, and the channels that don't record good (distorted) do play back what was previously recorded on the used tape clean and clear.

However, when I record on any of the 6 bad tracks, they play back distorted.

I have no idea what is wrong and if it can even be fixed as these machines have not been made in years. I don't know where to start, or if I should just use the tracks that work and forget the others. The heads look fine, and I do clean and demagnetize often.

Also, I do understand the difference in +4 and -10, and have the Fostex 5030 line converter, so the problem doesn't lie with the levels I'm feeding the machine. Any help from anyone who knows about this machine would be appreciated! Thanks!

[acoustix]

Anyone with one of these machines experience anything like this? Could it be the dbx? But again, that doesn't make much sense as it seems like the whole "block" of 8 tracks switched on would be bad. Also, someone told me the bias needs calibrating, but why don't all the tracks need it? Help, PLEASE!

[ausrock]

Hey Acoustix.........you will probably be better off locking this thread here and reposting down in the Analogue Only forum further down the main index page.

ChrisO aka HiString