Recording to tape - thin treble

[Minwah]

I'm fairly new to recording to tape, and have recently been recording to 8 track cartridge and also 1/4" reel to reel.

Overall going quite well but I have noticed something which I can't quite figure out. I am recording acoustic guitar, and for some reason on playback the high strings/notes seem to sound a bit thin / wavery. This is difficult to describe so I hope somebody understands what I mean! The low/mid range frequencies sound excellent.

I am using 3 mic's via a mixer to the tape recorder. The problem seems to occur on both the 8 track recorder (Pioneer) at 3.75 IPS and also reel to reel (Akai GX210D) at 3.75 OR 7.5 IPS.

I have tried to eliminate as many things as I can. I have used different mics, and I am sure they are not the problem. I have tried with and without the mixer and this makes no difference. It seems when recording digitally to PC, it sounds fine. Another thing I noticed is that the problem is more apparent when listening back on speakers, as opposed to headphones, but I'm sure the speakers aren't the cause of the problem.

Another thing which is interesting is that if I record an LP of acoustic guitar to the tape it sounds absolutely fine, very good quality in fact.

The only thing I can think of to try, is to try out some different tape types and the tape bias position switch, but given that recording other sources seems to work OK I think this is a long shot. Or perhaps the tape head is magnetized?

Anyone have any ideas? Many thanks.

[analogkid]

It is possible that some of the tracks are having issues reproducing the high end - have you tried recording from that LP to each track and checking the results?

I suggest thoroughly cleaning the heads and demagnetizing if the problem persists. Already cleaned and demagged? Do both again to be sure - it can't hurt.

[RRuskin]

8-track cartridge? That's another term for "wow and flutter machine."

Your Akai should operate better but given its age, you need to do some serious maintenance to get it up to snuff: This would include but not be limited to:

Changing any/all belts. Cleaning or better yet, replacing the pinch roller. Physical alignment of the entire tape path. Then cleaning and degaussing it. (Degauss with machine off!) Calibration of the play and record electronics.

[Hi_Flyer]

what's an eight track cartridge? never heard of that format. unless you mean "stereo 8" from the 1970s...

but yeah, sounds like wow and flutter. What RRuskin said, or get a better deck.

[Beck]

You may have some wow & flutter problems, as mentioned, but you might also have frequency cancellation from mic technique and room acoustics.

You say you're using three mics. Can you please describe how you have them placed around the guitar... distance from the source and from each other, etc?