Hey folks, would you guys spare a moment to help me out?
I bought a Tascam 244 off eBay recently. The seller claimed everything was tested, but the pinch roller was so gummed up when it arrived, it was blatantly obvious that wasn't the case.
I got a partial refund, fixed the pinch roller and all the belts are A-OK. But now I run into even more trouble...
I'm testing with test tones from my DAW. Monitoring through the Tascam, everything sounds fine (so I assume it's not the preamp?)
Upon playback, there are huge volume and clarity differences between recorded tracks. These differences themselves are inconsistent. On some recordings, it's track 1 that sounds bust. I fast forward onto another part of the cassette, or put in another cassette, and suddenly it's track 2 that's bad. At one point, track 3 was completely silent!
(Yes, I've cleaned the heads! It helps, but only a little...)
EDIT: I used some longer test tones. There are little dips and drops in volume within each track too, on top of the volume differences from track to track.
I cross-checked with another working 4 track I have. I hear these differences too. So I'm quite sure these differences are recorded into the tape, and don't arise upon playback.
Admittedly, I'm a total newbie to working with these 4 track cassette machines, and analog as a whole. I'm suspecting it's the play/rec head that's worn down, but honestly I have no clue! I now turn towards your collective wisdom.
If not the heads, what else could it possibly be?
I've attached some pics here, I hope you guys could take a look? Please help! I feel like I'm about to go mad.
Thanks in advance, I appreciate it very much!
I bought a Tascam 244 off eBay recently. The seller claimed everything was tested, but the pinch roller was so gummed up when it arrived, it was blatantly obvious that wasn't the case.
I got a partial refund, fixed the pinch roller and all the belts are A-OK. But now I run into even more trouble...
I'm testing with test tones from my DAW. Monitoring through the Tascam, everything sounds fine (so I assume it's not the preamp?)
Upon playback, there are huge volume and clarity differences between recorded tracks. These differences themselves are inconsistent. On some recordings, it's track 1 that sounds bust. I fast forward onto another part of the cassette, or put in another cassette, and suddenly it's track 2 that's bad. At one point, track 3 was completely silent!
(Yes, I've cleaned the heads! It helps, but only a little...)
EDIT: I used some longer test tones. There are little dips and drops in volume within each track too, on top of the volume differences from track to track.
I cross-checked with another working 4 track I have. I hear these differences too. So I'm quite sure these differences are recorded into the tape, and don't arise upon playback.
Admittedly, I'm a total newbie to working with these 4 track cassette machines, and analog as a whole. I'm suspecting it's the play/rec head that's worn down, but honestly I have no clue! I now turn towards your collective wisdom.
If not the heads, what else could it possibly be?
I've attached some pics here, I hope you guys could take a look? Please help! I feel like I'm about to go mad.
Thanks in advance, I appreciate it very much!
Last edited: