Recording issues on TSR-8

[octupus mcgee]

I finally found what I thought to be a pretty good deal, a Tascam TSR-8 that looked pretty mint with a few reels of (erased) tape and two RCA/.25" snakes for a reasonable price. Well I finally got around to hooking it all up today and I've discovered a problem;

The machine either does not record or does not playback (or both?).

When I have a track in record mode (with the red LED lit) the meter on the machine dances and seems to pick up whatever signal I am passing through it, however during playback (with the red LED unlit) the meter is blank and I hear absolutely nothing through my monitors. I unfortunately have to tape with any recording on it to test it.

What should I check out first? I've read that the relays can go bad. I'm fairly technically savvy but I'm still uncertain of what relays these are and where I can find them. Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[Dr ZEE]

I personally have no clue about the machine except that it's black.
Beck is a user. He may be around some day.
Found this 1 year old chat at tascam forum, that you may find interesting to check out: http://tascamforums.com/index.php?showtopic=14680.
just before you start messing with the machine, make sure (double check, that is) that you've connected and are operating the unit correctly (pushing the right buttons at the right time that is)

good luck

 

[jpmorris]

First, check the heads are clean - this is a fairly common problem with second-hand machines. They should not be black or brown - each track should be clearly visible.

 

[themaddog]

Are you certain that the tape is threaded correctly? This is something important to check, particularly if you are new to analog recording, although it happens to the best of us... once in a while.

-MD

 

[MCI2424]

I finally found what I thought to be a pretty good deal, a Tascam TSR-8 that looked pretty mint with a few reels of (erased) tape and two RCA/.25" snakes for a reasonable price. Well I finally got around to hooking it all up today and I've discovered a problem;

The machine either does not record or does not playback (or both?).

When I have a track in record mode (with the red LED lit) the meter on the machine dances and seems to pick up whatever signal I am passing through it, however during playback (with the red LED unlit) the meter is blank and I hear absolutely nothing through my monitors. I unfortunately have to tape with any recording on it to test it.

What should I check out first? I've read that the relays can go bad. I'm fairly technically savvy but I'm still uncertain of what relays these are and where I can find them. Any advice would be much appreciated!

If you can get a previously recorded tape to test playback, test that playback works. If you can't, put the deck into play mode and put any ac source close to the play haed (like a solderig iron tip). You should hear a strong 60Hz hum. If you do, then the play head and circuit is good.

Each channel will have a pc card. The relays are square and (should, not all!) have a plastic cover. TASCAM has used the kind I am describing on the 80-8.

Each card should be removed (with a static strap on!) and all contacts cleaned with De-Oxit spray.

The relays can be cleaned by taking off the plastc covers and cleaning the contacts. The contacts usually either have rust or dirt between them.

Put each card back in it's original location and test the deck.

If it works, cool. If not you will be forced to get a repair manual and chase down the master bias oscillator as these crap out.

Good Luck!

 

[octupus mcgee]

Thanks for the help everyone, I am sure that I am threading the tape correctly and the first thing I did when I got the machine was clean the heads and rollers as there was a fair amount of lovely tape goop on them all. I think that whatever the problem is it probably has to do with some overlying part due to the fact that it is happening on every channel.

 

[MCI2424]

Thanks for the help everyone, I am sure that I am threading the tape correctly and the first thing I did when I got the machine was clean the heads and rollers as there was a fair amount of lovely tape goop on them all. I think that whatever the problem is it probably has to do with some overlying part due to the fact that it is happening on every channel.

If that is the case, you want to check the playback path for operation. If it is OK, and the deck won't record or erase, the bias oscillator is probably bad. It is an easy fix BTW.

 

[octupus mcgee]

ok so there has been a development; channel 7 works but only sorta....when it plays back it cuts in and out.....anyone??

 

[MCI2424]

ok so there has been a development; channel 7 works but only sorta....when it plays back it cuts in and out.....anyone??

\

Good news. I would check the relays because those are what flips the signal path from play to record mode. If you press the record switch with a channel armed, you should hear a relay "click".

Each channel, when armed in record mode will click.

It sounds like the relay is cswiatching, now it seems that your relay contacts are really dirty (probably from too much time powered off). In operation, relays clean themselves.

 

[octupus mcgee]

So what should I do to clean them? Just let the machine run with a blank tape?

 

[MCI2424]

So what should I do to clean them? Just let the machine run with a blank tape?

You can try to arm/disarm each track many times. Sometimes switching the relay can clean out whatever is in the way.

The only other way to find out if it is the relay is to put a multimeter (or better yet an O-scope) on the relay signal IN and see if while playing the tape there is a voltage present. Then check the relay signal OUT to the playback circuitry to see if there is no voltage.

Unfortunately, you will need some troubleshooting experience and possibly an extender card to really fix this.

 

[SteveM]

The tape you're using could be bad too. I would, (if you haven't already) check the heads again with good light. If the there was alot of goop on there it could be still stuck on there. That stuff can really stick well after it's been sitting and has dried up. I'm only saying this because theres no way to tell how well you may have looked at them or cleaned them. You may have already gotten it all off.

 

[Beck]

I finally found what I thought to be a pretty good deal, a Tascam TSR-8 that looked pretty mint with a few reels of (erased) tape and two RCA/.25" snakes for a reasonable price. Well I finally got around to hooking it all up today and I've discovered a problem;

The machine either does not record or does not playback (or both?).

When I have a track in record mode (with the red LED lit) the meter on the machine dances and seems to pick up whatever signal I am passing through it, however during playback (with the red LED unlit) the meter is blank and I hear absolutely nothing through my monitors. I unfortunately have to tape with any recording on it to test it.

What should I check out first? I've read that the relays can go bad. I'm fairly technically savvy but I'm still uncertain of what relays these are and where I can find them. Any advice would be much appreciated!

When you press RECORD/PLAY does the blinking LED go to solid red or is it still blinking? If it’s still blinking you aren’t getting into record mode. This could be a circuit issue or you aren’t pressing record.

Although some of the older TASCAM machines like the 80-8 can have relay failures, the later generation TSR/MSR use sealed miniature relays that don’t have a history of failure. Any component can fail, but it’s very unlikely that all your relays would be defective. There are two on each amp card… 16 in all.

If the machine sat unused for a long time it’s more likely that the channel card contacts have some oxidation build-up where they plug into the main board. It’s a good practice to remove and reseat all channel cards when you get a used TSR or MSR machine. Many times this will solve the problems. You can get to the channel cards by removing the bottom panel. Remove the back panel too so you can better see how things are put together.

However, they may not need reseating on a well-maintained machine, so start with the easy stuff first.

The first thing I would check is tape threading, as has already been mentioned. See the attached photo and excuse my sloppy drawing. First remove the two screws on the head cover and carefully lift it off so you have a clear view of the head assembly.

Next thread the tape and make sure the tape is making contact with the heads while in PLAY. Something to look out for is lifters that aren’t fully retracting. The lifters are the two shafts on either side of the erase head that lift the tape away from the heads during FAST-FORWARD and REWIND. Put the machine in FAST-FORWARD and check that they move outward against the tape. Now push PLAY and check that they fully retract so the tape is making contact with the heads.

You mentioned you cleaned off a lot of goop from bad tape. That stuff is really a menace. At the point you think you have it really cleaned, scrub it 3-5 more times. The tape you are currently using could also be bad (sticky-shed). Signal will play back weaker on sticky shed tape and some high frequencies may not show up at all depending on how bad it is.

By the way, you can test for playback on a blank tape just from the background hiss. You won’t be able to see it on the meters (hopefully not ), but you can easily hear it with dbx off through your console and headphones or monitors.

~Tim