Cleaning Tascam M-520 console

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recordman

recordman

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I just picked up a Tascam M-520 console with power supply and she's a little dirty. All I'm going to be using it for is the channel strips and just direct out on each channel. I took some gear with me to test it out and I went through most of the channels and many of the pots are scratchy. It's still in the back of my car (I've got to have someone help me load it into the studio) so I'm not 100% sure on the good/bad with it but its definitely going to need cleaned.

Whats the procedure for this? Hose it down with contact cleaner?

Thanks
 
Unfortunately mine doesn't look anywhere near as pretty as this photo leads you to believe:

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But I got it for $200 with the power supply and a 2 hour drive each way. Felt thats an OK deal for my needs.

Ecspecially considering buying 8 channels of low end preamps is like $160...Now I get 20 with EQ!

She's missing a lot of those little jumpers on the back but I can just make some short RCA cables for that and one phantom power switch is pushed in on channel 4. Should be an easy fix
 
recordman said:
Whats the procedure for this? Hose it down with contact cleaner?
Click to expand...

NO...don't just "hose it down". :)

From another thread:

miroslav said:
AFA cleaning...that's easy...well, kinda. :)
Spraying from the top of the mixer into pots and faders is a TOTAL WASTE OF TIME...and you just end up with a big mess.
You have to take it apart...remove all the knobs/buttons, nuts and bolts...remove the metal panel...and then you have a chance to get at the pots/switches and faders.
You need to find the small openings on the pots/switches...and then give them very short/small bursts of deoxidizer/cleaner...and work them.
No need to overspray...you just end up with cleaner running all over everything. The important thing is to get the cleaner INTO the pot, not all over it. That's not easy on some if they are well sealed.
I prefer to use a brush rather than spray. I dip the brush into the cleaner and then work it into the cracks/edges of the pot...some will seep in there, and you won't end up with a mess. Then just "work the pot" a bunch of times back and forth to distribute the cleaner across the contacts.

AFA faders...most need to come apart if they can, and then you **carefully** clean the carbon contact strips. You don't want to hit/bend the actual copper brushes, which may be hard to see...so watch what you are doing!
Also...some faders prefer one cleaner over another.
My advice is call Caig Labs and tell them what brand/model you have...and they will suggest the best cleaning solutions to use.
Click to expand...
 
+1,000,000 to what Miroslav said.

I can tell you from extensive and direct experience that he is 100% correct.

Don't waste your time by trying to cut corners getting it in from the top. All you are doing is risking getting cleaner mixed with dirt and grease into the pot and that will (I gaurantee) make things worse.

On the M-520 the only way to do it right is to disassemble each 4-channel module. Yes I mean take the module out and remove each channel card. Otherwise you cannot get to the openings in the pot bodies to properly jet cleaner into it, sweep-sweep-sweep the pot, jet in some more and then place the card so that the cleaner can drain.

I've used DeoxIT F5 FaderLube for this with pleasing success.

Good luck.

BTW, $200 for a fully functional M-520 with PSU and power cable is a great deal.
 
Thanks, that's the kind of responses I was expecting. I've got it on my workbench at my shop ready to take it apart. I look forward to cleaning it up.

I was particularly interested in buying it after I read a lot of the threads on here discussing it. The 3 band parametic EQ makes me excited, even though I'm used to only using post production EQ ITB. I really do like using EQ on a board when tracking drums when I've been able to do it in the past.

I'll post some pictures to add to the info on M-520's for anyone else interested in them.
 
I just wanted to report that I took it apart and cleaned it out. It is beautiful inside, I wish I had my camera on me when I had the channel strips flipped up. The contact cleaner did wonders for the pots but the faders were all like new. 25 year old faders smooth as silk!

My stereo master b fader is scratchy and the left on the spare in doesn't work but these are all things I can live with.

I haven't tracked anything with it yet but one improvement I noticed already is that running my monitors through this board already sounds way better than the behringer mini mon I was using for a volume control.

Here she is

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Does anyone know where I can locate the bulbs for the VU meters in this board? I took my burnt ones out and they say "8V" with an "H" below.

Went to radio shack, they never seen it before. Going to check some local repair shops during the week.

Thanks for any leads.
 
ACTUALLY I'M NOT SURE THEY ARE A DIRECT FIT!

I seem to recall getting an assortment of those bulbs and finding that their shape is different...doesn't mean you can't rig them up...IIRC they are slightly bigger in diameter and longer. I might be able to produce more detail if needed...
 
sweetbeats said:
ACTUALLY I'M NOT SURE THEY ARE A DIRECT FIT!

I seem to recall getting an assortment of those bulbs and finding that their shape is different...doesn't mean you can't rig them up...IIRC they are slightly bigger in diameter and longer. I might be able to produce more detail if needed...
Click to expand...

Ok, yeah I was thinking that, they look to be a larger diameter. I order thousands of dollars of stuff from parts express every few weeks so I'll get a few in my next order and see if I can make them fit...I bet you could force them into the holder....hehe
 
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