388 playback (or record?) issue

[famous beagle]

So I started recording a song on my 388. I first recorded a drum track on track 1, played it back, and it sounded great.

Then I started adding some more instruments on tracks 2-5 or so. At one point, I heard a dip in volume on the drum track for about a second and then it returned to normal. It almost sounded like a compressor artifact or something (like pumping), but I know it wasn't that because I didn't have a compressor on the track. So I thought it was possibly a short in the mixer signal path maybe. When I played back the same phrase, though, the same spot, though, it did it again at the same spot. This was only on the drum track (track 1). The other tracks were (and still are, so far) fine.

After some more tracking, this spot got worse and grew to probably 10 or 20 seconds. It'll be playing along fine in the beginning of the song, and then when it gets to this one spot, the volume drops a bunch and remains down there for a good 20 seconds or so before returning to normal.

I've cleaned the heads since this started happening, and the tape path was clean.

The tape is almost brand new LPR35. I thought it was RMGI, but I guess it's actually Pyral. I bought it from Splicit probably 6 or 8 months ago, and though there's a business card in the box from Splicit that says RMGI dealer, the tape box says Pyral. A quick search revealed that I guess RMGI went out of business in 2012 or so, and I guess Pyral bought it up or something?

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has experience this kind of issue before? Does it sound like a bad tape issue or a machine issue?

I'm going to try recording the drum track (it's an EZDrummer track) again on track 1 on a later spot in the tape to see if the same thing happens again.

Thanks for any input.

 

[j.harv]

It could be that you're recording the drum track on an edge track. Try recording it on track 2 or 3.
Sometimes the tape will travel over the edges of the groove that is cut in the head and will cause wavering volume.

 

[famous beagle]

Thanks. I thought about that.

But I also thought that, if that's the case, then it's most likely a sign that there's an alignment issue maybe?

I mean, I assume that, if the machine is perfectly calibrated and aligned (and I'm not saying mine is; I don't know if it is), you should be able to record on all eight tracks without issue, correct?

 

[sweetbeats]

Harv is referring to a physical issue, not an electronics issue. Edge tracks can be more problematic especially on such a narrow-format machine.

Even the tiniest spec can take record or playback level to almost nil on any track but especially edge tracks. Not knowing the condition of the tape path I have no idea if there's an issue with physical setup...

Yes Pyral bought RMGI.

Don't know if there might be a tape slitting issue...if try recording on a different section of tape. Look at the edges of your guides for any debris. Look to see if it looks like there is any curling of the tape edges in the wear robes in the guides or heads.

 

[famous beagle]

Ok thanks! I will examine the tape and tape path and then try recording on a different portion.