another question

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antispatula

antispatula

Active member
ok so I'm TRYING to start calibration.

it tells me when I'm setting the repro level to set it so the voltmeter reads +4dbm. The machine is a +4 dbm machine, even though it is unbalanced. Now I'm confused. Is the +4 that I'm supposed to set the repro level to because the machine is a +4 machine, or does it have to do with the level being reproduced on the tape. I know that for the tests I'm supposed to have a 250nw/m tape, but then wouldn't I want to set the voltmeter to +3?

So if I have a +6 tape, should I set the voltmeter to read +6 dbm? Or would I still want to set it to +4?

Thanks!
 
you would want to set a 250 nwb/m tape for 0 so a 355 nwb/m for +3 above your operating level of +4. at least that is my understanding.
 
the output level of your machine should be +4 no matter what tape you are using. if you use tape that has a low output ie. 185 nwb/m, the tape noise will be higher against the recorded sigal because the streangth of the signal must be weaker to avoid distortion. Higher level tapes such as 456 will have a lower signal to noise ratio because you can record at higher levels. does that make sence?


ignor falken.. he's as confused as you.;)
 
My Name said:
the output level of your machine should be +4 no matter what tape you are using. if you use tape that has a low output ie. 185 nwb/m, the tape noise will be higher against the recorded sigal because the streangth of the signal must be weaker to avoid distortion. Higher level tapes such as 456 will have a lower signal to noise ratio because you can record at higher levels. does that make sence?


ignor falken.. he's as confused as you.;)
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well I gess that wud depend on how ur masheen is callibrated and where ur VU metres are, ay?
 
FALKEN said:
well I gess that wud depend on how ur masheen is callibrated and where ur VU metres are, ay?
Click to expand...
well no actually. if the machine is rated at +4 , then thats the maximumlevel your machine should be calibrated to put out no matter what tape you are using.

the +4 is for intigrating with other +4 machine and likewise with -10.
 
Antispatula

Back to your original query.

Do the instructions say 'set the voltmeter' OR 'set the Vu meter'.

The reason I am asking is that some Vu meters are also known as +4db
meters and some are +10 meters. I believe this is to take into account some very quick peaks in the incoming signal which the relatively slow reacting Vu meters would not register.This stops you over-recording and ending up with clipping on peaks. Peaks can easily rise to +12db or more above 'normal' levels

If the meters on your machine are +4 meters and work in playback mode then my inclination would be to play back a +6 tape so that the meters show +3db. This would set your machine for a +3db level at the playback side of calibration. However you will still have to calibrate the record meter levels to
0db to complete the calibration.

I am definately not an expert and am do not know your particular machine but I hope this helps.
 
My Name said:
well no actually. if the machine is rated at +4 , then thats the maximumlevel your machine should be calibrated to put out no matter what tape you are using.

the +4 is for intigrating with other +4 machine and likewise with -10.
Click to expand...

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