Biasing an Otari Mx-5050MK III-2

  • Thread starter Thread starter MTL
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MTL

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Do I need special equipment to bias this machine for a specific tape? I bought this unit cheap because the bonehead that owned it tried to improve on the sound quality by turning all of the bias screws and could never get it back to normal. Is this something that can be done with the internal 1k and 10k test tones or do I need to send it to a shop?
Thanks for your expertise.
 
Send it to a shop.:(

Calibration work requires an MRL calibration tape, an oscilloscope for checking azimuth, a good VTM meter for setting voltages and the experience to do the whole procedure.

A calibration procedure should run about 1 to 1.5 hours of bench time. Buying all that other stuff is much, much more.

Make sure you find a shop and technician who has experience and the proper MRL calibration tape.

I might be wrong about this but, I think the tone generator built into your deck would only help you in setting recording levels and little else.

Having the owner's manual would tell you for sure about that one.

Good luck!

Cheers! :)
 
Thanks Ghost.

I thought that is what I would hear. I just needed it to come from another source. Thanks Again.
 
A calibration tape and all the tools are needed for a full alignment but you can set the bias using a new 456 tape and the built in 10K test tone. An over bias of 3db will sound great. I use the built in test tone on my Otari MTR-10 all the time. Paul.
 
If some bonehead has tweak the bias setting, be probably has tweakes the otehr settings too, so then you need a calibration tape. The oscilloscope is only needed fo azimuth, which is probably fine.

But a calibration tape still aint cheap, so unless you are thinking about recalibrating often, send it to a shop.
 
What the guy told me was

He attempted to change the bias for Quantegy GP-9 tape. He did not like the result so he also changed the record level and the high side of the eq. These are all assessable from the front of the reel to reel. If any of you know the process is it something you can easily explain here? I would prefer to try it before sending it to a shop. It seems I can't screw it up any worse if it is wrong. While I am at it. I also have a clean copy of Quantegy GP 9, Grand Master 456 and Grand Master 499. Which is the best to use for accoustic and some mild southern rock?
Thanks for your help.
 
MTL,

The calibration process for my reel to reel TASCAM 16 track occupies about 20 pages of text and pictures in my service manual.

It is not realistic to expect anyone to transcribe the complete procedure that is specific to your deck.

Even if they did, you would still need all the gear listed already in this thread.

It's not a simple or quick procedure.

Take it to a decent service shop and get it done right.

Cheers! :)
 
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