dropouts

  • Thread starter Thread starter James K
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James K

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Hi,
I record using a Fostex R8 with RMG SM911 tape. I'm pretty pleased with the sound but occasionally I experience dropouts. I keep the machine very clean and always make sure the tape is running smoothly. What I want to know is, if the dropout isn't there on first listening and then it occurs later, is it possible that it will remain or is it just a problem on playback? Sometimes they can last a second or two and I can't imagine 15 to 30 inches of tape suddenly becoming damaged enough to create a dropout like that or is this possible? Also, it is not just on outside tracks that this occurs.

Thanks
 
Not sure if this will help or not but I've never had any problems with dropout on RMG or ATR tape. However, my Nephew had an old reel of ??? and it had dropouts but that tape was very old. Hope someone can help.
 
what machine are you running? I think the problem probably lies with the R8 as it is such narrow gauge.
 
I would also closely check the guides to see if the tape is flowing smoothly through them and not binding.

I assume the heads are very clean?
 
it seems to be running smoothly, how would I tell if it was binding?
 
I did read that sometimes newer tape can bind on some guides due to varying widths of the tape from different manufacturers.

I marked the orig position and the removed the guides on both of my machines. I thoroughly cleaned them and reinstalled in different positions.

You could always put some hard plastic tubing that just fits over the whole guide temporarily and try recording to see if problem goes away.

Trial and error.
 
I'll try that. Am I right in thinking though that if the dropout isn't on the first playback then it must be a playback problem and the dropout isn't permanent?
 
Not sure about that. You need one of the wizards here on that matter such as Ethan or Cory (sweetbeats) etc.

It may be a connection issue.

Make sure all those heads are very clean though.
 
try another type of tape and see if you have the same problem.
 
Dropouts? Haven't kids figured out they should stay in SCHOOL???
 
Ok so now try my suggestion to see if any change.

If not it's a dirty connector or problem circuit board.

You could also record a bit and then try playback on another 8 track machine for comparison.
 
exams

I stayed at school only to play music thus when exam time came around i stayed the compulsory 30 minutes then left to tend to my plants down the bush.
no regrets. i have a great job, love life , well travelled. a successful drop out... oh you mean tape drop out. i get that too. think its from oxide build up but too inexperienced with my machine (2 weeks into it and temporarily retired while terry the roller man rubbers my roller.) to give an advice....Hope you solve it!
 
Generally dropouts are minute gaps in the sound and a gap lasting a second is way more likely to be an electro/mechanical than a tape issue. Years ago I purchased a reel of TDK for a SONY RTR I used to own and it was loaded with dropout issues. It drove me nuts as the SONY was brand new at the time. The SONY never fully recovered from that reel of tape which seemed to have done a number on the heads. Not even SONY service in Long Island NY could determine the cause and the deck played perfectly enough for SONY so they wouldn't honor a warranty exchange. However the deck was now useless for my purposes of recording original demo material. Eventually one very frustrating afternoon I simply tossed the SONY out the window of my 8th floor apartment in NYC. It took me a year to save up to buy another RTR deck and the SONY's replacement was my Teac A-2300SD that I still own use and love.
 
Sony.

Ive heard similar stories of people dealing with Sony.
thats a shame bro...oh well you got a good deck now...
 
Lance Lawson said:
Generally dropouts are minute gaps in the sound and a gap lasting a second is way more likely to be an electro/mechanical than a tape issue.
Click to expand...

right, that's good to hear. If I don't hear them on first playback then, they're not really anything to worry about. I.e. they're not permanent and will go? I've been recording all day every day with the R8 since last Monday. I've been keeping the recorder very clean and I haven't really had that many problems with dropouts. Hopefully it'll be fine :) Thanks for the info
 
How clean is the tape running through the tape path? If you clean your heads/guides/rollers and run a reel of tape through how does averything look?

On a 1/4" 8-track machine it would only take a tiny speck of foreign material to completely block a track from reproducing or recording.

Once a dropout occurs can you rewind and have it happen in the same spot again or does it "move around"?

Is the problem on a consistent track or set of tracks?
 
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