Help a digihead out..cassette playback deck

  • Thread starter Thread starter RFsoundguy
  • Start date Start date
RFsoundguy said:
...I did order a used Tascam 112mkII.
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How much have you given away for it?
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Is there a "Cassette Decks for Dummies" FAQ I should read?
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- Nop.
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btw,
"Garbage in, garbage out". - is a saying that is specifically designed for transfering pain from sick head to a healthy one. It's a lame excuse that has been and is being successfully used by manufacturers and promoters of devices that are only capable of spitting garbage out regardless of what's comming in.

/respects
 
Dr Zee, a little over $200 with shipping and insurance.
 
ah, 200 bucks is cool.
Now, just wait when you get it. Check visually the tape path/heads, clean heads (it does not hurt) and give a test drive. If it gives you any problems, then think about "servicing" it.
Don't stick a screwdriver of any kind anywhere needlessly.
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What are the cassette tapes you are planing to play/transfer to digital?. Are they commercial or are they home/self recorded. If self-recorded - are they from the same person (meaning been recorded on the same machine) or from all over the world?.
"Tweaking" the head's lil' screw may be helpful and maybe even needed, but chances are you don't have to do it at all... it depends.
That's why I've mentioned a deck like DN770R - because A: it's bult to handle heavy 'commercial' use (meaning if you are buying one used from a home environment, the chances are it IS still in great shape, but if you are buying anything! used from pro-studio - WHATCH OUT! :mad: ), and B: it has two in one, so you can mess with one deck if needed or feel like and not worry about screwing up (there's no much to scew up there to begin with, but still), another words, you keep one deck adjusted to "standard" and the other one - you can tweak to get "best possible" playback for home-recorded cassettes (that's if this is what you are working with).
...anyway...since you are getting 112MKII ... it's all blah blah. You are getting a beautiful machine, a bit overkill in your situation (imho) but, it depends on how you look at it.
Also "servicing" it at a commercial service center (or local tech service place) may cost you another couple of hundered bucks. Hopefully you don't need it.

good luck
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and, Dave, you should start issuing something like THIS. Be creative, make it nice ... but don't make it looking like a pink ribbon, it may be taken as an insult ;) :p

/respects
 
The tapes are all home done recording of live venue events, by various people using anything from a portable recorder to a feed off the in house PA system and a pro deck, dating back to 1985. All the ones I've looked at seem to be in pretty good shape, stored in the plastic cases, not cracked or warped, etc.

I've got pictures of the unit I'm getting and it looks brand new. Supposedly was in a buyout of a defunct business - no studio use. Still in original box with all accessories but the seal was broken. Seller tested it, cleaned it, demagged it, etc. and pronounced it "as nearly new as possible". I can tell by the photos (if it's the unit I'm getting) that it's never been rack mounted, which supports the non-studio use.

You are probably right, the 112 is probably overkill for what I'm doing, but I was hesitant to buy a unit that was out of production like the Denon 770. I'm sure it's a fine unit and would have fit the bill. With the 112, I can probably recoop most of my costs if I decide to sell it when the project is finished. Plus it should in theory be easier to get parts since it's still a current unit if I need to replace a head or something. I also like the fact that it's a simpler non-reverse unit -- less stuff the break. I'm looking for the balanced I/O kit now to give me +4dbm outputs to my Tascam board. I can get a new one for $100 but that seems kinda high, I'd pay $50 though.

As many tapes as I have, I'm thinking that the wired remote might not be a bad investment, but $200 for 6 buttons is a lot :eek: The DB25 connector is spec'ed out in the manual, maybe I'll just build my own remote.
 
Excellent and very informative posts Tim. Welcome to the forum.
 
cjacek said:
Welcome to the forum.
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It's better late than never [ ;) ]
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and, yes! Welcome! The hunger of knowing what, how and with what the "REAL" ones do will never be satisfied. It can't be satisfied. The "UNREAL" ones (those insecure litle homey-hobbiests with mosquito-thin voices and with even thinner self-confidence and self-respect shall stay hungry... by their own choice and forever, that is. They'll stay hungry... shamefully NOT inThat Sense :( . I am about to come to a conclusion, that they (the "UNREAL" ones) do not deserve to have a forum.
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And to be a complete and hopless A*S (as I am (of course)}, a special note: This very post is really not meant to have a deeper or hidden meaning. It's basically say what you mean and say as it is type of thing (as opposite to an alternative method and style). And it's done to get us to once and for all disagree on something with not much of a hope for a change (not at this place, anyway). - :(

/respects
 
Dr. Zee: I'm not sure what you're trying to say, whether it's a genuine reply to the original poster or some sort of a "shot" at me ? Whatever uncomfortable words were exchanged between you and I not too long ago just let it go. Better yet, clearly define what issues (if any) you have with me or my posts, ok ?
 
cjacek said:
Dr. Zee: I'm not sure what you're trying to say, whether it's a genuine reply to the original poster or some sort of a "shot" at me?
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I am trying to say - I am actually saying.
No, it's not a genuine reply to the original poster. It's a follow up in reply to a follow up.
I don't have any issues with members. If I do have issues, then they relate to what was posted by a member. And I "define" those issues in the reply-posts as clear as I'm capable of. I can't do better. :)

/later
 
WAVEREPAIR has noise reduction components for tape as well as selectable sensistivity when taking the noise finger print & when applying reduction WITH UNDO as well.
It will find tracks in the wave file you make (though ALWAYS check these in any software), split them when you've confirmed, removed crackle & pops etc from the recording if it was made from an LP in the 1st instance and so on.
ON TOP OF THAT the author actually uses the prog & regularly upgrades it (copies of which you can download for FREE after buying the prog initially). It only cost US$30 & is BRILLIANT.
I've used it on about 30 Cassettes and 100+ LPs SO FAR & still going as I have 1000+ LPs to get through.
Plenty of RAM & a good soundcard make it faster & better but it works really well at just 128M - now I have 1.5gig RAM it FLIES through the tasks. Soundcard quality, obviously, will determin the AD conversion quality.
 
Thanks Reelperson and Cjakek for the welcomes and appreciation. It's good to find the forum. Glad to be a part of it.
Tim
 
bloomboy said:
You might consider checking your local goodwill or thrift store. I found a technics RS-B465 in perfect working order fo $10 a couple of months ago :D and a while ago I saw a microkorg ((3-400 dollar synth) for $15 :eek: I think they thought it was a toy keyboard becuase of its size
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I do check the Goodwill and thrift stores in my area. Unfortunately, all the really good bargains get gone before I get there. I did see a Betamax deck in there not too long ago...

hey, go buy the microkorg and ship it to me. $25 for your trouble :)
 
I've picked up a ton of great stereo gear at the local Salvation Army!

That includes a Sony receiver, cassette deck & 5-cd changer,... a Technics cassette deck and cd player, & a TEAC dbx cassette deck. Just last week I got a Panasonic integrated receiver/cassette deck combo which is cool & 100% functional, ($20). Also some "all-in-one" hifi sets that include an integrated tuner, cassette and turntable. I got a great desktop microcassette recorder for only $6, (Panasonic).

The Salvation Army outlet in my town seems to have a fair bit of nice stuff,... along with the usual non functioning clunkers. It pays to test and troubleshoot these items before purchase, 'cause many of them are 'fixers'. :eek: ;)
 
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OK, a little update here. The 112mkII arrived yesterday. As advertised, it's almost new. I did not get a chance to check it out except visually, but it looks great. What a TANK! :eek: The guy I bought it from even went so far as to print out a manual.

I also requested a parts list from TASCAM. Let's pretend that I needed to replace the entire tape path, heads, motors, roller, capsan things, rubber wheels, flux capacitors.....Anything mechanical that can wear out. Any idea what the cost on parts might run?
 
Yes it looks like a tank but there's also a lot of empty space inside!
If it's had very little use as you say you may be lucky and not need to do anything except a tape path clean and demag.
I wouldnt be replacing parts that dont seem to have any obvious fault but I would especially check the wear on the record/play head (is there a definite groove in it?) and make sure it handles tapes without damaging them.
A good tech will check mechanicals like take up torque, back tension, head wear and alignment, pinch roller and pressure etc. For these he will have tools such as torque gauges, spring balance and the all important head adjustment jig, and know how to use them. I think there was one service manual covering three related Tascam models.
This model used, I think, a flat belt drive capstan with another motor for the reels, driving through a small idler wheel and clutch. There is a third motor to push the heads and pinch roller in and out.
Cost of parts? Teac/Tascam should be able to quote on specific items.
Cheers Tim
 
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