Missing track!

  • Thread starter Thread starter carlotter
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carlotter

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I've got a problem with a Fostex E8 (1/4''). It was serviced about a year ago and was working fine then.
It seems that the machine badly records (or plays?) the first track. When I try to record, I get no sound at all or a very low and muffled sound at best. The other tracks seem fine.
I've cleaned all the heads and tape path with isopropyl alcohol (they were quite dirty due to some shedding from RMGI tapes) and there is no difference.
I was wondering if it could be because of bad tape alignement? if it was that, wouldn't the other tracks be affected?
Thanks!
 
if the tape is badly aligned in the tape, say like shifted too high or too low, it is more likely that only one track, either track 1 or track 8 would be effected. Can you put up any pics of the tape path and the tape in the path?

Also, swabs don'talways get into the nooks and crannies very well. Try 100 percent cotton makeup remover pads, the quilted kind. Make sure the cleaning fluid is at least 91 percent or better if it is iso alcohol (make sure there is no water in the ingredients), or use denatured alcohol.
 
Thanks for your reply. Here's a link to the pictures of the path+tape.

www . flickr.com/photos/fuzzylights/sets/72157611950084972/

The head might be a little too high but it's very minimal, could that be it? If I move it down, would I need to have all the tracks re-biased?
 
I had a better look and I think I found the answer to the problem in this thread:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=228067

Basically the tape machine was used only with Quantegy 456 which has dug some grooves on the tape guides. Being that I'm using RMG 911 which is wider, it's shedding a lot at the edges, so the first track gets covered straight away. I'm taking the machine apart to try to rotate the guides to see if it makes a difference, but you can see it visibly shedding on the R/W head... which is strange as I can't fell a groove on it with my finger?!?
 
I doubt it's tape width issue [yes, I know this issue has been discussed before]. You should contact one of the RMGI managers for your area:
http://www.rmgi-usa.com/sales_manager.html

Tell them your issue, give them the tape's batch number and you'll probably get a replacement.

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