I took a Fostex G16S I consider buying for testing, and I need some advice on what to check for etc.
It's probably from 1992 (this is what is written on the heads) and visually I can see it's quite in a good condition - i.e. I can't see much wear at all on the heads / transport. At least not as the last MSR16 and E16 I saw had... It also comes with two Fosetx 5030 Line Amplifier units (8 in RCA , 8 out RCA, 8 in XLR, 8 out XLP, BAL/UNBAL switch) and connectors.
So far I encountered a few problems -
1. When speeding the tape (forward/rewind) sometimes it works fine (i.e. very high speed) but than sometimes when you stop and rewind/forward again it either won't move unless you turn the reel with hands, or will turn very slowly, like play speed.
The seller has told me I might not have put the tape correctly but I don't think so.
2. When Rewinding/Forwarding, the tape is "eaten" at one side (external edge) just at the point where it touches the left most transport pin (under the heads block). This looks very severe to me - should it only need an adjustment of the transport rout ?
3. When turning it on, meters leds of a few track are lighten constantly, at different level. The seller said it might be due to not connecting the Line Amplifiers. Sound strange to me as I not recall having this with the MSR16 I checked out and my Fostex M80... Anyhow, I connected the outputs/inputs as following and still the same thing.
1st unit
8 RCA outs to G16S 8 ins (tracks 1-8)
8 RCA ins from G16S 8 outs (tracks 1-8)
8 XLR ins from patch bay , 8 XLR outs to mixer (tracks 1-8)
2nd unit
8 RCA outs to G16S 8 ins (tracks 9-16)
8 RCA ins from G16S 8 outs (tracks 9-16)
8 XLR ins from patch bay , 8 XLR outs to mixer (tracks 9-16)
Thanks !
It's probably from 1992 (this is what is written on the heads) and visually I can see it's quite in a good condition - i.e. I can't see much wear at all on the heads / transport. At least not as the last MSR16 and E16 I saw had... It also comes with two Fosetx 5030 Line Amplifier units (8 in RCA , 8 out RCA, 8 in XLR, 8 out XLP, BAL/UNBAL switch) and connectors.
So far I encountered a few problems -
1. When speeding the tape (forward/rewind) sometimes it works fine (i.e. very high speed) but than sometimes when you stop and rewind/forward again it either won't move unless you turn the reel with hands, or will turn very slowly, like play speed.
The seller has told me I might not have put the tape correctly but I don't think so.
2. When Rewinding/Forwarding, the tape is "eaten" at one side (external edge) just at the point where it touches the left most transport pin (under the heads block). This looks very severe to me - should it only need an adjustment of the transport rout ?
3. When turning it on, meters leds of a few track are lighten constantly, at different level. The seller said it might be due to not connecting the Line Amplifiers. Sound strange to me as I not recall having this with the MSR16 I checked out and my Fostex M80... Anyhow, I connected the outputs/inputs as following and still the same thing.
1st unit
8 RCA outs to G16S 8 ins (tracks 1-8)
8 RCA ins from G16S 8 outs (tracks 1-8)
8 XLR ins from patch bay , 8 XLR outs to mixer (tracks 1-8)
2nd unit
8 RCA outs to G16S 8 ins (tracks 9-16)
8 RCA ins from G16S 8 outs (tracks 9-16)
8 XLR ins from patch bay , 8 XLR outs to mixer (tracks 9-16)
Thanks !
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