new to analog, help with tascam atr 60/08 1/2"

[pajarete]

Hi all,

I've posted this question around at all the usual suspects, but seems like there's a bit more activity here. Here we go -

I've got a week to test out a tascam atr 60/08. Transport functions working fine, all the vu's light up real pretty, I can hear relays click when the deck is recording and even see tiny little bumps in the meters when the tracks are set to record. However, I'm unable to get any input signal registering at all through the vu meters . I'm certain I've got a level at the input, and tracks are armed.

So specifically, what is the blow by blow for setting up the machine to see input levels happening on the vu meters, so I can get on with testing the machine.

I'd love to grab a manual, but after reading sweet beat's 58 saga, i don't think one is going to arrive within the week...

Thanks, and please let me know if more details are needed.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

At the most basic level, there is a main monitoring group of three switches, labeled INPUT, SYNC and REPRO. In order to see the meters move prior to recording, or when tape is stopped, the INPUT button needs to be depressed to show signals going into the deck.

Have you done that?

Cheers!

 

[pajarete]

Thanks for the quick reply!

At the most basic level, there is a main monitoring group of three switches, labeled INPUT, SYNC and REPRO. In order to see the meters move prior to recording, or when tape is stopped, the INPUT button needs to be depressed to show signals going into the deck.

Have you done that?

Yes I have. The INPUT button is depressed. I've also tried pressing the button above those three labeled 'input enable'. No luck. It's the same for every track. I've also tried recording, with the tracks armed, with the red led lit up above each vu meter, and still nothing.

Would my deck's symptoms have anything to do with an incorrect pinout from the source material? I've tested with balanced outs from a mackie mixer, pro sony minidisc deck, and an otari mx 50 outputting a test tone (came with the tascam!). Just guessing here of course...

I'm going to try and record something anyways and see if signal is getting in despite the meters.

Thanks again for responding - I actually tried to pm you based on your info over on the tascam forum and got a undeliverable message - so it's great to get your help!

 

[pajarete]

I just tried recording and playing back the results - and there was nothing. Not even tape hiss... I had the headphones cranked and could not tell any difference between two tracks being played back and full stop.

One other thing I've noticed is the erase head seems to be disfigured where the wires come out, as if it heated up too much. It actually bubbles up a bit and you can see the solder joints inside the head. The other two heads look great in terms of wear. Just trying to put all the info I can muster out there for you guys...

 

[The Ghost of FM]

If you're using the balanced inputs, they're wired for pin 3 hot. Ensure your gear that feeding it is also the same. If your sources are pin 2, that might be the problem.

Also, the ATR60 series decks are a 2 piece affair. Ensure that the wiring harnesses for all three heads are connected to the back of the amp unit.

The erase head wiring and bubbling sounds odd! Normally, the erase head can have some black streak marks or stains compared to the record and repro head but the bubbles sound weird!

Can you post a picture of that?...a clear one!

Cheers!

 

[pajarete]

If you're using the balanced inputs, they're wired for pin 3 hot. Ensure your gear that feeding it is also the same. If your sources are pin 2, that might be the problem.

soldered up a pin 2 to 3 converter to test that, same result. In retrospect, it seems like this would just reverse the phase of the signal.

Also, the ATR60 series decks are a 2 piece affair. Ensure that the wiring harnesses for all three heads are connected to the back of the amp unit.

all hooked up. I've started going through with an ohm-meter testing the resistance from the tape head connections to the connectors at the amp, no breaks so far.

The erase head wiring and bubbling sounds odd! Normally, the erase head can have some black streak marks or stains compared to the record and repro head but the bubbles sound weird!

Can you post a picture of that?...a clear one!

attached - I guess it looks more like a popped bubble... The business end of the head looks fine however.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

From the picture alone, it's not immediately telling me much of anything as the bubble is localized to one area of the head and might have been caused by something as simple as a soldering iron tip touching it by accident and melting part of the surface...or less likely some type of catastrophic overload, though I doubt any of the current deliveries to that circuit are high enough to melt that plastic before popping a fuse?

I'm not sure what to tell you at this point so perhaps a couple of the other technically minded members here could chime in with their best guesses.

What if anything did the previous owner of the deck tell you about the machine? Did they have any information about service issues with it?

For all 8 channels to be dead, I suppose the best place to start looking for issues would be in the circuits that are common to the all 8 channels which would include things like the master bias oscillator, the fuses on the power supply that feed the amp channel circuitry, which would be different then the lamp circuit which lights up the meters.

A service manual and experience in troubleshooting circuits would obviously be a major feather in your cap.

You also mentioned you have this deck only for one week. Is it your intension to put money into it to fix it if need be or were you looking for a machine that would work straight away only?

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Cheers!

 

[pajarete]

What if anything did the previous owner of the deck tell you about the machine? Did they have any information about service issues with it?

The owner of the store I got it from received as a trade in - he doesn't know the history beyond that.

You also mentioned you have this deck only for one week. Is it your intension to put money into it to fix it if need be or were you looking for a machine that would work straight away only?

The owner from the store just let me know that I can have as long as I need to try it out - super nice - he'll even reimburse me for the service manual if I decide to give up on the whole thing! So I'm willing to prod a bit more now. I just bought a replacement erase head off ebay for $50, so I'm in that much now...

I was reading evm1024's work on the tascam 58, and I believe he lives across the river from me, so I may give him a try.

Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[evm1024]

Are you in Portland?

You should be able to set the deck to playback (repro) and touch the playback head connectors (bare wire part) with your finger and hear the hum pickup. If that does not work you will need to go up the chain to find out where the problem is.

Regards, ethan

PS I work in Beaverton....

 

[pajarete]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I'm in Portland - s.e. to be exact. I used to work out in Beaverton! Small world.

You should be able to set the deck to playback (repro) and touch the playback head connectors (bare wire part) with your finger and hear the hum pickup. If that does not work you will need to go up the chain to find out where the problem is.

I was able to hear a hum, and the meters moved! Nice to know that works at least...

 

[evm1024]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I'm in Portland - s.e. to be exact. I used to work out in Beaverton! Small world.



I was able to hear a hum, and the meters moved! Nice to know that works at least...

Then it should playback a pre recorded tape! But getting a signal into it is now the issue.

With Input selected you should be able to get a meter deflection when you put in a signal.

What do you want to do with this deck? Does it need fixinng and will the price drop accordingly.

Regards, Ethan

 

[pajarete]

Then it should playback a pre recorded tape! But getting a signal into it is now the issue.

great - actually there's a guy on craigslist selling some 1/2" tape with some music already on it - I may grab a reel just to be sure.

With Input selected you should be able to get a meter deflection when you put in a signal.

that's the issue - I get nothing at all. Would the strange looking erase head have anything to do with that? Are the two linked in any way that would cause this issue?

What do you want to do with this deck? Does it need fixinng and will the price drop accordingly.

I'm going to use it in my home studio - I have fantasies of tracking bands live to this thing. The price may drop on it. He's been pretty good about making sure I'm getting a fair deal out of this so far.

 

[evm1024]

The erase head has nothing to do with seeing the inputs on the meters.

Have a photo of the front?

You can bring it by my work if you want or we can work something else out.


Looks like it is on a roll around stand which makes it harder to move so getting it to work at lunch might be hard. Oh well. Have you tried wiggling all the channel cards and looking for missing pieces?

--Ethan

 

[pajarete]

okay, good to know about the erase head. I guess I jumped the gun on buying a new one, but at that price, I figured 'why not'...

It's not on a cart - I could bring it by your work - thanks for the offer! I'll p.m. you so you've got my email.

and yeah, I tried wiggling the cards, even took one out for fun. Still nothing.

Thanks again for your help - what a great forum!

 

[evm1024]

Not a bad deck

I got to look at pajarete's deck today. It looks like a very low hours deck based on the lack of wear on the heads and guides. I say go for it.

It appears that the reason we are not hearing any sound out of it or into is is because it does not have the DBX unit or the jumper plug for the DBX jack.

MS16, and ATR-60 use the same DBX units (DX8DS I think) which takes the audio from the deck and runs it to a bypass switch or the DBX encoder/decoder in the DBX unit. Without the DBX or bypass plug the audio goes nowhere.

Does someone have a DBX or jumper for him?

We were able to playback a prerecorded tape and see the meters move. I was able to (using a paperclip ) jumper one channel so as to listen to the audio. It sounded fine. There may be other problems lurking (e.g. dead channels) but that is not insurmountable.

All in all a nice condition deck. Not as many parts out there but then again a very nice deck.

Here is a photo of the heads and guides just to give an indication of the low hours.

Regards, Ethan

 

[pajarete]

Big thanks to Ethan - total class act who took time out of his day to patiently school me on the basics of analog audio. And yeah, if anyone has a dbx jumper or entire dbx unit that they don't need, I'd be interested in buying it off of them.

 

[dodgeaspen]

Major thanks evm1024 for being willing to work on that deck. Here are some points for you my friend.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Aha!

The dreaded dbx bridging connector! Good catch evm!

My MS16 came with the dbx units so I never even thought to ask about that...my bad!

No bridging connectors came with mine when I bought it used but according to the manual, they were an original included accessory that came with the decks when they were new, so I can't help you out there, pajarete, sorry.

Perhaps TASCAM parts still has stock on the part??

Give them a call!

Cheers!

 

[evm1024]

Calling tascam would be a good Idea. In the short term the pins shorted to each other are (with the rest left open).

1-2
4-5
7-8
10-11
13-14
16-17
19-20
22-23
36-37
40-41
43-44
46-47
49-50
52-32
55-56
58-59

Here is what it looks like.

Regards, Ethan

PS as for help, I've needed plenty over the years. karma

 

[sweetbeats]

Hm...its a Hirose connector is it not?

How many pins?