No signal with Otari mx5050 8-track (2 piece)

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daveanderberg

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Hi there, a few months ago I bought an otari mx-5050 8shd 8-track. The transport seems to be working, but I can't seem to get any signal in or out of the machine. There's no sound and no movement on any of the vu meters, even when I hit the "test osc" button(s). I've been looking all over the place for some help on the issue, and I keep seeing the pin-3 hot issue mentioned. Would this completely keep any sound from reaching the unit (in or out)? My understanding is that it would just make the signal unbalanced. In any case, I tried re-soldering a cable and tested it with no results. I'm hoping there's a simple button I missed pushing.

Thanks for any help.
 
Post a photo of the back of the unit.

Maybe this is one of those w/o jumpers on encode/decode jacks!

Was it recording before?
 
daveanderberg said:
Hi there, a few months ago I bought an otari mx-5050 8shd 8-track. The transport seems to be working, but I can't seem to get any signal in or out of the machine. There's no sound and no movement on any of the vu meters, even when I hit the "test osc" button(s). I've been looking all over the place for some help on the issue, and I keep seeing the pin-3 hot issue mentioned. Would this completely keep any sound from reaching the unit (in or out)? My understanding is that it would just make the signal unbalanced. In any case, I tried re-soldering a cable and tested it with no results. I'm hoping there's a simple button I missed pushing.

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

Are you in "input" mode? Is the signal coming in through line or mic?
 
I've never been able to get it to record. The guy I bought it from said it worked for him, but he also said it was the unit that Nirvana recorded Bleach with (It's not). Obviously I should have tested it before I bought it.

As far as I know, I've tried input mode (I've hit every iteration I can think of). Right now I'm trying to get channel 3 or 4 to work, and you can see that in teh pictures below.

- Does anybody know what should happen when I hit the "test osc" button?
- If I use the headphones jack, I assume the left channel should be channel 3 and the right channel should be channel 4?
- does anybody know what "srl" stands for?

montrealbefore024.jpg

montrealbefore028.jpg

montrealbefore029.jpg

montrealbefore027.jpg
 
If you run a mic input can you hear it through the headphones?

Can't believe the whole unit would not function.

Do you have a manual?
 
I'm afraid I don't have a manual. The closest I could find was the mkii, which is different enough to not be helpful.

I couldn't hear anything through the head phones period. One funny thing I noticed was that the "mic" inputs have a 1/4" jack, and the "line in" inputs have xlr jacks. Do the 1/4" inputs need to be rewired?
 
I'm in Seattle. I already got the mkiii direction (which is what I meant before) from that site, but I guess it couldn't hurt to ask.
 
If the unit powers on and you have no audio it has to be a connection issue.

Have you tried playing a previously recorded tape?
 
I got some tapes with the machine, and I've tried playing them, but I'm not sure if they have anything on them or not. It is really strange that all the channels are acting the same. It makes me think I'm doing something wrong, but as far as I can tell, I'm not. I wonder if anybody knows of any good techs in the Seattle area?
 
Sounds like you are not doing what would allow a signal to pass.

I don't know Otar equip so I can't help.

I would ask Mike via e-mail at the site I gave as to a possible tech in your area.
 
Not sure I did much, but Mike is a wizard with those machines.

For sure he will know someone who can help.
 
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