Old black face eating tapes

  • Thread starter Thread starter DaveJ
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DaveJ

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Hi all! I just bought an old black face ADAT a while ago (dirt cheap) and it has just recently started to eat tapes. I have cleaned the tape path but it doesn’t seem to help. For the first little while everything worked great, but now the old bugger just jambs up every now and again. The tapes that I am using are HHB’s.
Dave
 
1- Try some Maxell Profession SVHS tapes. Very good tape. Does it eat different brands of tape?

2- If 1 doesn't help, then take the machine in to an authorized Alesis repair shop close to you. The tape loading mechanism may need adjustment, of some silly thing like that.

3- ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR WORK!!!

Good luck.

Ed
 
MiXit-G said:
Like bruce said.... it requires medical attention!
Click to expand...

And while this may be what it really needs, it still doesn't hurt to try a different brand of tape first!

One of my old Blackface units didn't like Ampex tape at all!!! Ate like 3 or 4 of them. Switched over to Maxells and never had a problem again!!!

Sometimes the tape manufactures screw up a batch, and they don't align correctly in the deck, and the tape get's eaten. Of course, recall's on SVHS tapes doesn't really happen much, and finding out that a batch might have a problem is an iffy proposition. Also, it just could be that the loading mechanism doesn't like how HHB's load in. Even a of millimeter of difference in a certain dimension on the cassette itself could make it load wrong.

A repair shop bill will be AT LEAST $45-$60 (one hour minimum shop rate usually applies, whether they work on your unit an hour or not! But those creeps ALWAYS find a way to charge you for yet even MORE labor....:() and a new Maxell Professional tape only costs no more than $15. If the tape is the culprit, you saved a bundle. If the unit is screwed up, well, you are possibly out a few more bucks, but, seldomly do the tapes get eaten to the point that they are totally unusable. Fast Forward to almost the end of the tape before playing or recording on it for this test, and that way, as long as the tape didn't actually break, the first 35 minutes or so is still very usable. Just the last 5-7 minutes won't be. That way you can still use the tape after you get the unit fixed (if the different BRAND of tape thing doesn't work).

I have seen HHB's, Apogee's, Ampex, and BASF (I can't think of the other brand I have seen problems with too) ALL have problems with ADAT's!!! Maxell is the only brand I have never had a problem with. Try a new brand of tape first. Then take to repair shop if that doesn't work.

Ed
 
Ed's absolutely right!

When I answered, I presumed (possibly incorrectly), that DaveJ had exhausted all possible rememedies at his disposal first.

And Ed, the Maxell's ARE good -- I've never had a problem with them either....

Bruce
 
Before sending it out, spend six bucks and buy an idler wheel for it. It's usually the problem with things like that - even on occasions when you get no error messages.
 
Your problem is due to either a worn idler wheel or a noisy mode switch. Best to take it to an Alesis tech for some servicing.

Paul
 
Thanks guys I'll try the Maxell tape first, and if that doesn't work then off she goes to the vet.
Dave
 
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