Recording Head Advice Plz, X-26

[stetto]

I started out with this machine in the late '80s, bought new. It worked just like a 4-track Fostex for years, and gave me some decent recordings (for a 4-track Fostex). I retooled a few years ago with an Alesis ADAT setup, and have recently ordered a Yamaha AW1600, but am keeping the Fostex around for quick cassette mixes--or not, if I can't find the answer to a slight irritation;

The playback seems to work just fine, reproducing pre-recorded stuff pretty clean and true. In fact, when recording tracks from the ADAT system the X-26 reproduces almost exactly what I put on it, through headphones or speakers, but only on the Fostex. When I put the tape into any other machine I get what sounds like the speakers were laying at the bottom of a bucket of Aunt Jemima Butter Flavored...Even though the playback head gives no indication of this on the Fostex. What I've done to compensate is to run the tracks through a dual 32-band graphic with a LOT of enhanced highs and mids and cut lows, and though I do get a much better end result, monitoring the process is very hard on the ears...

I'm no tech, as you can see, but I'd like to know if I've got a head out of alignment, a need for deguassing, or an electronical problem that is too much hassle for what the machine is worth. Like I said, it reproduces the stuff I record to it fine on itself, and commercial stuff sounds fine as well...Yes, the heads have been cleaned, along with the other accessable moving parts...

Thanks for any help

 

[pschaafs]

What other machines are you trying to play it back on? If they are not 4-trackers you should hear nothing but garbage!

 

[MrBoogie]

What other machines are you trying to play it back on? If they are not 4-trackers you should hear nothing but garbage!

Actually, if you put a cassette recorded on an X-26 into a regular cassette deck with side a, you should hear the first 2 tracks. If you put in side b, you'll get tracks 3 and 4, only reversed. Right? (The X-26 is a single speed recorder)

What kind of tapes are you using, stetto? I can't remember - does the X-26 have noise reduction? If so, are you using it when you record? If so, does your playback deck have the same noise reduction?

Also, when I used a cassette 4-track, I degaussed from time to time. Have you done that in a while? (it seems like maybe you never have done it?)

Sorry, I don't know the solution. Just thought I might have some ideas you haven't considered yet.

 

[stetto]

Yeah MrBoogie, the X 26 is single speed. I've kept it clean and happy for all these years, til recently the recordings were amazingly crisp for a cassette.

The tapes I'm using are reference mastering grade BASF 20 and TDK SM30. Once recorded the tracks sound virtually identical to the source, but only when played on the X 26...

I haven't degaussed in some time, maybe I'll break down and do that, or maybe just shit a couple hunnert bucks for a cassette mastering deck, eh?

Thanks guys.

 

[carelessorc]

If you want a recorder to master to I'd go for a stand-alone CD recorder. It's heaps better than tape (and doesn't need degaussing!).

Orc

 

[stetto]

Yeah Orc, the burner's been on my list for some time...In fact, my new Yamahaha AW1600 walked in the door yesterday, but for an old analog dog like me it's got a hell of a learning curve. A number of my contacts in the industry however still want cassettes, and the X26 should theoretically be a great mastering deck for that medium, hence my query.