Reel-to-Reel Issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lady Cassetta
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Lady Cassetta

Banned
Hello.
I recently acquired an Akai 4000ds MK-II
everything seems to be working perfectly
except when i play a reel the takeup reel slides/hits the tape while it is turning.
this is my first reel to reel and i basically know nothing about these machines.
this is really irritating. what do you think is causing this? and how can i solve this issue?


(i only have one take-up reel, and my assumption is that there may be something wrong with the takeup reel. but who knows!! LOL)

;):)


thankyou thankyou boys.
 
can you describe the 'slides/hits' movement more clearly, please?
ie, up, down, left, right?
reel coming off of the spindle?
?
is the tape threaded correctly?

it's hard to picture what might be wrong from your description.

is it possible to take a pic(s) of what's happening? ie-before and after?
 
Most likely causes are a warped take up reel ( easy fix...get a different reel) or the turntable ( the thing the reel is mounted to) is bent.
Do this. In PLAY, does the spindle on the takeup reel (the post in the middle) wobble or does it stay straight?

Wobble means bent table or spindle. Not good

Other test, Reverse the reels Full reel on right side, rewind a bunch of tape to the left reel, and try playing. If the takeup side no longer scrapes and the feed (left side) does, all you need is a takeup reel.
 
"can you describe the 'slides/hits' movement more clearly, please?
ie, up, down, left, right?"
well, when i look at the reel from above (while playing) the back side of the takeup reel slides onto the tape, but it does it only at one particular spot. it is not a up and down movement.

"reel coming off of the spindle?
?" No.
"is the tape threaded correctly?" i think so. but im not a 100 percent sure.
 
technoplayer, i will try that and see what happens right now.
 
OK. i did what you said, and it didn't make the sound! so, i guess i just need a better teke-up reel.

there is one (or couple) more things i can't figure out:

i still don't have a amplifier/stereo reciver. i was told that i need one of those to use this machine. is that right?
i tried listening to the tape with headphones and i can hear the music but it is kinda quiet. is that how it is suppose to be?
also, i want to transfer tapes into my computer. can anyone please tell me the best way to do that? (im going to use Grageband. I need to know the right way of connecting the Akai to my laptop)

thank you in advance.
 
make sure the toggle switch is on "tape" instead of "source" if you are playing. also, if its very quiet, the tape could be upside down. what kind of tape is it?
 
the tape it is a Scotch Classic but i now think the music on it was recorded with a low volume.
can you recommand a good amplifier/sterio receiver (not one too expensive) to me?
should i connect the Akai to the amplifier/reciver and then from there to my laptop?
is that how it works?
 
you don't need an amplifier or stereo, you can to the computer directly from the RCA outputs of the tape machine -- you will need a dual-RCA to 1/8" adapter and a program in your computer.

i have a roll of scotch classic and that is a problematic tape -- could be the tape itself. try a differnent roll if you can. i think scotch classic has backcoating, so you should thread the tape so that the shinier side is touching the heads (shiny side up).
 
Bent take up Reel?

Sounds as if your take up reel is slightly bent so it may not be necessary to buy a new or used takeup reel. First, after winding the tape on to the takeup reel, slowly (use your hands) move the reels (in a counter-clockwise direction) and view from above or the sides of the takeup reel and see where the tape is rubbing or hitting against the reel (it should show a slight bend) stop then use your hand(s) to straighten out the portion of the reel that is bent. Afterwards play the tape and see if it continues to rub/hit the reel, if it does then repeat until there is no more rubbing/hitting of the tape. I've encounterd this same problem and that is how I solved it.
As for a receiver/amplifier well that of course is optional only if you would like to listen to the music (without headphones) in the room, then you would not only need it you would also need speakers.
But if you just want to transfer the music to your computer and listen off of that then a receiver amplifier is not necessary-"but" if you say that the music was probably recorded at a very low position then an amplifier/receiver would be recommended (increase volume control) in order to hear the music louder, but as mentioned before, make sure that the button/switch is set in "SOURCE" (to playback music on tape) instead of "TAPE" (to record on to tape).
 
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