tacam 38 sync trouble

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tapeboy

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I can't record drop ins whilst hearing the track I'm dropping in on it seems (in sync mode). The machine takes too long to switch over if I push to sync from rep. Weird my old fostex never had this problem?!!

AND suddenly track one is not playing in sync mode suddenly (it was last night!) Which means I couldn't hear the drums on track one while trying to overdub on the other tracks. Weird this happened from one night to the next?

I suppose I can get around it by starting to record on track 8 with drums at the start of a new session so that track 1 is the last to be recorded on.

ANY help to this puzzle would be REALLY helpful.
 
tapeboy said:
I can't record drop ins whilst hearing the track I'm dropping in on it seems (in sync mode). The machine takes too long to switch over if I push to sync from rep. Weird my old fostex never had this problem?!!

AND suddenly track one is not playing in sync mode suddenly (it was last night!) Which means I couldn't hear the drums on track one while trying to overdub on the other tracks. Weird this happened from one night to the next?

I suppose I can get around it by starting to record on track 8 with drums at the start of a new session so that track 1 is the last to be recorded on.

ANY help to this puzzle would be REALLY helpful.
Click to expand...

Sounds like dirty relays to me. The synch head records and plays. But, the signals are switched by relay switches (don't hold me to it as I am not sure about that exact machine)
 
how do I clean the relays

how do I clean the relays and where are they please?
 
tapeboy said:
how do I clean the relays and where are they please?
Click to expand...

Do you hear clicking when you change from record to play on a given track?

Put all your tracks into record mode (arm them). Then put them all in play mode. You should hear a click for each channel. IF you have these relays (Most every Tascam I have ever owned did) then each track should click indicating that the relay that switches the signals to the heads is working.

When these relays cease to function (kind of rare) or get dirty (more often) then they stop clicking. Take off the plastic covers and clean the contacts with contact cleaner. There will be 16 of them I think. Ageing does this to them as the contacts oxidize over time. I don't know exctly where they are on your machine, but if each channel has a PC card, they will be on there. Use a static strap when handling the cards and get a repair manual from Tascam.
 
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