Leddy,
I agree with Beck 100%.
Tim, Do you still have a couple of these yourself?
What is the machine setup for...250 nanowebers/meter? IEC or NAB? I'd like to help leddy select the right cal tape...
BTW, Where's the best place to go for the ref. tape, and how do I tell what nWb/m I need?
There are a number of places to get the tapes. If you want to make sure you are getting the genuine article and brand new, you can get it from someplace like
US Recording Media. If you're not familiar with them, browse around. Kind of one stop shopping for us analog-o-philes...there are other places too, I'm just most familiar with them and am happy with their services. Might be better prices elswhere but not by much. There is also probably a link or links to dealers on the
MRL Website. You have probably been there already.
Be careful of the temptation to get a used cal tape or even new cal tape on eBay or similar, unless you know the source. I was a rebel and bought a used tape from the 90's from an unknown (at the time) source, but the Seller had 100% feedback so I went for it. I was lucky...months and months later after becoming active on this forum I discovered it was Beck from whom I purchased the tape!!
He's a great guy...tremendous resource...you probably know that already...what am I saying? I'm the spring checken around here.
On the nWb/m rating of your deck, there should be, on the specs page in your manual, a line that states what nWb/m the deck is setup for...the reference from which they obtained the performance specs...also the equalization standard (either IEC or NAB). I'm guessing it is 250nWb/m and NAB standard, but check your specs page and if you can't find it on there hopefully Beck or another in-the-know user will post it up.
Makes perfect sense. I need a test tape or at least a different test tone generator.
Yeah, but keep in mind that even with a different tone generator, like a dedicated external analog generator, you still would be recording tones with the response curve of the record electronics. You've got the idea...to do it right you need the cal tape.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetbeats
And you're applying the drag to the supply reel right?
Affirmative.
Hmm...seems I've seen that on my 58 before. Just make sure the pressure you are applying is very light. My guess is you are fine. If the VU's deflect higher with increased back-pressure it means that the tape is not contacting the head(s) well enough in normal operation which will have a measurable effect on the high-end response among other areas of the spectrum. If the meters deflect down just for a moment when you first apply increased back-pressure that is normal...it is just the tension mechanism catching up with the change. If they do that and then pop back to where they were, all is good. If they drop and and then pop to a higher reading than they were under normal operation then the "wrap" or tape to head contact is not strong enough and the heads have to be physically adjusted. If the signal is not getting stronger with increased back-pressure, I believe all is good and I'd keep the tools off the head-mounting screws.
40-22kHz +/- 3db @0 VU
35-25kHz +/- 3db @-10 VU
Toy my...as I was saying earlier, those are not toy specs. Ksounds has been putting up some great stuff done on a 424 mkII...or check out stuff Dave (A Reel Person) has done on
his cassette 4-trackers...246 and 244 I believe. Neither are using fancy schmancy stuff...even the mics (though I recall Ksounds is using a Rode NT3) aren't big $$$ gear...Dave is using some sleeper Tascam condensors from two decades ago I think...but they are both getting GREAT sounds...beautiful recordings...its mic placement, careful mastering, the room and the artistic content. On paper your 22-2 smokes a cassette 4-track. It outspecs the 3340S I used to have which made the most unbelievable recordings of my electric bass I have ever been able to attain thus far (hoping for similar results out of my 58)...the tech you used, and I'm not questioning you...is speaking a bit snobbish.
Man I was looking at 22-2's online...they go for CHEAP! I even saw a 22-4 for just over $100 that looked great. That's crazy...and with the 7" reels on the 1mil tape, media is very affordable and yet the tape path looks like a 32. Seems like a great option.
What are you using for A/D/A and do you have an analog mixer?