Tascam 38 - HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter djbuzzword
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djbuzzword

New member
Hey everyone,

I'm new here and also pretty new to the analogue world. I recently purchased a Tascam 38 to use for sampling and whatever else but have a bit of a problem.

The background noise from the machine makes it unusable! I've tried recording myself talking and playing drums, keeping the levels nice and hot as I've been told to do, but the recordings are buried beneath a great deal of hissy noise. I cleaned the heads and demagnetised them also, taking care not to touch them with the degausser. I'm using the unit with a Yamaha MG102C mixer going in with the outputs going to my soundcard (which isn't quite analogue only, sorry) and the tape I'm using is brand new.

Anybody have any ideas? Would really like to get this beast going!

Thanks a lot.
 
Do you have an example recording?

EDIT:

Just checking, is the tape shiny-side against the heads? If it's the other way around, you might be getting just a faint signal that's being over-amplified in the mixer or something, just an idea.
Is it all tracks doing this?
 
Describe the sound(send a clip)

Is it the same on all channels?

Is it uniform in volume or does it change with time?

Does it make the same noise when the tape is not moving?

Regards, Ethan

PS what tape are you using? Shiny side or black side out depending on tape type.
 
Hi guys,

I'm pretty certain tape is on the right way, the volume is constant and all tracks are the same. I've just played an old reel I was given and that sounds fine on playback! Then i tried to record onto the old reel and had the same noise problem. Could it be to do with the record head? As I said before the meters are showing that I'm putting in a decent level. It seems that although the meters are showing good input, somehow it's not getting to the tape.

I'm using RMGI SM-911 HALF INCH TAPE, the old reel was an ampex.

The deck is noisy when not playing (I can only compare to my digital bits and bobs) but nowhere near what the playback of my recordings is like.

Here is a link to a test recording, me talking rubbish with an sm58;

http://www.sendspace.com/file/fai7qq


Thanks for your suggestions so far.
 
Weird. It sounds kind of muffled.
Is it possible you could take a close-up photo of the heads?
 
Solved!

I took some photos of the heads and upon viewing saw they were actually pretty dirty despite me having 'tried' to clean them! I went back with my cotton bud and isopropyl alcohol and rubbed a lot harder this time and after that, fantastic.

Thanks very much for your help, I'm not sure if you want to see head photos anymore?

Cheers!
 
1 tip I would try is using makeup remover pads and the highest concentrate of alcohol you can get. Q tips do not work as well. One of the guys on the forum suggested I try it and now I recommend it to everyone. Good luck and welcome.
 
Yeah I think the make up pads may be a good idea, thought I'd done a good job the first time with the cotton buds but obviously not. Amateurs huh?

Very happy now! Have just been messing around recording some drums and they sound absolutely great!

Getting some hissy scratchy sounds every now and again, not major. Any tips for sorting this out? It wouldn't be terrible if I couldn't mind.
 
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