Tascam 38, issues that can be resolved?

  • Thread starter Thread starter WhinyLittleRunt
  • Start date Start date
By pass the mixer and record direct to tape. See what the result is.

Try a different reel of tape as well. I went thru this a few weeks ago w/42 and changed tape reel and it recorded fine.
 
Yeah I should probably try my new tape- I was recording to the old crap just to test everything.... But yes, I'm visually seeing activity on the meter of the 38.

Also, I am missing one track (#8) that doesn't pass signal (I reseated the card but that didn't do anything) and also track 5 works but no VU activity on playback or record.
 
Ok, so it does record fine (at least on channel 1 that I've tested), however, I cannot hear playback unless I remove the cable from the LINE IN jack. I can see the playback on the VU meter of the 38 also, but again I can only hear it if I take the cable out...

The only thing patched into the mixer is that instrument cable LINE IN, channel 1, and 7 RCA cables going from the output of the 38 into the TAPE IN section for playback. It has to have something to do with the tape return into the mixer....

Edit: Forget it -tape input was not on on the mixer :)
 
glad to hear it was not something serious, I was assuming there was probably a user error in there, when I first got my m-520 it took me about half an hour to figure out how to get any sound out of it from anywhere:)
 
Yeah - it sounds better though when not run through the tape inputs, I have to say. It could also be the quality of the cables too - I'm only using RCA cables that I yanked from all around the TVs in the house! I will eventually get a proper cable snake...

I will have to make adjustments to it though. I'm using the RMG 911 tape but I never aligned the machine, etc. This is all first-run. Track 1 is kind of lousy sounding, while track 2 is ok, which leads me to believe there is some adjustment needed to bring the machine/tape into spec with each other.
 
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Hello!

I'll just pop off here and excuse me cause I've not read all the previous posts.

When a belt stretches, it may then ride up on the flange of the drive pulley, thus creating the "speeded up" issue you hear. The belt is really easy to replace, and that's a common problem, so don't panic and hang in there!

:eek:;)
 
Um, I just ran into a real bad problem here...

I went to play my tape (recorded last night) and have no sound and no activity on the meters. I haven't even changed anything other than take the tape off and turn off the deck... what could be wrong now? All channels patched to proper places, INPUT is not receiving any audio signal on any of the tracks... ??
 
I would unplug and the plug the tape deck back in sort of like a re-boot..

Also would check fuses.

Hope no grounding of the new VU bulbs you just put in.
 
Hmmm... I guess false alarm in a way...

I just checked fuses etc and everything was fine, so I put the back on and turned it back on and it seems to be fine now... Interesting though. Even though it appeared to not be receiving audio it did record tracks when I was testing...

Sorry for freaking out!
 
Make sure the equipment is connected to a good panamax surge protector and watch for static electricity when you approan the deck.

Touch something else metal first to make sure you are discharged.
 
Have seen delicate electronic equipment destroyed by a simple body discharge.

Have to be vigilant.
 
Hey, check it out...

I thought my channel 8 wasn't working but it turns out it it, it just fizzles out now and again... but the dropouts and fizzle do get recorded to tape if that's any indication of anything specific...
 
Also, theoretically, isn't rewind and fast-forward supposed to stop on a dime? Because mine definitely doesn't... I've been compensating for it by stopping the rewind early enough that it won't completely unwind my tape. Something to check? Another sticky solenoid?
 
I hope not, my 38 does the same thing. It says in the manual that it will FF and RR until it's close to 0. Mine might go over a few hundred feet then back again, but will stop at 97-0
 
I got a roll of quarters with my unit. So for sure it will not stop on a dime!

You can always use the "RTZ" button if your unit has it, and it will take you back to your cue spot.
 
GCalo said:
I got a roll of quarters with my unit. So for sure it will not stop on a dime!

You can always use the "RTZ" button if your unit has it, and it will take you back to your cue spot.
Click to expand...

That apparently didn't work well when my cue spot was actually zero, as in the beginning of the reel! (whap, whap, whap, whap...)
 
My 38 definitely doesn't stop on a dime. I wouldn't expect it to with it slinging a good chunk of 1/2" tape around at high speed. My RTZ feature will zoom past the "0000" mark and come to a stop about "-0100" or so and then rock it's way back and forth to hit the mark.

Now, having said that, my TSR8 just amazes me as it quickly stutters the motors between ffwd and rewind in order to gently stop the tape dead on "0000". Keep in mind that there is a few years difference between the two generations of decks.

I've found that as long as my RTZ on my 38 isn't set less than "0200" from the beginning, I don't have to worry about the tape slinging off the take up reel when it passes by on the rewind. My ffwd/rewind functions on the 38 scare the bejeezus outta me though. Those motors REALLY get wound up and those reels are hauling ass! My TSR8 runs at about half that speed.

In short, I would say your RTZ feature is okay and there aren't any major malfunctions. It never hurts to check the back tension and brakes on each side though, as an extra measure.;)
 
My Otari MTR-10 will stop when it's supposed to, it's amazing.
 
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