tascam 38 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.
 
It sounds like you have some lazy/aging relays at fault here which could explain the slow/no switching and sync issues.

Is the unit exposed to excess heat or humidity...it is summer time, ya know. ;)

Try letting the machine warm up for at least 30 minutes before any recording is done on it and exercise the relays by pressing the INPUT - SYNC - REPRO buttons several times to wake up and hopefully clear any stickiness out of them.

Cheers! :)
 
Better,...

Let the 38 run all night. ;)
 
playing or standing?

you mean playing or just turned on?
 
I think just turned on would be sufficient for warmup!

If you want to get extreme about it, leave tape loaded, and the capstan will spin constantly. Just an overnight warmup, without the capstan spinning, should do it, though. ;)
 
ok!

I just turned it on with tape loaded. I'll let you know what happened tomorrow! It's late here (Denmark) so tomorrow will be a big day.....
 
syncing still not good

thanks ghost and reel! The warm up did the trick for channel one but there's still a delay when switching fro rep til sync...
 
Eh,...

When in overdubbing mode on the 38, it should be on the Sync head. The track should switch seamlessly from playback mode to record mode, when the punch in pedal is depressed, or when Rec/Play is depressed on the front panel or wired remote.

I think when you switch from the Repro to the Sync head, a momentary dropout will occur in the sound, and that's normal.

;)
 
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...

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. When you switch (like punching in) there should be no dropout whatsoever. Humidity will play a minor role, but the relays are dirty and will only get worse.
__________________
 
more sync etc.

so it seems that one cannot 'drop' in' whilst hearing the track one is dropping in to?
And how do I get in to the audio cards? I tried last night to loosen the 4 screws on the bottom panel but to no avail....???!!
So far the advice has been very helpful, keep it coming PLEAZSE>.
 
tapeboy said:
so it seems that one cannot 'drop' in' whilst hearing the track one is dropping in to?
And how do I get in to the audio cards? I tried last night to loosen the 4 screws on the bottom panel but to no avail....???!!
So far the advice has been very helpful, keep it coming PLEAZSE>.
Click to expand...

When punching in, the recording should be seamless. If the relays are dirty they will switch slower than normal. You really need a manual to fix this problem. Maybe someone here can copy some pages so that you can find out how to get to the relays.
 
You should be able to hear the track track while in "punch-in" mode on the Sync head.

It's been a while since I used my 38, but I don't remember any issue with "not hearing" the armed target track in sync mode. I think it points again to the relays. ;)
 
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