Tascam 388 / Track 8 Issue

[ZLYYY]

Hello,

Asking for an advice where to continue the search...

All 7 Tracks are recording flawlessly but Track 8 is very distorted and quiet at the same time.

1. I have swapped the cards but nothing had changed.
Problem remains on the same track.

2. It does not erase anything if there is something on the 8 Track as well.

3. There are no problems with PlayBack. (Using tape that was used on another 388)

4. Heads are clean and demagnetised. Does not appear damaged to me...

Is this most likely a problem around the heads?
Or could it be something related to the Input PCB?

Thank You

 

[sweetbeats]

What tape type are you using to try and record?

What tape type are you using to reproduce (from the other 388)?

 

[ZLYYY]

RTM SM911

I have two Tascam 388s currently but I can't figure that issue on one of them...

 

[sweetbeats]

So it’s the same tape in both cases? Record and reproduce trials?

 

[ZLYYY]

Yes : )

On the fully functional 388 I have recorded a signal on all 8 Tracks.
Rewind, and then test it if it sounds good.
Test checks out.

Once the tape is loaded on to the other one, I'm able to play back (reproduse) on all 8 Tracks as well.
But I'm only able to record over 7 Tracks. The Track 8 gets messed up.
Sometimes it just adds some weak distorted noise to it and also it does't erase what was on it.
Sometimes there's nothing at all.

Another note,
If I just hit Play and let the tape roll without anything on it.
There are not much difference in "White Noise" if I push the faders up or down on Tracks 1 - 7.
But if push the fader up on the Track 8 the white noise becomes very strong...
And there's nothing on the tape in that specific section.

I'm wondering if I should swap the transport sections and see if it follows the heads : )

 

[sweetbeats]

No. Don’t do that. If it can reproduce fine it’s not the heads or the head wiring. If you swapped R/P PCBs it’s not that either.

Exercise the track 8 dbx defeat switch on the back.