Tascam 424 Mkii Problem : newbie question

[Tascam424mkii]

Alrught so I am new to recording analog and I recently got my hands on a tascam 424 mkii 4 track, I love it but now I am recording for an album and when I dump the 4 tracks into pro tools there is a very loud crackle or pop that is spaced out about 5 seconds apart and is very evident on the wave. I love the saturated sound and just the feel of recording to tape but this seems very abnormal, it sticks out like a sore thumb. I tried a tape cleaner and it still hasnt really done anything to help or tame the crackle/pop.

I am recording with a schure ksm44 mic and an FMR audio RNP mic pre.

need someones help, please!

 

[mjbphotos]

Chances are the heads on that old deck are toast, or the output circuit is.

 

[heatmiser]

I wonder if it is the cassette itself?

TDK SA90's often developed that same kind of sound for me at the same intervals you describe after many, many playbacks over time. Maxell tape never did that for me.

When it happened, I was unable to remove it. Did it happen to multiple tapes of yours or just one? Are you able to play the tape on another deck to see if the sound is still there?

 

[Tascam424mkii]

thanks for the reply and suggestions. It has happened on two different tapes now. I am hoping that it is just a matter of cleaning still...but odds are it is probably something wrong with the tape deck.