Tascam 424 Portastudio - Drop outs and general wear

[paintedtape]

keeping with my history of only posting on here when I'm having some sort of crisis, I've got a question for yall about my Tascam 424 Mkiii portastudio. basically it produces recordings that cut in and out at random intervals, sometimes on just one channel, sometimes on the entire track.

I know the immediate reaction to this description is "clean yr heads buddy" and probably also "demag 'em dude". I've practiced semi-regular head cleaning since I first bought the machine about six years ago, with increased vigour over the past few years. I just demagnetized the heads for the first time about 8 months ago, however, obviously because it's something I should do and should have been doing for years, but also because it was my diagnosis for the drop-out problem - I imagined the heads to be magnetized and removing the recorded information from the tape. it didn't fix it though, in fact it's getting worse.

so I'm wondering if anyone knows why exactly this is happening and whether it's repairable. my hypotheses include:
- I didn't demag properly (cross-checked and followed many a youtube vid)
- I waited too long to demag and it's toast
- the heads are just worn out in general, time to replace them or get a new tape deck

lastly I'll add there there's a little spot on the head that never comes out now matter how much I clean them. if anyone thinks that's the cause of the problem let me know if there's a way to get rid of that spot without damaging the heads.

thanks - dave

 

[Beck]

Let's look at the type of tape you're using. What brand and model is it? Are you using new tape? And if you bought the tape new or not, ho much are you reusing it.

Do the dropouts happen in the same section of tape each time? That is, when you play the tape back does it drop at exactly the same point in the song?

 

[A Reel Person]

...

Any spot on the head is suspect. That might be it. right there. A gentle pressure & scrubbing action with an alcohol soaked swab might help. Upgrading to 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (found behind the pharmacy counter) might help, as it's a more efficient solvent than weaker strength solutions.

I've also noticed the 424mkIII's weak spot is the RCA Line Outputs, which may become loose and intermittent. The fix for that is a total teardown of the unit to re-solder them back solidly onto the PC board.

 

[paintedtape]

good questions. I almost exclusively use TDK-SA type II cassette tapes in it, brand spanking new. and ya, the drop-outs do happen exactly at the same point in the song, as in it's a problem with the recording and not with the playback.

I really do think it's either something to do with demagging or that spot on the tape head. I've always used 99% isopropyl but it doesn't seem to get the spot off... I might have even pushed a little too hard on it at some point over the years out of frustration. also, my 424 does have weak line outputs but it's hasn't become a huge problem for me yet.

I also realize that, like everything else, these things just die eventually. all things must pass.