Hello,

need help on my atr (tascam MS16) : I recorded 1khz at beginning, in the middle and in the last part of the tape lenght and only the first replays the tone in the right way...in the middle part begin to oscillate and in the last becomes a very hard "beat" with rapid "tremolo" effect. Is it a normal wow and flutter or can be some mechanical problem?

thanks

That isn't normal. You may have to go through the transport adjustments as described in the manual (head alignment, tape guides, pinch roller pressure, pinch roller condition, and tape tension). Since there is a "rapid" tremolo effect, you may have a problem with your pinch roller. Is it shiny, hard, or not perfectly round? Also, when you are at the center of the reel, and you go into edit mode, is it easier to move the tape one way or the other? If the tape wants to go in one direction more than the other, you will need to calibrate the tensions.

Greg many thanks for your suggestions.

Just unscrewed the pinch roller: it's very shine and smooth in the middle, the sides are dull...it' time to replace??? Where can I find it?

Giacomo

Seems like it.
Tascam might sell them still. Look up the part number in the exploded drawings section of the manual before you call. No one you talk to at Tascam will know what a pinch roller is (or an MS-16 for that matter). The last time I ordered one was probably in 2000 for $80.
If that doesn't work. Try Athan, or another after market company. John French may know of a guy too.

Greg,

I find this on the net

http://www.terrysrubberrollers.com/

seems fine...

I tried going in the middle of the tape and in EDIT mode: seems that tape prefers to go in the direction of the supply reel and opposes resistance in the take up reel direction...

Another thing: altough I did regular polishing and demagnetizing maintenance, recording a test tone I hear little cracks and pops noises all along the tape from either the sync and play heads, very heavy without noise reduction...what's the matter?

Once again

Respect

nipper wrote:Another thing: altough I did regular polishing and demagnetizing maintenance, recording a test tone I hear little cracks and pops noises all along the tape from either the sync and play heads, very heavy without noise reduction...what's the matter?

I'm far from really knowing anything about tape machines, but if I'm not wrong, isn't it the sound of not properly demagnetized heads?

nipper wrote:Greg,

I find this on the net

http://www.terrysrubberrollers.com/

seems fine...

I tried going in the middle of the tape and in EDIT mode: seems that tape prefers to go in the direction of the supply reel and opposes resistance in the take up reel direction...

Another thing: altough I did regular polishing and demagnetizing maintenance, recording a test tone I hear little cracks and pops noises all along the tape from either the sync and play heads, very heavy without noise reduction...what's the matter?

Once again

Respect

If you are talking about playing back tape you just recorded. It could be the batch of tape your using. Try another brand of tape to see if the noise changes. Test on a fresh, unused reel. Obviously re-do the bias, and record alignment for the new tape.
If the exact same problem occurs, you may have problems with your record/erase circuitry.

I'm far from really knowing anything about tape machines, but if I'm not wrong, isn't it the sound of not properly demagnetized heads?

The only time I have heard pops related to that is when you make an edit. If your heads are magnetized, you may hear a pop noise at the splice, or where the oxide meets the leader tape.

Hello,
anyone know how and where I can regulate the tension between take up and supply reel on a Tascam MS16 ATR?

http://www.nipperstudio.net/schedaBIS.html

nipper wrote:Hello,
anyone know how and where I can regulate the tension between take up and supply reel on a Tascam MS16 ATR?

http://www.nipperstudio.net/schedaBIS.html

You have to calibrate the tensions as instructed in the manual. It is something you will have to do once or twice a year if you want the machine to work best.