Hi to all and expecially to you Greg,
I'm trying to make some adjustment and calibration on the tape path of my MS16 Tascam atr and just made the measurements of the left and right tension' sensors output voltages: making a comparition to the reference tensions on manual I found some slight differences.
In Play, Stop and Edit mode the tensions are 3.73-3.75 on 3.7V reference; between left and right sensors there is difference of 0.2V
In Ffwd mode the reference would be 5.2V and i found 4.61 on left and 5.15 on right
In Rew mode reference would be 3.5V and here there are 4.9 on left and 4.6 on right.
My questions are:
1) in Ffwd and Rew the output voltage must be the same on left and right? or it refers to direction of the tape? (Ffwd= right sensor - Rew= left sensor)
2) in your experience is a 0.5V difference (from reference) so important?
Thanks very much

I don't remember the particulars. It has been a few years. You should have a comprehensive procedure in the manual. Is it complete?
Does the manual tell you that the voltages must stay the same in all modes, or do they represent the position of the tension sensors (which would change dynamically with the movement of tape)?

greg wrote:I don't remember the particulars. It has been a few years. You should have a comprehensive procedure in the manual. Is it complete?
Does the manual tell you that the voltages must stay the same in all modes, or do they represent the position of the tension sensors (which would change dynamically with the movement of tape)?

The manual is not clear on this I report that part:

Tape tension servo

Tension Arm Positions and Direction Characteristic

"The tape tension servo detects and controls the tape tension through either left or right tension sensor assemblies located under the front transport panel and each function exactly the same.
The assembly includes 2 coils with an aluminuim plate inserted between them. The plate moves as tape tension varies and, accordingly, mutual indictance between the coils varies. This causes the sensor oscillation frequency and output voltage to vary proportionately. The variation of the output voltage is used to detect the movement of the tension arm.
The movement of the tension arm between points A-B causes the voltage at TP1 and 2 (they are points on the PCB assy)
Reference voltages for comparing are obtainable at TP3 and 4 (left and right tension on PCB assy). Their values are:

STOP,PLAY,EDIT 3.7V
F.FWD 5.2V
REW 3.5V

I think reasonable in stop, play, edit mode tensions are the same at both left and right; my doubt is on ffwd and rew mode: must reference be measured at both or accordingly to tape direction? Ffwd at right Rew at left?

I see. I don't know why that is. those values may change if you do the rest of the calibrating (adjusting, electrically the position of the tension arms in edit and play, then doing the similar adjustments for FF and REW). I can't explain.
Do the tension arms jolt outward when you go in FF or REW, and stay out?

I'm sick. Why am I at work?

greg wrote:
I see. I don't know why that is. those values may change if you do the rest of the calibrating (adjusting, electrically the position of the tension arms in edit and play, then doing the similar adjustments for FF and REW). I can't explain.

Perhaps the "reference" are only start points; making other adjustment suggested on manual they slightly changes

greg wrote:
Do the tension arms jolt outward when you go in FF or REW, and stay out?

Yes they jolt but manual says that after the take-up side arm must have similar position as in play (perpendicular). This electrically adjustment make the difference with reference.

I'm waiting for a new pinch roller from Tascam/Japan to solve the "beating" effect on the last part of the tape recording a 1Khz and having a tremolo effect...
How do you control the tape tension on your machines at EA? Do you have a tentelometer?

greg wrote:I'm sick. Why am I at work?

Sorry I'm boring you with my questions...
Bye bye

nipper wrote:How do you control the tape tension on your machines at EA? Do you have a tentelometer?

Yes, we check our machines with a tentelometer. You will need to use one for your machine. I remember that.