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Why such variable SQ on R2R?

Thanks for the comments and advice so far folks. I've just ordered a de-magnetiser so I'll start with that (carefully!) and some head cleaning and will see how much difference they make to the tape that has the muffled sound.

Then I'll try other reels.....

I won't be copying CD or vinyl to reel - I agree, no point. I have bought some 60s pre recorded tapes though for nostalgic reasons. I'm not expecting CD quality but a decent sound would be good!

I am thinking of recording from radio though...... once I've mastered the new R2R I have!
 
Dont see why we are talking about adjusting the alignment of the machine before the OP has verified if the heads and tape transport are cleaned and demagnetised properly and that the tape being played is a 4 track tape same as the machine?.

You should only carry out azimuth alignment with an alignment tape and an oscilloscope on the output, following adjusting Azimuth you should also carry out a full calibration of the machine playback and record electronics
I dont see any point trying to adjust this machine with a potentially damaged 30 year old music tape, the tape the OP posted could be a 2 track tape on this 4 track machine so you would be potentially misaligned the machine trying to correct poor sound from an old or incorrect tape

Alan
 
Is this assessment being made on a single tape of unknown quality? Have you tried other tapes?

As for not expecting CD quality - I've got a very nice 7.5 ips Doors 'LA Woman' that is better than any other single master on any medium I've heard, CD, vinyl and SACD, it really just depends.
 
The RT-909 is auto reverse, 4-track, 2-channel stereo; not to be confused with a 4-track single direction semi-pro machine.

As the OP hasn't reported that The Beach Boys were playing/singing backwards on side 2, we can safely assume that the tape is 4-track bi-directional.
 
Craig B said:
As the OP hasn't reported that The Beach Boys were playing/singing backwards on side 2, we can safely assume that the tape is 4-track bi-directional.
Click to expand...

:D The Beach Boys weren't playing their songs backwards from what I heard

I have no idea about azimuth etc - as alant suggested I need to start with some basics first which I'll do in this order at the weekend:

Clean the heads - then re-try the tape in both directions
De-magnetise (assuming the tool arrives by Saturday ) - then re-try the tape in both directions
Try another tape to see if it is a one off with this tape (no jokes please about the Beach Boys! :p)

I'll report back.

BTW the tape box says it is 4 track. Most of my untried other pre recorded reels say they are 4 track too

I've just bought some cheap home recorded tape reels but I've no idea whether they are 2 or 4 track (and didn't know to ask). What if they are 2 track? :eek:
 
Good plan, although I would suggest both cleaning and demagnetizing prior to playing your pre-recorded Beach Boys again, as magnetized metal in the tape path can cause loss of recorded signal on the tape, not just impede response and amplitude on playback. IOW, the current level of magnetization is an unknown; best to deal with it before risking another pass of your one and only original.

As to your last comment, if your intention with the 'cheap home recorded tape reels' is to record over them, then it won't matter whether they had been previously recorded as bi-directional 4-track or uni-directional 2-track, as that is determined by the configuration of the erase and recording heads on your machine during recording (i.e. track 1 = side 1 Lch and track 3 = side 1 Rch vs. track 2 = side 2 Lch and track 4 = side 2 Rch). IOW, the tape itself has no delineations, only roughly longitudinally aligned metal oxide particles.
 
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All noted - thanks Craig. The cheap reels apparently have some decent 80s albums recorded on them so I'll check the quality of recordings before deciding whether to record over them
 
Just don't forget to move the tapes far away from the demag zone and to use the correct demag procedure
 
Aaaah OK Zombie - good point. I'd read all the tips about how to handle the demagnitiser but hadn't thought of the tapes themselves! What happens to those if the tool gets too close to the reel?

Do I need them at least 3 feet away from the tool when switched on?
 
Here is a video of demagnetising tape heads
If you plug it into an extension lead just make sure there is no way it can be accidentally switched off or the plug comes out during demaging



Old tape residue can clog up your heads, guides and pinch roller make sure you get every little spot off them all wire the alcohol swab across the tape head, if you get a stubborn spot try Acetone
I use "platten clean" on my pinch roller https://www.af-net.com/products/specialist-cleaning/pcl100-platenclene/

sticky9 by Alan Towell, on Flickr

Alan
 
Having dabbled with buying pre-recorded tapes around 15 years ago, mostly sourced from the US, I would suggest you’ve only touched the tip of the variability iceberg. I would advise avoiding 3.75ips tapes if sound quality is a priority, although this shrinks the pool of potential source material considerably.

I’ve had tapes that contained something other than what their labels claimed (a 7.5ips “Eric Clapton” that turned out to be a
3.75ips “Santana III”, the “Question Of Balance” that had one side obliterated by an off-air recording of Vivaldi), tapes that had clearly suffered from decades of inappropriate storage, tapes that probably weren’t great to begin with (I think I read somewhere that all “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player” reels sound odd because of Dolby-related issues) and tapes plagued with mechanical squeaks and squeals (an otherwise pretty good sounding “If I Could Only Remember My Name”).

In my limited, low-budget experience (I had a Teac X300, in fine condition) when R2R was good (Al Green’s “Call Me” was sublime, if memory serves) it had vinyl-challenging potential, but the fact that maybe only 5% of the 40 or so tapes I owned approached that level of sonic excellence and the limitation of only being able to buy music that was older than I was meant that deck and tapes eventually got consigned to the attic, so far never to return.
 
Reels are not intended to be a primary source nor are they in my first system. I'm fortunate to have a second Pionner 80s vintage system for nostalgia sake (my first system ever was a Pioneer rack system). Having put together a blue LED system I thought it would be good to have a try at R2R. I'm prepared to accept lesser sound quality than CD or vinyl and as the only affordable pre recorded reels are 3.75 IPS that's what I'll need to live with. Even at that speed there isn't that much choice in the UK.

If I can improve the sound a bit with cleaning and de-magnetising I'll be pleased. I'm sure that every little helps!
 
Primary sound source.... R2R.. luxury.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Lomax

Take up thine Nagras, Stellavox's, Uhers and even EMI RE321's or Leevers Rich DR2's and get out there and record some new music:cool:

Or if you have the luxury of mains elektrickery....

I have to don the "guy on the desk" hat tomorrow for a few hours for a local band (practice tomorrow. never worked with them before) and will ask if it's OK to arrange to record them.. or maybe the actual gig on the night.. If they seem worth recording and are up for it then it will certainly be straight to R2R.. It's an excuse to "Fire up the Quattro!" or PR99 Mk3 anyway:cool:
 
If they are a band of youngsters they will wonder what that monstrous machinery is - when I presume (never tried) you could record on to a phone!
 
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