Tim, that is really a dandy mod. Azimuth adjustment is sooo critical on
cassettes, yet hard to adjust on the Tascam machine, a popular workhouse
pro cassette machine. I adjust my 122 MkIII with a very small Philips head
screwdriver, but it is no fun getting to the screw, and I worry about the
screw head becoming "carved out" as so many Philips-head screws do over
time. Doing the adjustment gets very delicate. Can one even find
replacement screws? One with a long shank sticking out that you could turn
by hand might be an easy mod?
Thanks,
John Haley
On Sat, Jul 22, 2017 at 2:28 AM, Tim Gillett <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Thanks Corey,
>
> Yes maybe you saw the mod by (I think ) Thal Engineering for Studer open
> reel machines. Now that's classy looking, and probably with a price to
> match.
>
> Thing is with many cassette machines it's a harder design, as the head
> platform moves in and out, and there can be very limited space. I made 6
> or 8 of them by hand for Tascam 122 MkII and III's for a big cassette
> archiving project but it wasnt simple. The heart of it is a tiny ball and
> socket arrangement (not visible in the photo). Cost of parts is trivial.
> More the idea and the implementation. Mine is really only a prototype but
> demonstrates what can be done.
>
> Cheers
>
> Tim Gillett
>
> Perth,
> Western Australia
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Corey Bailey" <[log in to unmask]
> >
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2017 1:12 PM
>
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>
>
> Hi Tim,
>>
>> Now, that's pretty slick! For those cassette decks that need access to
>> the azimuth screw, I usually drill a hole so the azimuth screw can be
>> accessed with a screwdriver (my own studio, of course). I've seen the
>> thumbscrew mod on some 2tr. machines where the studio tech had access to a
>> machine shop.
>>
>> Cheers!
>>
>> Corey
>> Corey Bailey Audio Engineering
>> www.baileyzone.net
>>
>> On 7/21/2017 6:02 PM, Tim Gillett wrote:
>>
>>> Yes bridging the "cassette in" switch is another cleaning work around.
>>> The advantage of the cassette tool is that it can be used on almost any
>>> cassette machine with no machine mods needed.
>>>
>>> Machine mods could be a whole other discussion. I feel the single most
>>> useful mod for cassette decks for a
>>> transfer engineer is a front panel user azimuth adjuster. Here is an
>>> example on a Tascam 122 MkII. I have also made these for Tascam 122 MkIII's
>>> and Nakamichis.
>>>
>>> http://imgur.com/rERTQaw
>>>
>>> Tim Gillett
>>>
>>> Perth,
>>> Western Australia
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ellis Burman" <
>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2017 3:51 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>
>>>
>>> Ours kept shutting off. I traced it to an intermittent leaf switch that
>>> detects whether a cassette in inserted. I jumpered the switch with a
>>> blob
>>> of solder, and now it works great and can be run with no cassette
>>> inserted
>>> for easy cleaning.
>>>
>>> Ellis
>>>
>>> On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 11:53 PM, Tim Gillett <
>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> True, and a nice bright light - and glasses if you need them for close
>>>> viewing.
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Campbell" <
>>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Friday, July 21, 2017 11:39 AM
>>>>
>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ...flipping-off the cassette door facia panel and aslo mouting the
>>>> player
>>>>
>>>>> in a rear-ward-sloping rack mounting....does help a little visual and
>>>>> physical access to capstan and pinchroller and head access wrt access.
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:
>>>>> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Gillett
>>>>> Sent: Friday, 21 July 2017 8:28 AM
>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Corey,
>>>>>
>>>>> Interestingly, the 122 the owner's manual states the pinch roller and
>>>>> capstan should be cleaned "at least once a day the deck is used"...
>>>>> but
>>>>> without resorting to extra expedients as we've both described, even
>>>>> as a
>>>>> techie I'd struggle to perform this basic first line daily maintenance.
>>>>> Even with the non standard expedients the pinch roller and capstan are
>>>>> still tricky to clean, and I'd suggest without such expedients, or a
>>>>> custom machine mod, almost impossible.
>>>>>
>>>>> Human nature being what it is, unless a basic daily task like this is
>>>>> easy to perform, it will tend to be skipped. A basic error by Tascam
>>>>> IMO
>>>>> especially as the machine was marketed and regarded as a pro machine,
>>>>> and
>>>>> now seems almost a defacto standard for archives and transfer
>>>>> engineers.
>>>>> A
>>>>> shame as in so many other ways an excellent machine.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>
>>>>> Tim Gillett
>>>>>
>>>>> Perth,
>>>>> Western Australia
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Corey Bailey" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, July 21, 2017 2:44 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Tim,
>>>>>
>>>>>> As you learned the hard way, this list does not accept attachments and
>>>>>> will strip them from your post.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regarding the picture of the cassette that you posted:
>>>>>> I have made a few variations of these for those pesky decks where the
>>>>>> cassette sensor is hard to get to. Generally, I will put a small piece
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> tape across the tape sensor lever (located at the top of the cassette
>>>>>> bay)
>>>>>> to hold it up which allows the transport to function and gives the
>>>>>> tech
>>>>>> full access to the transport mechanism. The modified cassette shell
>>>>>> certainly makes sense for routine cleaning by non-techies.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Corey
>>>>>> Corey Bailey Audio Engineering
>>>>>> www.baileyzone.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 7/19/2017 9:35 PM, Tim Gillett wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Attached photo. Nothing fancy in looks but a tool that works.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In the Tascam I think both reels also need to be turning to avoid
>>>>>>> activating "Stop" so I retained the hubs and tape, but with a smaller
>>>>>>> diameter pack to avoid fouling when cleaning the parts. It makes
>>>>>>> things
>>>>>>> easier on various other cassette machines too, especially later
>>>>>>> models
>>>>>>> which only go into play mode when a cassette is inserted.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I first made a few of these in the 90's when a Talking Book
>>>>>>> production
>>>>>>> organisation I worked for bought new Tascam 122 MkIII's and the staff
>>>>>>> struggled to perform daily tape path cleaning. Of course I regularly
>>>>>>> use
>>>>>>> the tool myself.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hope it helps.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>>> Tim
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Perth,
>>>>>>> Western Australia
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shai Drori" <[log in to unmask]
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2017 11:59 AM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Please upload the picture. Sounds interesting.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> בברכה,
>>>>>>> שי דרורי.
>>>>>>> מומחה לשימור ודיגיטציה של אודיו וידאו ופילם 8-35ממ
>>>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>>> Shai Drori
>>>>>>> Expert digitization services for Audio Video
>>>>>>> Hi Res scanning for film 8mm-35mm
>>>>>>> Timeless Recordings Music Label
>>>>>>> www.audiovideofilm.com
>>>>>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>>>>> Tripadvisor level 5 contributor, level 10 restaurant expert
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 4:12 AM, Tim Gillett
>>>>>>> <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Ben,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> There are no belts in that machine, one reel drive idler rubber tyre
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> of course a rubber pinch roller. They're usually reliable machines
>>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>> getting old and may have had a lot of work.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The tape path needs regular cleaning or tapes may be damaged or jam
>>>>>>>> inside. Cleaning the capstan and pinch roller is a lot easier with a
>>>>>>>> custom
>>>>>>>> dummy cassette to trick the capstan motor to run and engage the
>>>>>>>> pinch
>>>>>>>> roller in play mode for cleaning. I can upload a photo of a dummy
>>>>>>>> cassette
>>>>>>>> if that would help.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I service these but unfortunately am in Australia... It may also
>>>>>>>> need
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> skilled local serviceman to check it out.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Best of luck
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Tim Gillett,
>>>>>>>> Perth,
>>>>>>>> Western Australia
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Fisher"
>>>>>>>> <[log in to unmask]
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2017 5:27 AM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Check for tight belts and good rubber tires.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Martin
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>>> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:
>>>>>>>>> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of 6295LARGE .
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2017 3:23 PM
>>>>>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>>>>> Subject: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hello everybody
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I was cut off from ARSC for about 2 months, because their email was
>>>>>>>>> being
>>>>>>>>> rejected by my computer for some reason.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I have 2 TASCAM 122 Mk 2 recorders.
>>>>>>>>> They seem to have week mechanisms.
>>>>>>>>> I was told I can use only high quality cassettes.
>>>>>>>>> Is that how it should be?
>>>>>>>>> I don't use junk, but the mechanism struggles and moans, then it
>>>>>>>>> stops
>>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>> eats the tape.
>>>>>>>>> The cassettes have gotten stuck in one of them and I had to take
>>>>>>>>> off
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> cover to make the mechanism give them up.
>>>>>>>>> Is that how it should be? Maybe the rubber parts need to be
>>>>>>>>> cleaned.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Are there any service centers for TASCAM in south Florida?*
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> HELP!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>> Ben Roth
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ---
>>>>>>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>>>>>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
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