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ARSCLIST  October 2018

ARSCLIST October 2018

Subject:

Re: Problems Digitising Cassettes.

From:

Paul Stamler <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

[log in to unmask]

Date:

Tue, 9 Oct 2018 14:56:52 -0500

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (91 lines)

On 10/9/2018 2:26 PM, CJB wrote:
> OK - thanks guys.
> 
> But the first play through of the first cassette is brilliant at the
> start but gradually deteriorates towards the end. Then after the
> second cassette has run its course, the first cassette starts over.
> This second time through for the first cassette is very muddy.
> 
> How does the azimuth change so dynamically?

Have you cleaned the head after the first pass? Was your -Tip full of gunk?

Peace,
Paul
> 
> Chris B.
> 
> On 09/10/2018, Eli Bildirici
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Yeah this sounds like an azimuth maladjustment issue. We witnessed
>> first-hand the importance of azimuth adjustment at the tape workshop at the
>> conference, thanks to George Blood. The decks were  Tascam 122Mk3s that had
>> their windows taken out and azimuth screw replaced for easy adjustment
>>
>> October 9 2018 3:07 PM, "Paul Stamler" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> On 10/9/2018 1:47 PM, CJB wrote:
>>>
>>>> Problems Digitising Cassettes.
>>>> I guess this is a project known by thousands maybe millions. However I
>>>> am running up against problems. Remounting a spool of tap into another
>>>> shell is easy enough. So too is reattaching lead in / out tape - 3M
>>>> sticky tape is ideal, using a sharp pair of scissors to trim any
>>>> overlap.
>>>> But the real problem is the actual playing of the cassette tapes.
>>>> I use iMic and Behringer devices for the actual digitisation,
>>>> capturing with Audacity. I then do a Save As... in WAV, FLAC and MP3
>>>> (320 kbps) formats.
>>>> I have a variety of double cassette decks - all relatively brand new.
>>>> They have auto-reverse and switch from the first cassette tape to the
>>>> second automatically.
>>>> I always clean the heads manually first, then run a head cleaning
>>>> cassette, before mounting the cassettes. The cassettes are then
>>>> rewound forwards and backwards to even up the tape layers.
>>>> I have to assume that the read head azimuth settings are OK. I have no
>>>> way to adjust them.
>>>> So far so good.
>>>> BUT the digisations are far from perfect.
>>>> The first side of cassette one is nice and clear but the sound gets a
>>>> little 'muddy' (loss of clarity and treble) towards the end of that
>>>> side. The cassette then reverses direction and the 'muddiness' becomes
>>>> more pronounced.
>>>> This effect is repeated when its the turn of the second cassette.
>>>> Sometimes when I'm busy after the second cassette has run its course,
>>>> the first cassette starts up again. This time the recording has lost
>>>> all treble, and the digitised recording s all but unlistenable.
>>>> This is driving me mad, and has wasted so much time. But it indicates
>>>> a serious sticky-shed issue, likely exacerbated by the cassette
>>>> pressure pad forcing contact onto the read head.
>>>
>>> More likely your cassettes have azimuth problems.
>>>
>>>> Now I have bought a second hand Nakamichi DR 10. This has one
>>>> difference to the above decks. It has a cassette pressure pad lift-up
>>>> device, so that the tape passes across the read head passes across
>>>> with very little pressure. Hopefully this will keep the sticky-shed to
>>>> a minimum.
>>>
>>> The Nak has an easy-to-reach azimuth adjustment -- it's the slotted-head
>>> wheel to the right of the
>>> play head. Adjust while monitoring in MONO, tweaking for maximum treble
>>> output.
>>>
>>>> What I do find strange is that others maybe with even simpler tape
>>>> players manage to digitise their cassettes with no reported quality
>>>> issues.
>>>
>>> They lucked out -- the cassettes were recorded with an azimuth that
>>> matched the playback head's.
>>>
>>> Azimuth, not sticky shed, is the big issue with cassettes.
>>>
>>>> CJB
>>>
>>> ---
>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>> Eli Bildirici
>> (347) 837-8337
>>
> 

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