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 >> >