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Hi, Tim, You approached Stuart's challenge from a different direction. I can tell you that I've received tapes that "pin" the Dragon's auto azimuth capability. If it's a Dragon-worthy tape, I'll readjust the mechanical azimuth to get some range on the motor-driven azimuth, and then put it back. If it's not a Dragon-worthy tape, I'll put it in an MR-1. Cheers, Richard On 2019-05-07 6:13 p.m., Tim Gillett wrote: > Hi Stuart , > > I've serviced a Dragon but not to test the limits of its azimuth > correction system. I guess we're talking about severe azimuth changes, > beyond what the Nak was designed to deal with. Law enforcement people > must have had to deal with such recordings as court evidence and who > knows what they may have come up with. I've read of the JBR company and > a modified microcassette player they pitched to forensic people. I think > it had a play head split into something like 12 tracks. > > Cheers, > Tim > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "ROBINSON Stuart" > <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2019 6:19 PM > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Tascam 122n MK models > > >> I have never used a Dragon, but what I wonder when I think about is >> how long it takes to respond to azimuth changes? Does it for example >> respond fast enough to react to tapes that have country-laning issues? >> I have had cassettes where record issues have meant an almost >> constantly shifting azimuth and I wonder whether the system can >> correct for this or if it will end up in hysteresis always trying to >> seek the ideal point. >> >> Stuart Robinson, >> Audio-Visual Archival Technician, >> School of Scottish Studies Archives, >> The University of Edinburgh >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List >> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Gillett >> Sent: 07 May 2019 04:03 >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Tascam 122n MK models >> >> Hi Corey, >> >> On a dual capstan deck, the reason it's better for azimuth stability >> is its uniform back tension. In a standard single capstan deck, back >> tension from the supply reel tends to increase as the tape plays from >> start to finish. >> Changing back tension can change azimuth. An interesting complication >> in our situation is that the deck which originally recorded the >> cassette we are now playing, may not have been dual capstan, meaning >> its recorded azimuth may well change from start to end of tape side. >> >> I was in a team digitising thousands of Oral History cassettes mostly >> recorded on simple single capstan cassette decks. We used Tascam Mk >> III playback machines which, like Naks have a constant back tension, >> but controlled electronically, not by dual capstan. Often the azimuth >> alignment would slowly drift from start to end of the tape side, >> seemingly always in the same direction. If we'd used Naks I suspect >> the result would have been similar. >> >> Ideally, such tapes would be played in a similar deck with similar >> back tension changes! Or on a model such as a Dragon, but I wonder how >> many of us have access to one of those? >> >> The other thing is that it's the constant back tension which *allows* >> removal or lifting of the pressure pad. This means that many otherwise >> fine dual capstan cassette decks would potentially benefit from the >> adding of a pressure pad lifter, as per the Naks. I've modded a few >> such dual capstan decks (Pioneer, Tandberg, Sony) with a custom made >> pressure pad lifter with good results. It's not always appreciated >> that the absence of the pressure pad greatly improves head life, >> which is one of the main reasons I like Naks myself. >> >> The Tascam 122 MkIII retains the pressure pad but it mostly works >> againt the record head, not the play, but has a role to play in >> maintaining the back tension across the play head downstream of it. >> The pressure pad on the record head causes quite a bad wear groove >> after not too long a time, but in even the worst wear cases I've never >> seen a play head - sitting right next to the record head- worn nearly >> as badly or unsalvageable.( The Tascam >> 122 head is a beautiful piece of engineering IMO, which unusually >> allows full adjustment of the record head independently of the play >> head. They're not locked together). In my view the 122 record/play >> head assembly should be replaced not when straight line playback >> performance suffers, but earlier when the record head becomes grooved >> due to the wear from the pressure pad.. >> This is especially so when azimuth is routinely adjusted and the tape >> is forced to distort inside the "tramline track" of the worn record >> head as the head twists with azimuth adjustments. Of course this >> applies to any tape head in any machine. >> >> I noticed on a head from a later model Nak deck, relief slots were >> factory cut into the head faces. A nice feature, especially in a >> transfer situation where azimuth is regularly being adjusted. >> >> Tim Gillett >> >> Perth, >> Western Australia >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Corey Bailey" <[log in to unmask]> >> To: <[log in to unmask]> >> Sent: Monday, May 06, 2019 11:06 AM >> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Tascam 122n MK models >> >> >>> Hi John, >>> >>> I prefer cassette decks with a dual capstan mechanism for playback. The >>> reason is that cassettes, particularly old ones, tend to skew and a dual >>> capstan deck will hold azimuth better throughout the length to the tape. >>> Some Nakamichi's also have the added feature of a pressure pad >>> lifter. If >>> you are going to consider a NAK, be sure and buy one that was built post >>> 1982. Dual capstan decks are expensive, even used which, I think, is the >>> only way you will find one. The Tascam that you mention is current but a >>> good used dual capstan machine will out perform it, hands down. >>> >>> My $0.02 >>> >>> Corey >>> >>> Corey Bailey Audio Engineering >>> www.baileyzone.net >>> >>> On 5/5/2019 7:19 AM, John Schroth wrote: >>>> Hoping to get some input from everyone. >>>> >>>> I'd like to add a Tascam 122 cassette deck to our inventory. I've been >>>> studying up on the different models, reading conflicting reports. Does >>>> anyone have recommendations on which of the models they prefer - the >>>> original 122, MK-II or MK-III? >>>> >>>> Thanks in advance for any input. >>>> >>>> Kind Regards, >>>> >>>> John Schroth >>>> >> >> >> --- >> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. >> https://www.avast.com/antivirus >> The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in >> Scotland, with registration number SC005336. >> > -- Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask] Aurora, Ontario, Canada 647 479 2800 http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.