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Thanks Tim! You've provided the detail that I was hesitant to add. Over the years, I've noticed the eyes of recipients glazing over when I get deep into the weeds. So, these days, I try and keep it as simple as possible (plus, I'm getting lazier in my old age). ;-) Cheers! Corey Corey Bailey Audio Engineering www.baileyzone.net On 5/6/2019 8:03 PM, Tim Gillett wrote: > 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