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From: trott@olorin.DEC (Dale at TWO/A07, DTN:247-2146)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Cassette Recording Problems
Message-ID: <7687@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-May-84 17:16:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.7687
Posted: Fri May  4 17:16:24 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 5-May-84 07:34:35 EDT
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 50

[...]

I've been having some problems recently in making cassettes and I was 
hoping someone out there may be able to shed some light on the situation.

I have a Nak LX-3, a Yamaha CA-810 amp and a Technics SL-D2 table with a
MA 3002 cartridge. I know it's not the "best equipment in the world" but
it suits my current needs, I say this because I'm really not interested
in any "why don't you buy some `real' equipment" flames from the "golden 
ears" gallery. No offense to anyone who considers themselves a member of
the golden ears gallery or any similar organizations. (-:

The problem occurs when I am making a tape from a record. I always use Dolby-C
and most of the stuff I am recording is "high energy" type rock music. I do
not exceed the recommended volume level while recording and I've recently
de-magnetized the Nak so I don't think the problem lies there.

The problem is that when I play the tape back I get what sounds like a 
"fluttering" or maybe a "dropout", it can last anywhere from one to three 
seconds and it's definitely on the tape as it happens in the same places
every time. The problem does not necessarily occur in particularly high
volume areas of the recording which tells me it's probably not saturation
but I'm no expert so anything is possible I suppose. The obvious cause to
me appears to be bad tape and have considered this as the cause but it has 
happened to me (in varying degrees) with every tape I've tried so it's got 
me wondering if all tape could be that bad. I think it's important to
note here that all the tapes in question have been of the 90-minute variety
(I like to get one whole album on a side) and I have heard rumors to the
effect that 60-minute tapes are better because the tape inside a C90 is
thinner and tends not to perform as well as the thicker C60 tape. Does 
anyone know if this is true? It sounds like it may be reasonable.

I recently bought two Maxell XLII-S's (their latest formula I believe) and I 
had more problems than usual. I got the "fluttering" problem about ten times 
on one side! I usually buy Maxell because it seemed to perform well in the 
past. I have tried most of the major brands of tape TDK, Sony, NAK and a few 
others and have found no major difference in their over-all performance. 
Anyone have any specific recommendations?

As you probably noticed I am still suspicious of the tape but I figured I
have nothing to lose by throwing this into the net.audio forum and see if
any of the experts have some ideas. I'm all ears (or eyes in this case).


"For the words of the prophits are written on the studio wall..."

		   - Dale -

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