| Author |
Thread: Troubleshooting Reel-To-Reel |
    
Bronze Member Username: Dscrobe
Reading,
PA
USA
Post Number: 74
Registered: Dec-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 06:55 am: |
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I know its a museum, but I got one for free and would like to tinker with it before I pitch it. It's an AKAI M-10 reel-to-reel player. All moving parts work but no sound is coming out. Someone told me a signal tracer is a good tool to use. I could see if there is signal at the tape head. Anyone know where to get a tracer? |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 11814
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 07:37 am: |
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If the meters respond to a recorded tape, there is signal coming from the playback head. If the meters don't respond when in "record" mode, there are serious problems. |
Bronze Member Username: Dscrobe
Reading,
PA
USA
Post Number: 75
Registered: Dec-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 08:11 am: |
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The meters do not respond when playing a recorded tape. However, I did not attempt to record yet. That would be my next step. |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 9368
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 08:48 am: |
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The meters didn't even move a bump?
Do try an input to it, the recording heads might still work, but without outputs, it will sound like a tree falling in the forest with no-one around.
A signal tracer is useful, but does not replace a good meter.
If you are so inclined, get to reading the power supply and it's associated protection bits, there are not many.
The Ampex units I have fixed are different from the Akai, but that R2R is a reasonable unit, if you can find the tapes for it. |
Bronze Member Username: Dscrobe
Reading,
PA
USA
Post Number: 76
Registered: Dec-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 09:01 am: |
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Nuck, both meters did not move even the slightest. The original owner gave me some original recordings and some home made recordings. He showed me how to use it, so it can't be operator error. I am assuming the meters respond to a signal going to the recording head and a signal coming from the playback head. If the meters move at recording, do I assume that I have a bad playback head? As far as reading the power supply and protection bits, I'm not sure where to check this. The power indicator lamp comes on and all moving parts work, so the power is making its way in. I am assuming that there is some DC conversion somewhere, and not sure where this might be. |
Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 11815
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 11:08 am: |
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Does the deck have a headphone output? If so, plug in some phones. If you hear nothing when you are in "record" mode, the problems have just taken another step up the credit limit. |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 9373
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 11:43 am: |
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Good call JV. |
Bronze Member Username: Dscrobe
Reading,
PA
USA
Post Number: 77
Registered: Dec-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 11:52 am: |
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There are two jacks for "MIC" and two jacks for "PHONE" at the bottom. I am not sure why there would be two separate phone jacks. Jan, do I try to input a signal and record onto a blank tape and try to listen with headphone jacks? |
Gold Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 9374
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007 - 02:17 pm: |
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ds, the stereo inputs for mic are just that. The dual phone outs are for 2 to listen together.
Very common.
If you have a mic or 2, go ahead and plug them in, you needent record to pickup the signal, just rec and pause. |
Bronze Member Username: Dscrobe
Reading,
PA
USA
Post Number: 78
Registered: Dec-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 06:04 am: |
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Ok, after going home from work and taking the thing apart, banging it, looking at it and putting it back together, I got sound out of it but only on the right speaker with a lot of crackling sounds. No sound at all comes out of left speaker. I had the volume control for the right all the way up. It didn't get that loud, but the crackling was very annoying. Both meters still did not move at all. |
Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 11817
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 09:34 pm: |
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How much effort is this thing worth? Does it have Dolby B noise reduction? 15 i.p.s. speed? Most people want a reel to reel to watch the reels go 'round. There is nothing magic in a mid priced consumer R to R machine. A $79 stereo HiFi VCR makes a better recording with longer playing times. Put on a CD and hit play on the Akai then pretend you're listening to a Studer, Revox or Tandberg top o' the line machine.
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Bronze Member Username: Dscrobe
Reading,
PA
USA
Post Number: 79
Registered: Dec-05
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| Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2007 - 08:03 am: |
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I wouldn't want to spend any money at all on this thing. It's more of an antique item. It's just nice to have it working also. I thought it would be something quick that could be fixed. But from my observations, looks like its ready to be scrapped. |
