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ITC cart machine issue...

S

SFM-Ptgal

Yup... I'm back... ;D

Well, I've put one of my six ITC Delta aside for parts. The tape wobbled due to an non perpendicular capstan shaft... If in the beginning it would go "into place" after a few minutes of FF, seems that now it's worthless... Well, 5 machines left... Better said... 4 1/2.

One of them, when running a blank cart, has such a level of noise in one of the channels, like if I had the volume turned to max. This happends in one channel only. While playing a recorded cart I do notice the noise, but the recorded level between channels is balanced. Putting the machine running without a cart: no noise at all is noticed. I've swapped the amp card from the other machines and the problem remained.

Any hints? TIA...

Regards
 
What's this device referred to as a cart machine? ;)
 
Brilliant_Marconi said:
What's this device referred to as a cart machine? ;)
Click to expand...

A cart machine is what the studio ash tray sat on... usually found it next to the turntable or reel to reel... ;-)

RFB
 
Run it for a while and see if any of the IC's get hot. I've had op amps go bad and make white noise--usually accompanied by heat.
 
It's been ages since I dabbled with one but did you try swapping the either the wires on the back of the head (i.e., channel 1 to channel 2 on the head and likewise). If the problem travels it's either the wires or the head that's the issue. You may be able to do so on the board instead of at the head depending on the model of your deck.
 
Yeap, it's sort of a white noise... IC problems... dunno... Swapping the amp cards, from a sain machine, the problem remains. Bill's suggestion is interesting. A dumb question... can the head be over-magnetized?
 
I have 4 BE triple decks that all work fine. They have never had any technical problems other than changing the pinch rollers. I have plenty of new, spare pinch rollers so they should be working for a long time to come. They were about the last cart machines that BE built so they are much more technologically advanced than the earlier models. I have plenty of cotton swabs, 99% alcohol and xylene. The best part is when video is shot in my studio, it actually looks like a radio station rather than a bunch of computer screens.
 
@radiotruth... that's the same feeling I have... Computers=Indifference...
I've had issues with an 1988 BE triple decker once... Guess what... melted pinch-rollers ;D I solved the problem by using the spare Criterion 90 rollers...
Where can we see a video from your studio?...
 
SFM-Ptgal said:
A dumb question... can the head be over-magnetized?
Click to expand...

The only dumb question is the one not asked. I'm assuming since you're asking that you probably don't have a head demagnetizer.

With time the heads and transport will build up a magnetic field that, if not eliminated, can deteriorate the tapes play through the unit. The most notable symptom is a diminished high frequency response. This is where the demagnetizer comes it.

if I understand your symptom description correctly, you have adequate levels but a noise in one channel. Is the noise you're experiencing more of a hiss or a hum? I've only had two heads go bad in all the tape units I've worked on in my lifetime but in those cases one opened up and caused a hum with no audio. The second was quite warn and the head gap was excessive. Since it sounds like you've already swapped the electronics around it would be an interesting experiment to swap the audio wires at the head location. Just make sure you don't inadvertently swap an audio channel with the deck's cue channel.
 
The reverb being used is a Lexicon MX300. The setting being used is the setting that most replicates the sound of an EMT 140 plate reverb. I would have an EMT 140 except they need constant adjustment of the spring tension and they use very odd values of capacitors. A digital reverb would normally sound thin but it goes into a vintage compressor which makes all the difference.
 
Ah a cart machine. The older ones were a great place to set your coffee! (kept it warm)

Over the years I work with Gates (the real old ones started with a loud THUNK, you had to shut off the mic before you started them) Spotmaster, B.E. and Sonomag. Each one had their own flukes!

BTW, anyone else ever worked with a Gates Spot Tape? Or the gates "Jukebox". For the younger posters the "jukebox' was built by Seeburg and if I remember correctly, held 100 45 RPM records. With switches you could program A or B side or skip, it has a remote control, fortunately because it too was noisey. http://mcnally.cc/spottape.htm http://www.broadcastdocuments.com/BROADCAST_DOCUMENTS/Gates_Equipment.html

The Spot Tape machine had a wide magnetic tape belt 90 seconds long and selectable tracks. You could not play them back to back because you had to rewind, oh yes, it was noisey as well!
 
Kelly Watts said:
Ah a cart machine. The older ones were a great place to set your coffee! (kept it warm)
Click to expand...

You haven't engineered a radio station until you've pulled out the remains of a McDonald's cheeseburger out of the top slot of an ITC Triple Decker. Somebody else obviously thought it was a nice place to keep their dinner warm, too. ;D
 
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