Background static on tape deck
Daniel Modlin
I have 2 Akai CD 80D 8 track decks (don't laugh). Both of them have a
very irritating problem of a crackling type noise in the background of
some tapes. I've talked other owners of this model, they have the same
problem. What I have tried:
Through cleaning of tape head, and all switches with teflon cleaner.
Demagnitization.
Adding a grouding wire to the motor (AC).
Checking the grouding wire of the tape head (in good shape, continuity
between tape head and case).
Making sure all tapes have good pressure pads and work well in other
decks.
Tape head adjustment-got the channels to bleed, but the crackle
remained.
Checked w/ headphones (noise on them too).
Ran deck without tape, no crackle.
Touched screwdriver to tape head, a hum but no crackle.
I checked the FAQ for this group, very nice page, but nothing for this
specific problem.
Have the transistors just gone south!?
Any leads appreciated!
Thanks,
--
Daniel Modlin
mailto:dmo...@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~dmodlin
Burbank, CA
ICQ #4076445
(insert amusing line here)
Michael E. Floyd
This will probably sound stupid, but I have had similar problems with
broadcast cart decks and the problem was the head itself. Whereas you
have two bad machines and you have talked to others with the same
problem, I would tend to say it is NOT the head. However, it might be.
Don't overlook this possibility.
Mike Floyd
Regards,
Michael E. Floyd
Jerry G.
not handle?
Some older machines cannot tolerate metal tapes because the heads and
EQ are not designed for this type of tape.
I have seen a bad head also cause noise on some types of tape media...
--
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Daniel Modlin wrote in message <36D8E764...@earthlink.net>...
Daniel Modlin
that bad tape heads are rare, I don't think that is it. A poorly
designed one, maybe, but I hope not outright defective.
A feature this deck has is a "One-Micron Gap Recording/Playback Head for
frequency response to 16kHz." I really have no idea what this means,
but it might be the root of the problem. Although later Akai decks came
with a glass head, this one is regualar. You can read all about the
Akai decks (tho my exact one isn't listed) at:
http://www.8trackheaven.com/component2.html
--
Daniel Modlin
>
> Did you check to see if the tape type is one that this machine will
> not handle?
>
Thought about that, but I have 2 copies of some tapes, one will be
silent and one noisy.
> Some older machines cannot tolerate metal tapes because the heads and
> EQ are not designed for this type of tape.
>
> I have seen a bad head also cause noise on some types of tape media...
>
I thought about a bad tape head, but this seems to be a problem on all
decks of this model. Something must consitently go wrong, I can't
belive it's made this way.
Michael E. Floyd
<dmo...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>I really hope it is not the tape head...given the circumstances, and
>that bad tape heads are rare, I don't think that is it. A poorly
>designed one, maybe, but I hope not outright defective.
>
>A feature this deck has is a "One-Micron Gap Recording/Playback Head for
>frequency response to 16kHz." I really have no idea what this means,
>but it might be the root of the problem. Although later Akai decks came
>with a glass head, this one is regualar. You can read all about the
>Akai decks (tho my exact one isn't listed) at:
>http://www.8trackheaven.com/component2.html
>
I just thought of something else that I have seen after working in the
broadcast industry for 16 years. It could be the tapes themselves -
lack of lubrication. When tapes are played over and over, especially
closed loop tapes like broadcast cartridges and 8-track tapes, the
lubrication wears off the tape. This can cause noises like the ones
you are experiencing.
If possible, try some "newer" 8-tracks and see if they produce the
noise as well. If not, it's probably your old un-lubricated tapes. You
may be able to get some graghite to re-lubricate them, although I have
never done this.
Micgael E. Floyd
>
>--
>Daniel Modlin
>mailto:dmo...@earthlink.net
>http://home.earthlink.net/~dmodlin
>Burbank, CA
>ICQ #4076445
>
>(insert amusing line here)
>
Regards,
Michael E. Floyd
Asimov
Background static on tape deck (28 Feb 99 01:51:16)
dm> I have 2 Akai CD 80D 8 track decks (don't laugh). Both of them have a
dm> very irritating problem of a crackling type noise in the background of
dm> some tapes. I've talked other owners of this model, they have the
dm> same problem.
Perhaps it is the tape static itself discharging near the head. Some
decks have a light spring loaded arm before the head which rides the
tape used as a motor switch but it certainly acts as a discharge path
for static electricity. There are also some tape treatment silicon
cloths or pads, used to lubricate the tape which also probably cut
down on tape static. I think metal reels might reduce static too.
... Man, that lightning sounds clos;3F_k6AW? NO CARRIER
--
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Daniel Modlin
screwdriver to the tape head" trick on the foil sensor...lo and behold,
I found the noise. Soo...I did a full amputation. Removed the foil
sensor, and the pwer and ground wires from the board. Now...I have no
crackle...instead I have a load buzz! Well, i'm getting closer...
Anyhow, what can be done to bring down the voltage to the sensor? Is a
dried out cap to blame, or is this an inherant flaw? And, what did
removing the sensor do to bring on this load buzz?
Mr. Steven L. Bender wrote:
>
> Asimov wrote on 28 Feb 99 11:51:26 :
> >
> > dmo...@earthlink.net said the following to All on the subject of
> > Background static on tape deck (28 Feb 99 01:51:16)
> >
> > dm> I have 2 Akai CD 80D 8 track decks (don't laugh). Both of them
>
> have a
> > dm> very irritating problem of a crackling type noise in the
>
> background of
> > dm> some tapes. I've talked other owners of this model, they have
>
> the
> > dm> same problem.
> >
> > Perhaps it is the tape static itself discharging near the head. Some
> > decks have a light spring loaded arm before the head which rides the
> > tape used as a motor switch but it certainly acts as a discharge path
> > for static electricity. There are also some tape treatment silicon
> > cloths or pads, used to lubricate the tape which also probably cut
> > down on tape static. I think metal reels might reduce static too.
> >
> > .... Man, that lightning sounds clos;3F_k6AW? NO CARRIER
>
> Here's a tidbit from the past... that might help... I have an Akai R-R
>
> Tape deck, and I found that certain R-R tapes - those having a
>
> conductive backcoating would cause small ticking, static sounds which
>
> were picked up by the playback heads after it crossed the metal sensing
>
> tape reversing sensor, which obviously had too high a voltage across
>
> it. I pointed this out twenty years ago in AUDIO Magazine.
>
> As I recall, 8 tracks have a similar scheme, where a tape sensor hits a
>
> metal splice and that switches the tracks. Might simply be a similar
>
> Akai design defect, that only shows up on some tapes which are
>
> especially conductive on the backside < I seem to recall, that all 8
>
> track tapes had a non-static or conductive type backcoating >.
>
> Steven L. Bender, Designer of Vintage Audio Equipment
>
> Email: buq...@prodigy.com <or> SLBe...@juno.com
>
> BENDER VINTAGE AMP REBUILD KITS INFO PAGE:
> http://pages.prodigy.com/BUQU35D <- use CAPS
>
> I think your analysis is basically correct, and the "white paper" is
> excessively stained with snake-oil and is of little use for anything
> other than starting fires intended to barbecue overzealous marketing
> departments. - Dave Platt
Mr. Steven L. Bender
Daniel Modlin
foil sensor on the board, and cut down on the buzz a little..there is
some still buzz, is that just normal, or did I upset something? Thanks
again for all who have helped so far, I'm amazed I've got this far!
Daniel Modlin wrote:
>
> Ding Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner! I tried the "touch the
> screwdriver to the tape head" trick on the foil sensor...lo and behold,
> I found the noise. Soo...I did a full amputation. Removed the foil
> sensor, and the pwer and ground wires from the board. Now...I have no
> crackle...instead I have a load buzz! Well, i'm getting closer...
> Anyhow, what can be done to bring down the voltage to the sensor? Is a
> dried out cap to blame, or is this an inherant flaw? And, what did
> removing the sensor do to bring on this load buzz?
>
> Mr. Steven L. Bender wrote:
> >
Samuel M. Goldwasser
sites) provides a series of comprehensive repair guides for consumer
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Please check this resource out BEFORE posting a question to this
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| Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.misty.com/~don/lasersam.html
/NS
Daniel Modlin
this group via the FAQ. There was something about bad ic's and "hybrid
blocks" (I have no idea what *those* are) , but given the recent change
in direction of the problem, I don't think that is the key. But it is a
very helpful page, I have viewed it many times, but this is my first
time posting. I took it to a reapair shop, the owner didn't want to
touch it. Now that I have a better idea of the problem, I might try
again. Anything is better than trashing it!
--
HSC
want anybody wasting your valuable time Sam. Some people just don't know
all the answers and have to ask. I'd say the stupid question is the one not
asked. We're all here to help each other out. Lighten up a little on some
of these guys.
John
Daniel Modlin
I took off the foil sensor completely. That got rid of the crackle, but
then a buzz appeared. So, I put the foil sensor back in, but left the
power wire disconnected. So, I have no auto. track changer, but at
least there is no (abnormal) noise. I've talked to a couple tech.'s,
both who say this is not a possible problem, but...whatever
works.....strange.
Anyhow, thanks!
Daniel Modlin wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I have 2 Akai CD 80D 8 track decks (don't laugh). Both of them have a
> very irritating problem of a crackling type noise in the background of
> some tapes. I've talked other owners of this model, they have the same
> problem. What I have tried:
>
> Through cleaning of tape head, and all switches with teflon cleaner.
> Demagnitization.
> Adding a grouding wire to the motor (AC).
> Checking the grouding wire of the tape head (in good shape, continuity
> between tape head and case).
> Making sure all tapes have good pressure pads and work well in other
> decks.
> Tape head adjustment-got the channels to bleed, but the crackle
> remained.
> Checked w/ headphones (noise on them too).
> Ran deck without tape, no crackle.
> Touched screwdriver to tape head, a hum but no crackle.
>
> I checked the FAQ for this group, very nice page, but nothing for this
> specific problem.
>
> Have the transistors just gone south!?
>
> Any leads appreciated!
>
> Thanks,