Tape to Tape recording
 

I have these two tape decks Akai 1720L and Marconiphone 4218.
If I link them together with a DIN to DIN lead can I do tape to tape or does it need an amp in between?

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

It probably won't need an amplifier in-between.

However, watch the DIN to DIN lead! You may need one with crossed connections, because the line output of one machine must go to the line input of the other. I'm guessing Pin 2 links to Pin 2 (middle pin); Pin 1 to Pin 3 and Pin 3 to Pin 1; and (if stereo) 5 - 4 and 4 - 5.

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

This type of DIN lead was often known as a mirror

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

I'm guessing the Akai also has RCA (Phono) type connectors, if so, and the idea of figuring out which type of DIN cable you have doesn't appeal to you, you could use a 4x RCA to DIN cable, which allows you to experiment with signal connections by just moving around the RCA connectors.

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

Just a quick add to Kalees' comment - don't forget to clearly mark this DIN to DIN cable as a mirror/reverse - it saves an awful lot of embarrassing head scratching later on... :-)

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

Thanks for the replies,
I have a din to din and a din to 2 phonos but don't know which way round they are

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

DIN to phono is easy, just reverse the plugs until it works, DIN to DIN needs the help of a soldering iron if it's the wrong way round.

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

... as long as the two phono centres are connected to pins 1 and 3 of the DIN - i.e. single channel bi-directional, as opposed to dual channel uni-directional.

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

.. but would also lead to the possibility of reversing left and right so the op will need to identify L & R on the source material.

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

With two tape decks/recorders coupled by a reversing (mirror) DIN-to-DIN, there might be some signal level disparities, although perhaps not of such magnitude that they cannot be addressed by appropriate settings of the input and output gain controls.

Tape recorder DIN inputs were usually designed to accept signals from amplifier DIN outputs, which in turn were usually (but not always) of the DIN “constant current” type that typically delivered relatively lower signal levels than the by the regular (phono socket) tape recording outputs. Thus, tape recorder DIN inputs were usually somewhat more sensitive than tape recorder line inputs. On the other hand, tape recorder DIN output signal levels were usually of the about the same magnitude as the corresponding line outputs.

For the Akai 1720L, the numbers I can find are:

Line input: 30 mV, 140k
DIN input: 10 mV, 43k

DIN output: 2.5 V maximum, looking to at least 50 k.

With say a pair of Akai 1720Ls inter coupled via their DIN sockets, the output volume control of the sending unit would need to be wound back quite a bit (more than 30 dB down) to provide say around 50 mV or so for the DIN input, or whatever similar-order-of-magnitude number is required to provide a margin above 0 VU with the input gain control (of the receiving unit) at a reasonable setting.

Anyway, whilst some signal attenuation might be required with the DIN-to-DIN connection, amplification is unlikely to be required given that tape recorder DIN outputs typically deliver much more signal than is required by tape recorder DIN inputs.

On the other hand, attempting to cross-link two control units or amplifiers this way can run into difficulties, in that the signal level delivered by the DIN tape record out socket could well be noticeably less than that required by the DIN tape in socket.

Where the use of a DIN socket at each end is unavoidable when interconnecting two tape recorders, then using two standard DIN-to-4 phono leads coupled at their phono ends by barrel connectors to make up a reversing DIN-to-DIN lead has some advantage in that it is easy enough to insert attenuators between the phono plugs, if required (or if desired to obtain reasonable rather than extreme gain control settings).


Cheers,

Re: Tape to Tape recording
 

Well so far my din lead isn't going to work as nothing happens and it's got moulded plugs on.
With the din to phonos I had vu meter movement on the Akai on record (no tape) feeding it from the Marconi.
Just have to decide on a tape I want to record over (more on the way), and get a din to 4 phonos so I have the option to record to the Marconi