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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc. |
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17th Sep 2023, 6:31 pm | #1 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 1,911
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Cassette playing fast
Hi
I have just taken delivery of a really nice radio cassette courtesy of the forum. It's in wonderful condition and works well. However, to my ears, the cassette I have played on it so far sounds fractionally fast. I've not had time yet to clean the heads, roller, capstan, but wanted to ask if this is likely to remedy the issue? I've read elsewhere that if the pinch roller/ capstan aren't quite doing their job it can result in too-fast playback. The tape in question is an album I am familiar with from CD and it sounds slightly sharp to me. It's a new pre-recorded cassette.
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17th Sep 2023, 7:03 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 822
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Re: Cassette playing fast
More likely that the regulator pot on the motor needs a minor tweak.
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17th Sep 2023, 7:54 pm | #3 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,966
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Re: Cassette playing fast
Obtain a source of sine wave tone, copy it to a cassette using a known accurately aligned deck, then adjust the speed for zero beat while playing the original source on a computer or CD player.
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17th Sep 2023, 10:12 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,498
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Re: Cassette playing fast
Check the obvious first: buildup of crud on the capstan or inside on the motor pulley?
This kind of equipment was never exactly precise, so may need a slight tweak to the speed pot (often part of the motor, so use insulated screwdriver)
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17th Sep 2023, 11:39 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 1,911
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Re: Cassette playing fast
Thanks chaps. I have cleaned the capstan, pinch roller etc and, dare I say it, it seems to be running well now.
This machine is quite a nice one so I may get it professionally serviced at some point. I have enough experience now to know that I often fix one fault and create another. Time to quit while I am ahead
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22nd Sep 2023, 9:41 am | #6 |
Diode
Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: Francavilla Fontana, Italy.
Posts: 1
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Re: Cassette playing fast
Hi, I had a friend record a 3Khz tone on a quartz deck. I think it should be reliable.
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