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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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24th Jul 2018, 7:12 pm | #21 | |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Machine back and working great.
Bar a weak track One, it is all calibrated and operating to spec. Quote:
James - can i ask what you would use to clean the rubber rollers on your Fostex? I know Isopropyl should not be used. The tape counter sensor wheel rubber is a little shiny so I think it's slipping on fast forward and rewind so counter not accurate for locate points. thanks |
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25th Jul 2018, 12:44 am | #22 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,875
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
I'd go for water with a little detergent for cleaning the rubber roller but I find it rarely needs cleaning. Locate points will drift slightly over time and I'd only expect the built-in autolocator to be accurate to a second or so over a few cycles. It may also be worth checking how the tape tension varies as the machine slows down as, if it goes too low, the tape could slip against the roller. Does the edit mode work properly (press stop twice and then the tape can then be moved in either direction by twisting one reel while still remaining in perfect contact with the heads)?
If you want properly repeatable locate points then it would be better to find a 4050 synchroniser and use a tape striped with timecode. |
25th Jul 2018, 10:09 am | #23 |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Thanks James for the reply.
Does this sound about right: Tape has 0 point reset at beginning, play tape til about 30 mins then auto locate 0. As the tape counter gets to about 1min from zero the tape runs out. So about a minute of drift? Re edit mode - yes that is functioning correctly. |
25th Jul 2018, 12:31 pm | #24 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 1,969
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Quote:
I only have a Fostex 8 track 1/4" machine with me here so cant make a direct comparison. |
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25th Jul 2018, 3:07 pm | #25 |
Triode
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Salford, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 17
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
hey
where/who is the Multitrack Specialist you mentioned? i'm in Manchester and looking for that exact serice! cheers |
25th Jul 2018, 3:53 pm | #26 |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Check PM
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25th Jul 2018, 4:01 pm | #27 | |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Quote:
I think it could be slightly sloppy tension arms. They look like they have bent over years of constant pressure so only one of the bearings on each are really contacting the tape. I've been testing on a memory repeat/auto-play cycle over 5-6 minutes length and its fine for that - so not a big deal. I had an R8 in the 90's and that was really good for locating. |
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26th Jul 2018, 5:56 am | #28 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 1,969
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Uneven tension across the width of the tape at the supply guide(s) can translate to uneven tape tension across the head face.That could be implicated in the weakness of track 1 which is at the top edge of the tape.
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26th Jul 2018, 2:20 pm | #29 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,875
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
That certainly doesn't sound right - I'd expect no more than a second or two of drift. While it is worth looking at the tape/roller contact, it may also be worth checking that the tape counter is actually reading the right time - what happens if you compare the time displayed in play mode with a stopwatch?
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26th Jul 2018, 9:42 pm | #30 |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
I have not checked with a stopwatch yet - but - the counter seems to be accurate in fast forward - but "slips" in rewind.
I'm cleaning everything. Do you oil the bearings lightly? |
26th Jul 2018, 11:34 pm | #31 | |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,875
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Quote:
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27th Jul 2018, 12:08 am | #32 |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Thanks.
I've cleaned the wheel with detergent. It had quite a few shiny spots but those went. I notice it is accurate up to about 15 minutes both fast forward and return - so I can only assume its something to so with the take up reel tension or alignment. Looking at the two bearings on the take reel tension, on rewind only one spins and the other judders. They both move freely by hand so I guess the spindle is slightly bent so the tape is not making even contact, so this must be impacting the contact with the counter reel as the tension changes? |
27th Jul 2018, 11:00 am | #33 |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
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27th Jul 2018, 10:31 pm | #34 | |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,875
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Quote:
One other thing to check - what make of tape are you using? |
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28th Jul 2018, 11:45 am | #35 |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Thanks James
It does move depending on the amount left on the spool - to the extent it bounces slightly past the midway point. What I do notice, with no tape loaded, is that there feels to be a mechanical glitch part way through its travel as you lift it gently through its arc. The other one is smooth. I have the service manual so will look at the construction, and also the setup process. Tape is Ampex 456. I had to bake them to stop shedding, so it's possible that is effecting it. I see the RMGI 911 is the equivalent current brand most use that is affordable, unless there are other suggestions? |
28th Jul 2018, 6:32 pm | #36 | |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,875
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Quote:
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28th Jul 2018, 6:38 pm | #37 |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Thanks so much James.
Buying pancakes seems a good plan as I have 5 reels of 456 that came with the machine. I was unaware this was an option. The reels I have all bolt together. Does the little noticeable glitch appear on your machine on the supply reel side tensioner? It feels like there is a slight obstruction - sounds like a spring is loose. Last edited by Barks67; 28th Jul 2018 at 6:54 pm. |
29th Jul 2018, 10:44 pm | #38 | |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,875
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Quote:
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30th Jul 2018, 8:25 pm | #39 |
Triode
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 22
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Thanks for checking. I think this is fine, just a little play when it is slack.
I've ordered a pancake - thanks for the link - and will see if it makes a difference. I suspect it will. Barks |
31st Jul 2018, 1:57 am | #40 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,875
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Re: Fostex E16 - any experienced here?
Clean the guides and heads very thoroughly before you try the new tape. The residue left by even just slightly sticky Ampex tapes can be very persistent.
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