Uher 4400 Report Monitor Tape Recorder (Fault Recording and Playback)) - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

hellensc · 30th Sep 2019, 2:15 pm

Good afternoon,
I have inherited from a relative a Uher 4400 Report Monitor Tape Recorder and having the following problem with it.

There are two VU's (1 and 2). the hand switch on the front switches between M1, M2 and CO. M1 being track 1, M2 being Track 2 and CO Being both. M=Microphone but for this I am linking an external DIN plug connected to an MP3 Player. The cable is an official product (Uher K557)

There is another switch which is (s) source and t (tape).

1. When recording on CO (both channels) I press the record button, I can then hear the recording coming in but only the 2 (second) VU is working. 1 is not working. I hold record with one hand and press start to begin recording. When flicking between source and tape the sound levels are more or less the same. On playback it sounds fine but only the 2 VU is flicking.

2. When recording on 2 I press the record button, I can then hear the sound and when recording I flick between source and tape the sound is more or less the same. on playback it is the same.

3. When recording on 1 I press the record button, the VU is working and the switch is set to s (Source). I hold the record button and can hear sound clearly. I press Start and can hear sound and the VU is working. I then switch it to T and no sound comes out and the VU stops working. No sound on playback.

I have tried an external tape from a friend and when playing the VU2 is working normally but VU 1 is extremely quiet it flick up just one notch on the VU.

Any help would extremely appreciated.

Welsh Anorak · 1st Oct 2019, 1:44 pm

This might be an obvious suggestion, but are the heads scrupulously clean? A dirty head would explain the fault described in point 3, and why your test tape plays quietly. You've cleared the input circuitry and VU drives of suspicion. Point 1 may just be a switching or wiring error - the DIN plugs are wired differently to the way you might expect as they have both mic and line inputs.

hellensc · 5th Oct 2019, 9:33 am

Thanks very much for the information.

30th Sep 2019, 2:15 pm	#1
hellensc Diode Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: London, UK. Posts: 7	Uher 4400 Report Monitor Tape Recorder (Fault Recording and Playback)) Good afternoon, I have inherited from a relative a Uher 4400 Report Monitor Tape Recorder and having the following problem with it. There are two VU's (1 and 2). the hand switch on the front switches between M1, M2 and CO. M1 being track 1, M2 being Track 2 and CO Being both. M=Microphone but for this I am linking an external DIN plug connected to an MP3 Player. The cable is an official product (Uher K557) There is another switch which is (s) source and t (tape). 1. When recording on CO (both channels) I press the record button, I can then hear the recording coming in but only the 2 (second) VU is working. 1 is not working. I hold record with one hand and press start to begin recording. When flicking between source and tape the sound levels are more or less the same. On playback it sounds fine but only the 2 VU is flicking. 2. When recording on 2 I press the record button, I can then hear the sound and when recording I flick between source and tape the sound is more or less the same. on playback it is the same. 3. When recording on 1 I press the record button, the VU is working and the switch is set to s (Source). I hold the record button and can hear sound clearly. I press Start and can hear sound and the VU is working. I then switch it to T and no sound comes out and the VU stops working. No sound on playback. I have tried an external tape from a friend and when playing the VU2 is working normally but VU 1 is extremely quiet it flick up just one notch on the VU. Any help would extremely appreciated.

1st Oct 2019, 1:44 pm	#2
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,918	Re: Uher 4400 Report Monitor Tape Recorder (Fault Recording and Playback)) This might be an obvious suggestion, but are the heads scrupulously clean? A dirty head would explain the fault described in point 3, and why your test tape plays quietly. You've cleared the input circuitry and VU drives of suspicion. Point 1 may just be a switching or wiring error - the DIN plugs are wired differently to the way you might expect as they have both mic and line inputs. __________________ Glyn www.gdelectronics.wales

5th Oct 2019, 9:33 am	#3
hellensc Diode Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: London, UK. Posts: 7	Re: Uher 4400 Report Monitor Tape Recorder (Fault Recording and Playback)) Thanks very much for the information.