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Analogue Tape


Akai 4000 series recorders

I have owned five of these models over the years, and still have a 4000DB. They are hardy little machines, with mechanical transport controls. They have a simple and reliable way of changing the speed from 3 3/4 IPS to 7 1/2 IPS by removing a collar from the capstan. They are 1/4" 1/4 track machines.


Tape Recorder Alignment


General Procedure

Initial Maintenance
  1. Cleaning all heads, guides etc.
  2. Demagnetising
  3. Warm up (ie machine is at standard operating temperature).

Mechanical                                                            
A.    AZIMUTH             1) Play Head            Test Tape (12.5kHz or 15kHz)
                                   2) Sync Head

Reproduce
B.     PLAYBACK LEVEL                            Test Tape (1kHz or 400Hz)
            1) Play Head
            2) Sync Head


C.    PLAYBACK METER LEVEL

D.    PLAYBACK EQ-HI ƒ (15ips)                Test Tape (10kHz or 16kHz)
            1) Play Head
            2) Sync Head
            Do for 71/2ips if available


E.    PLAYBACK EQ-LO ƒ (15ips)               Test Tape (100Hz)
            1) Play Head
            2) Sync Head
            Do for 71/2ips if available

Repeat after Record Alignments to adjust for fringing.            Recorded Tone (100Hz)

Record
F.        INPUT LEVEL                                    Test Tone Osc (1kHz)
G.       INPUT METER LEVEL
H.       BIAS LEVEL (to suit tape type)           Osc (10kHz)
I.         RECORD LEVEL                                Osc (1kHz)
J.        RECORD EQ-HI ƒ (15ips)                    Sweep osc (30Hz-22kHz) or 10kHz
           Do for 71/2ips if available
K.        RECORD EQ-LO ƒ (15ips)
           Do for 71/2ips if available                     Sweep osc (30Hz-22kHz) or 100Hz

If J & K cannot be set recheck the bias level.
Parts in bold are the usual Assistant Engineer procedures, and assume that the tape machine meters are correctly calibrated, and the mechanical alignment is correct.

Note: a full alignment will also involve checking head wrap, tilt, and height. It will also include checking bias ƒ, the bias trap, absolute tape speed, and brake tensions.



Otari MX-5050 BII alignment

mx5050_b2-ii_alignment_procedure.pdf
File Size: 64 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File



MCI JH110 website

Spec sheets for various versions of the JH110 2 track are on the MCI website. The manual is there also, and there is information on other tape machines and mixers MCI made, including a 32 track analogue tape recorder on 3" tape. The JH110 service manual is here.
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