Pioneer Reel to Reel Questions

[ianmarks]

Hey everyone. I was excited after trading an old 4x12 cab I wasn't using for a Pioneer RT-1011L. I wasn't able to see it record, which was stupid of me, but I took the guy's word for it. Anyway, when I go to record, the line and mic levels show up on the meter fine, upon playback they are no where. I have to super crank the amp for it to be audible. I am recording over another reel to reel tape and am unsure of whether that could be part of the problem. Any help suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[telecine]

Please forgive the vague response as I'm not familiar with this particular deck, but this may at least get you heading in some sort of direction. If you're recording over a previously used tape, and it is erasing ok, then that proves at least that the bias oscillator is running. The fact that you can see the signal E-E on the meters prove that most of the rest or the machine is functioning audio wise.

I'm assuming playback of a known good tape is okay?

Do you have a scope?

The last time I had something like this on a 3 head machine, it turned out that the rec head was o/c, hopefully that isn't the case here, as it's unusual for that to happen on both sides at once.

My best guess without a circuit is that something isn't switching over to record, or the output of the record amplifier isn't driving the heads for some reason.

A circuit and a scope are needed here I think.

Have fun!

[ianmarks]

Well, I was afraid it might be something like that. The best I have is an audio probe. No scope, but I have an amp tech that has one. Unit works fine with the exception of recording at an appropriate level. When I record it does record, just at a level far far lower than it should be. I'll see what i can dig up as far as a schematic goes. I am way outta my league here.

So it should record over a previously recorded section of tape without any problems, right?

[stratus46]

Originally Posted by telecine

Please forgive the vague response as I'm not familiar with this particular deck, but this may at least get you heading in some sort of direction. If you're recording over a previously used tape, and it is erasing ok, then that proves at least that the bias oscillator is running. The fact that you can see the signal E-E on the meters prove that most of the rest or the machine is functioning audio wise.

I'm assuming playback of a known good tape is okay?

Do you have a scope?

The last time I had something like this on a 3 head machine, it turned out that the rec head was o/c, hopefully that isn't the case here, as it's unusual for that to happen on both sides at once.

My best guess without a circuit is that something isn't switching over to record, or the output of the record amplifier isn't driving the heads for some reason.

A circuit and a scope are needed here I think.

Have fun!

A LONG time ago I was working on a Revox A-77 that wouldn't record when all signal drives to the record head appeared correct. That one turned out to be a severely magnetized head and after a pass with a good demagnetizer it worked fine. It's worth a try.

G²

[ianmarks]

Well I have ordered some unused tape and am going shopping for cleaning supplies and a demagnetizer tomorrow. Will elt you all know how it goes after cleaning and with new tape.

[telecine]

Good Point!

I also worked on a Ferrograph Logic 7 that had such a dirty record head that it wouldn't record at all, it played back fine from the other head of course......this is probably a good place to start, clean the heads using isopropanol or whatever, and you may just get lucky!

Good luck.