forumuser653351 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 03, 2022 8:45 pm
Thanks for the suggestion. I tried this and got no playback on the tape. just to make sure I put the tape back the right way and recorded again on track 1 and flipped the tape, then I got playback! So I filled the tape again and there was track 1 playing normal way round - but at a much lower level than I recored at and it sounded badly fuzzed and distorted (quite a cool sound really but not what should be happening!).
So track 1 does record and it's the playback that is intermittent and faulty. Does that narrow the issue down?
Sounds like it.
One other way to test whether it's a recording or playback issue is to use a regular tape you know has good material on – any tape will do, as long as there's something on both sides. Put it in the 4-track, and fade up any problem channel in isolation. Doesn't matter whether it's forwards or backwards or a different speed at this point!
Thanks, I'll have to hunt down a cassette to do this, not sure I've got any left! I've managed to get some of the mentioned cleaning products and hope to have time tonight to clean the heads.
Yamaha MT4X ... working!
I cleaned the heads and then opened up the inside to use the contact cleaner but couldn't get to the back of the pots and faders as there were circuit boards in the way, so didn't do that.
I did a test recording and track 1 is now fully working, no distortion and normal volume.
I must say that the quality of the recording is pretty good
Thanks for all the advise and help, much appreciated
Can you tell I'm happy!
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Ah great. I was surprised there were issues. I've used an MT4x since about 1993 and it still works almost perfectly. Some of the transport buttons need a clean but other than that, it's a top class deck. Claimed HF response out to 18kHz with Maxell XLIIS.
forumuser653351 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 5:57 pm
Yamaha MT4X ... working!
I cleaned the heads...
Great. When the head is worn, which it often is, the "edge" tracks, 1 and 4 are usually the first to get dirty and go muffled. It can take careful persistence to get the dirt out of the wear crevices. To avoid this problem, ideally a new or relapped head should be fitted.
