| Home | Audio Magazine | Stereo Review magazine | Good Sound | Troubleshooting Departments | Features | ADs | Equipment | Music/Recordings | History |
|
Phono Cartridges & Recording Q. I have a Sony TC-SW stereo cartridge recorder/player and a Garrard Model SLX-2 stereo record player. I use the Sony to make 8-track stereo cartridges. When I connect the Garrard directly to the Sony, I do not get a sufficient output signal from the Garrard to cause the input signal level light on the Sony to work. This is not due to a defect in the Sony, because I have an older turntable that does cause the recording level light to work OK Can you please advise me on my problem? -Willard L. Bowen; Sulphur Springs, Texas A. Your record player apparently comes with a magnetic cartridge that delivers insufficient signal to drive your tape machine. This would be true of any magnetic cartridge you might employ. The tape machine you use is not designed to accept a signal directly from a magnetic cartridge, which requires a great deal of amplification plus substantial bass boost and treble cut. I suspect that the cartridge in your older turntable is of the piezoelectric (crystal or ceramic) type, which puts out a high level signal and one that is relatively flat. The solution would be to replace the magnetic cartridge in your turntable with a piezoelectric type of high quality. Consult your audio dealer about a suitable one. Alternatively, if you have an audio system, feed your tape machine from the "tape output" jack of this system. Generally the performance of magnetic cartridges is superior to that of piezoelectric ones. Therefore, if you must feed the Garrard to the Sony, but not through an audio system, you might purchase a phono preamp that can be inserted between a magnetic cartridge and your tape machine. Such preamps can be obtained for something like $15 to $20. Again, consult your audio dealer about one. The cost of such a preamp would be little if any more than that of a high quality ceramic cartridge. Increasing Tape Life Q. I have a vast number of tapes that I have recorded. They are very valuable to me and I would like to be able to preserve them indefinitely. Some of these tapes are not played for months and years. I always rewind tapes at least twice before playing if they have been unplayed for a long time. Most are stored in tin cans and metal boxes, and some in plastic containers and original cardboard boxes. Are there any other precautions that can be taken? -Wallace Beck; Madison, Fla. A. Try to keep your tapes at "normal" room temperatures, without extremes of humidity. Store the tapes on edge rather than flat. Wind and rewind each tape at least once a year, whether you play it or not. Tape Hiss Q. I am plagued with tape hiss of my cassette recorder. The hiss switch on my recorder doesn't nearly do the job. I would like to know why someone doesn't make an external frequency limiter which could be used between the recorder and amplifier. Isn't tape hiss limited to fairly limited specific frequencies? I am thinking of getting an Advent system; do you think this would be useful for limiting the hiss? -Robert Scott, Lawrence, Kansas A. Tape noise is fairly well distributed through the range of audio frequencies. Since there are more frequencies in the treble range, the noise has a hissy character. An apparent reduction in hiss can be achieved by attenuating frequencies in the area of about 3,000 to 5,000 Hz. The Advent system may achieve a noise reduction of up to 10 dB. (Audio magazine, Apr. 1974; Herman Burstein) = = = = |
Prev. | Next |