Tape Guide (Q and A) (May 1972)

Modular-Unit Hookup

Q. I have an OKI 555 tape recorder that I would like to hook up to my Zenith stereo model ML 2607R. What would be the best way to make this hookup?

-Roland A. Nadeau; Lewiston, Maine

A. Where the radio/phono fails to provide a tape output jack, a commonly used technique is to obtain the signal for the tape recorder across the speaker terminals. For this purpose you can buy or make a patch cord with alligator clips at one end (connecting to the speaker terminals) and an audio plug at the other end (connecting to the tape recorder input). Usually a better technique, providing a signal of better quality, is to connect the patch cord across the hot and ground terminals of the volume control. However, do not use alligator clips, for these may move and short something.

The patch cord should be soldered to the terminals of your radio's volume control. The cord should be as short as possible and of low capacitance per foot in order to minimize treble loss.

5-in. vs 7-in. Reels

Q. I plan to use 1 mil tape, which comes 1800 feet to a 7-in. reel. However, half that amount of tape will be more than sufficient for a majority of the recordings I intend to make. I have considered the economics of buying the same tape on 5-in. reels. However, as the minimum diameter on which the tape is wound on a 5-in. reel is less than on a 7-in. reel, it appears that the torque exerted on the reel would be correspondingly greater. As I intend to make the best quality recordings possible, I would like to know whether the use of 5-in. reels will be a problem. If so, do you have any solutions to the problem?

-Dave McComb, Boston, Mass.

A. To minimize motion problems, a larger reel is generally advisable. If you are interested in top quality, I suggest that you stay with the 7-in. reel. For tape economy you might do either of two things: (1) Buy tape on a 5-in. reel and wind it onto a 7-in. reel; however, there may be little economy left after you consider wastage of the 5-in. reel and the higher price per foot of tape when you buy it in small quantity. (2) Buy tape on a 7-in. reel, and wind the excess part onto another 7-in. reel.

Dropouts

Q. Every time I buy a new pre-recorded tape, my machine (presumably the playback head) puts dropouts on the tape. These dropouts are so small (about 1/10th second) that you cannot hear them unless you are right next to the speaker or using headphones. This completely ruins my listening. I get maybe one per song, sometimes more or less.

There seem to be a few more at 3 3/4 than at 7 1/2 ips. I have checked all other equipment. It is the tape recorder. I have had the same trouble with two different tape machines. I love tape, but I am getting annoyed. I clean and demagnetize my heads regularly. Many have tried to help me and have failed. Please do your best to help me.

-Bill Walter, Chicago, Ill.

A. Is it possible that the dropouts of which you complain are already in the prerecorded tapes you buy, rather than imposed on them by your tape machine? Putting this differently, have these tapes first been played on another machine to ascertain whether they already contain the imperfections of which you complain? The presence of dropouts in prerecorded tapes is altogether possible, particularly in view of the fact that the copying process goes through several generations before the final tape reaches the consumer. If any of the tapes in the copying chain contain dropouts, then the final version must contain dropouts.

(Audio magazine, May. 1972; Herman Burstein)

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