Thank you Simon,,A Most Excellent Video!! I use to run A VCR Audio Repair Shop from 1986 to 2002, Every Cassette Deck That came into the Shop received The Playback adjustment(333 Hz Test Tape) Tape Speed Test(3 Khz Test Tape) and Azimuth Adjustment(6.3 Khz Test Tape) and the usual Cleaning of the Deck(including Belt Replacement) This allowed the deck to operate at peak performance To prevent the Azimuth from going out of whack I would add Nail Polish To the Azimuth Screw,Once Again Thank You So Much For A Great Video!!!
Thank You for the video. I don't record much these days however I do have a couple of hundred cassettes all chrome/metals recorded on various decks from back in the day much of which is vinyl only material. One of the big problems with cassette that was never dealt or explained by the manufactures and then only as an "exotic" feature on a very few expensive machines. I am certain you know that you don't have to use a scope. if you just give the screw a very very small twiddle until you can hear the best treble (with a tape playing) you are done, ...not recommended/ don't do this if you want to record or have already recorded onto tape using the deck you intend to "fiddle with"...get a "playback only deck" to get the best sound from your old tapes, so long as the dedicated playback deck works OK you can "tune it" to your existing tapes azimuths, the results are well worth the effort and especially recommended if you intend to digitize your old tapes.
First thing's first, if you are digitizing old cassette tapes, Thou Shalt Not play them on an auto-reverse deck that mechanically moves the head, get a proper one-way deck and the tape will sound way better. Then you don't align to a calibration tape, and don't align to the tones before the program of interest. You should only align the azimuth to the actual program material that is interesting. Aligning to a calibration tape assumes that the person who recorded the program material calibrated to the same tape standard you used. Aligning to the tones that recorded on the very exact same tape as the program material assumes that the tones were recorded on the same machine and at THE SAME CALENDAR TIME as the program material. Those are bold assumptions, and Murphy will make sure they don't hold up in practice. The best way is to listen in mono with someone with good high frequency hearing and tune for maximum high end. If the recording is mirrored mono it's easier and you can just use the oscilloscope.
For azimuth setting you must do.... 1. clean all heads and rollers, old rollers need replacement. 2. be sure do not turn wrong screw for azimuth....some 3 head decks have separated r/p heads and tilt/height and azimuth for record and playback so pay attention. 3. For adjusting use good recorded tape original etc. 4. switch amp from stereo to mono and adjust azimuth to higher sound frequency. 5. check with stop/play and rew/ff several times on mono mode to be sure that alinghment is ok...if not....you must replace rollers and check belt, idler, tape path etc for replacement or alighment. 6. finally... if you have old and veared rollers adjust azimuth only if you change them.
If you want to have satisfiying result with any reverse deck with reversing heads , You'd have to optimize the mechanism first , which also requires a sort of azimuth check .. After that you start aligning the heads itself .. unless were talking about the same thing here Recording white noise is always an option , also to check highfreq playback losses with three head decks , which is also a common problem.. , could be mechanically or technically as well .. or one of them 2 Head decks are much more stable because the gaps are of course in the centre of the cassette .. The erasing head is also most forgotten , this one should also be aligned and should have the perfect angle towards the capstan .. And there's the tilt angle I prefer 2 Head decks with manual bias calibration on the front and separate switches for type 1 , 2 and 4 and even separate eq 120 usec of 70 usec I use my Nak Cr -7 which is solid 100% perfect as a reference although parameters for discrete 3 head decks could be slightly different :) I've managed to make some wonderfull various decks from different manufacterers quite compatible with each other . The only difference you hear is playback sound quality due to the quality of the playback amps
The are probably the best when it comes to recording. I have an AIWA AD-F770 and it blows out of the water my Sony ES, Pioneer Elite, Akai GX-M-50 and Nakamichi RX505 when it comes to recording!
I got my 770 from kentucky,usa.Aiwa is a darn draggo slayer,killer even!! SUPERB recorder. Also 660 and 990 is. But 990 gets too hot and takes lot more energy from socket. Anamorphic head is only good improvement versus 770. 770 got canon`s dx-head- an AIWA DX Head.(made by canon) automatic bias ecu and demagn system.Tons of tech in it!!
Don’t go kicking yourself mate. You did well. May not appear so, but you are way better now than when you started. At least a 400% improvement from where it started. That’s not bad. The lack of output could be a worn out head. Don’t know without further testing, but it certainly is a vast improvement from where it began!👍🏻
I agree, there's many ways to set azimuth correctly. But in your example, there's a much easier way - without any "special" equipment. Just remove mono information from audio image, and turn a screw until you hear just a tiny echo. You may hear some silent mono sound, but that's limited by cross-talk characteristics of cassette deck. Removing mono information from the audio image requires removing "negative" (minus) wires from the PCB (or where they connected to the main board), BUT - very important - those two "negative" wires must stay connected to each other. You can do this either on head cable, cinch connectors or on the speakers. The result is exactly the same as in your example. Cheers.
Want to make sure I understand what I just saw. Did you go back and adjust the azimuth alignment by ear and get better results the second time, than those you got the first time whilst using the sensitive voltmeter?
Aiwa auto-reverse heads often change azimuth when they change direction (the screw settings, that were adjusted, stay the same, but the spinning head will stop at a different angle than it did before since the head spinning mechanism is far from perfect and only a small error of few minutes of arc is enough to get a phase error in the playback). I've seen it on an 808 model (both decks). Also, many cassettes are recorded with different azimuth adjustments, so if you want to play them back without azimuth error, you'll have to re-allign your playback deck every time you use a prerecorded cassette from another deck. And then there's another problem. All decks (and especially the cheaper ones) with either worn, misalligned or dirty pinch rollers will even change azimuth during recording at various times, which is a nightmare. To play back such recording correctly, you would actually have to listen to the tape in mono and re-allign every time you heard a phase error (dirty sound with high frequency loss).
drummerben04 The head would stay in the same direction, but depending on mechanism quality, pinch roller(s) might change the exact direction of the tape itself, when it passes through the head after the cassette was manually reversed or even during the playback (prerecorded tapes in single capstan decks often have that problem). Double capstan mechanisms, such as with Revox B215 tape deck or Sony ES decks, would help a lot. Even the spring in the cassette housing, supporting tape pressure to the head, would effect pb/rec quality of the tape, but when using properly alligned high end double capstan deck, it would mostly effect the high frequency "pick up" from the tape, even more so on a dirty or damaged tape in degenerated, non flat form, that has been through some damaged mechanism or even "pulled in"). You have to realise, though, that every time you start a playback, the whole tape path is "re-alligned", pinch rollers "grab" the tape and if the whole mechanism is in good condition, the tape should allign with the same azimuth setting as many times before.
Thanks! How can you tell a single from double capstan deck apart. The two decks I own are the Kenwood KX-1030 made in '77 (Single Capstan) and the Sony TC-WR710 made in '89 (unknown). Tried the Sony Manuel that came with the deck but to no avail.
This doesn’t help with tapes recoded on other decks, unless of course you have actually recorded tones using those decks. If it’s a recoding made in another deck (this includes store bought recordings), you can use a dual channel meter that shows phase error, but I personally have gotten excellent results just going by ear. To do that, I simply sum the left and right outputs and listen in mono while adjusting. Azimuth error causes phase shift between the left and right channels. Summing the two channels together in this condition causes phase cancellation which results in a sharp drop off of the high frequencies. The effect is very noticeable, even to the untrained ear.
@@SoddingaboutSi Of course - but when someone gives you a random cassette to transfer, how likely is it that they’ll also happen to have one containing reference tones recorded from the same deck? As for the phase method - that’s why I go by ear. Summed to mono, the distortion from phase error is unmistakable.
Hi Simon I have a strange problem with my late model Marantz twin deck player . The right deck, the pinch rollers do not make contact with the spinning silver thang ( sorry still learning all the part names )Each direction is the same. The other day the head didn't do a complete 180° and the clicking noise made me turn it off and I had to take the cover off and turn the wheels manually to hopefully disengage the mechanism so I can eject the tape and add fine quality oil under the head . The head now moves sprightly like the left side tape deck but the pinch roller(s) fail to make contact when I press play. Maybe a cigarette paper gap between. The belts are perfect and inside is spotless because I mainly play vinyl. Ys Russell.
I used to own a F812 model which was a 3 head tape deck (not reverse), an had a couple of more displays and buttons over this one. I deeply regret having sold it years ago.
Thanks Simon. That was really useful. How are the tape outputs connected to the voltmeter? In parrallel? If so you are assuming the left n right channels are putting out the same voltage yes?
I want to adjust the azimuth on my Pioneer K-600 deck. Service manual instructions say to "Remove the direction cap assembly". That's a horizontal metal part with forward and reverse indicators that cover the head assembly. The illustration shows a lifting up of this part. But I can't see how to do that without breaking something. No instructions are given. Any instructions would be helpful and appreciated.
Yo para alinearlo, uso unos auriculares con el negativo desconectado y usando un cassette original estéreo que este grabado por una maquina con un azimuth perfecto y con los canales compensados (que los 2 canales se escuchen al mismo volumen), cuando se ajusta el cabezal, y cuando el canal central de la canción desaparece por completo (por ejemplo voces), significa que esta alineado perfectamente, y no se necesita ninguna herramienta especial :). I to align it, use a headphones with the negative disconnected and using an original stereo cassette that is recorded by a machine with a perfect azimuth and with the channels compensated (that the 2 channels are listened to the same volume), when the head is adjusted, And when the central channel of the song disappears altogether (for example voices), it means that it is aligned perfectly, and no special tool is needed :). (sorry my bad english)
@@stanley2004 Si tienes una pista de audio con 2 canales, y uno de los canales tiene una voz que se escucha en el lado derecho, al quitar el negativo común se oira en ambos audifonos, pero si la pista contiene una voz que se oye al mismo volumen en los canales R-L esta voz no se oira, pero si las voces que solo esten en un canal. Gracias a esto, puedes alinear el cabezal adecuadamente, ya que si pones una cinta pregrabada estereo, sabiendo que por lógica, si tienes una voz que se escucha en el derecho, si esta se oye flojo, pero si vas ajustando el azimuth se va escuchando más fuerte hasta que vuelve a bajar el volumen (porque le cabezal se va desalineando y el segundo canal empieza a captar la otra pista), y cuando obtengas el punto máximo de volumen de un solo canal, ese cabezal esta calibrado. Es algo complicado de explicar sorry.
@@SrWolf90 Muchas gracias por responder. Si, la verdad es algo complicado de entender. Lo mejor seria viendo un video de como hacerlo especialmente eso de como desconectar el negativo. Necesito alinear el azimuth de mi deck Sony KA2 ES que despues de cambiarle las bandas de goma ahora suena horrible. No puedo explicarme que paso. Yo para nada toque las cabezas. Este deck lo compre nuevo en 1996 y lo use muy poco.
I have a quite strange problem with my deck, it's a Pioneer CT-W604RS. The thing is, if I record something in it, it sounds quite good in both wells, but if I play the same tape back in any other machine, and this happens mostly with TDK A90s and Sony Metal XRs, it sounds with the azimuth off, but here's the catch, If I play back any pre recorded tape or tapes recorded on other machines in the Pioneer, it also sounds ok and if I use any of those tapes as reference for azimuth calibration, I end up with the same calibration as before because apparently it's ok. I just don't know why, I don't know if something in my deck is failing or the tapes are bad quality.
+CoTeCiOtm So your saying the quality varies with different tapes? Check pinch roller and head wear. Head height will also cause drop outs in one of the channels.
+CoTeCiOtm So your saying the quality varies with different tapes? Check pinch roller and head wear. Head height will also cause drop outs in one of the channels.
Well, today finally I could get my hands on a pinch roller from another machine that I know works well and the problem persist. It doesn't really affect the quality of the recording, it's just that the azimuth calibration is different for different tapes, but if I calibrate the head wrong so it works on all my other machines I can achieve over 21 khz recordings on metal tapes on every test done in every deck, so I don't think the heads are worn and both channels register at the same level, so I don't think it has to do with head height either. This problem happens with both wells on both forward and reverse playing. I suspect it has to do with the tape not sitting properly in the mechanism, but I have no idea how to check that or to fix that.
Im currently working on pioneer ct-400, it needs a speed and level adjustment as i have fitted new belts, not an easy task at all, even the vu display has adjustments
Do portable cassette players have head adjusters on them, or are they just fixed? The reason I ask is that when I play my tape and apply a little pressure on the play button the sound is much better with no muffle. It's a good finding in a way since I know my cassettes sound ok but I don't really want to spend my time listening to cassettes pressing on the play button.
@@SoddingaboutSi Is there a specific tool you have to buy since I can see a gap for adjustment when I open the cassette door but can't make out the screw type. Some pressure pads are lower down into the cassette and when you press play the head doesn't travel far enough down to make contact with the tape so the sound is muffled. I may have to stick another pad on top of the existing pad rather than fiddling with the azimuth everytime I want to listen to a tape.
YES!!! FINALLY!! SOMEONE WHO WHOS WHAT THEY ARE FUCKING DOING!!! VERY GOOD TUTORIAL!!! I use the EXACT same METHOD!!!! Very GOOD information SINMON!!! Very, VERY GOOD INFORMATION!!!! Pass it along!!!!! ^_^
To be honest io hate auto reverse decks they always knock themselves out of alignment after a few plays as the heads move in position, they should make them auto reverse without the head even moving at all it is completely possible, just play the tape the other way
If a deck just pulled the tape in reverse without flipping the head, it wouldn't be playing side B, it would play side A in reverse. The head on an auto-reverse deck has to flip to be aligned with the other side of the tape. I suppose a design that pulled the tape in reverse would work if there were some sort of spring mechanism that pushed the head forward and backward depending on the direction the motor was running. Interesting idea.
@@fostyyyyyyyyyy No, you can have a 4 track stationary head. You can listen to side B the right way once the tape reverses by electronically switching from one set of 2 tracks to the other. GM Delco car cassette head units do this, and so do many walkmans. The Nakamichi Dragon has this set up, too.
I have a Pioneer CT-W503R auto reverse , the tape head attempts but does "not flip" around when changing direction , this results in playback being backward . I can manually move the head around into position though eventually it reverts back to not functioning . Is this an worthy issue ? you might know about . thank's
Hi FireEd, Don't know if you still need help with your Pioneer Auto-reverse deck but thought I'd post the answer here for you and others. I have the same deck. Problem was the belt. The auto-reverse mechanism depends on the belt to switch the head back and forth with a positive snap action. When the belt gets old and slippery and starts to slip (like they all inevitably will do), there's not enough 'power' to flip the head around properly. After changing my belt, which I will admit was a little involved (have to remove the transport and take a PCB off the transport), AutoReverse worked perfect every-time, back and forth. Hope this helps someone - Cheers!~ Bellarmine
I'm adjusting my decks by summing the stereo to mono and listening to high frequencies. I have two Pioneers which factory adjustment is different from the cassettes with factory recordings (studio). Which one should i choose?
+Vasilian Sotirov You need a reference tape ideally. Summing the two frequencies only works if left and right are at the same level and perfect phase. The two decks being the same make should be very close anyway. Also bare in mint head wear and pinch roller condition.
+Vasilian Sotirov You need a reference tape ideally. Summing the two frequencies only works if left and right are at the same level and perfect phase. The two decks being the same make should be very close anyway. Also bare in mint head wear and pinch roller condition.
My tape deck does not have a slot in the door, I assume I would have to remove the door in order to adjust the azimuth during playback. Did you cut that out yourself?
The other screw is usually fixed and is just for security. However sometimes this screw is Head height. I would leve that alone as that will effect stereo separation and interchannel crosstalk.
@@SoddingaboutSi I found out since I sent the last message...that the left screw is for decks that play in reverse, or have auto reverse...and the left screw is for the azimuth adjustment for reverse playing...
Mine only is muffled on the reverse, its weird, took the same song on a tape and flipped the tape manually and got a muffled sound on reverse, is that still the azimuth?
Depends on how the head mechanism works. Some have one screw for both directions. If you can see two screws with springs on them you may be able to a just the reverse azimuth only. What make a model is it?
So, do you have to adjust the azimuth every time you play or record a new cassette? Holy sh*t! I grew up on cassettes, and I'd never heard of an "azimuth adjustment" until just a few weeks ago!
No. Once it's set that's it. It really only needs to be done if you think its out or you have changed to another machine and you tapes recorded on the previous machine sound dull.
t best to align for oprimm playback response first - should work for majority of your musicassettes and previous -recorded you made previously. this applies to 2 and 3 head decks. then record white noise (use fm radio interstation noise. on a 3.head machuine with off-tape mnitoring switch, you can adjust head screw of record head on the fly, immediately hear most ‘faithful’ to original input signal. for 2-head, much slower, as you need to record hiss, then rewind, then listen - repeat until it sounds accurate. on buying a deck, I did the above immediately, to ensure my tapes would be easily playable on most/any machine in the future. of the 3 Nakamichi decks I bought, on two - 600/700ZXE, the playback auimuth was way off. deliberately, maybe. - to make owners check and optimize. a bad idea, as most people would never know/bother. (Nakamichi knew/thought most of their decks wee bought by enthusiasts) use a palalimium screwdriver to adjust head screws, or a demagnitized steel one.(you can use a tapehead demagnitizer t do this) this avoids magnetizing the heads. i optimizing azimuth helps the treble range to be recorded more accurately, in particular.
Using a reference tape set playback azimuth Then if there's a separate record head to the playback head record a tone and monitor it using the playback head while adjusting the record heads azimuth. Most three head machines have a joint record playback head so just do the first operation.
im going to record the 1k tone option that audacity can give on a deck i know is good and than compare its max led levels with other decks i have just for fun
Cassette tape sales were up 136.1% from 2016 to 2017. And increased on that last year. I returned to the tape deck last year. Love the sound. Wav file to tape...
Having several cassette decks in the house is like having several clocks. You are never sure which one is in correct alignment :)
Thank you Simon,,A Most Excellent Video!! I use to run A VCR Audio Repair Shop from 1986 to 2002, Every Cassette Deck That came into the Shop received The Playback adjustment(333 Hz Test Tape) Tape Speed Test(3 Khz Test Tape) and Azimuth Adjustment(6.3 Khz Test Tape) and the usual Cleaning of the Deck(including Belt Replacement) This allowed the deck to operate at peak performance To prevent the Azimuth from going out of whack I would add Nail Polish To the Azimuth Screw,Once Again Thank You So Much For A Great Video!!!
"To prevent the Azimuth from going out of whack I would add Nail Polish To the Azimuth Screw"
Do you mean to prevent the screw from movement?
@@marcelvanhouten yes
Thank You for the video.
I don't record much these days however I do have a couple of hundred cassettes all chrome/metals recorded on various decks from back in the day much of which is vinyl only material.
One of the big problems with cassette that was never dealt or explained by the manufactures and then only as an "exotic" feature on a very few expensive machines. I am certain you know that you don't have to use a scope. if you just give the screw a very very small twiddle until you can hear the best treble (with a tape playing) you are done, ...not recommended/ don't do this if you want to record or have already recorded onto tape using the deck you intend to "fiddle with"...get a "playback only deck" to get the best sound from your old tapes, so long as the dedicated playback deck works OK you can "tune it" to your existing tapes azimuths, the results are well worth the effort and especially recommended if you intend to digitize your old tapes.
First thing's first, if you are digitizing old cassette tapes, Thou Shalt Not play them on an auto-reverse deck that mechanically moves the head, get a proper one-way deck and the tape will sound way better. Then you don't align to a calibration tape, and don't align to the tones before the program of interest. You should only align the azimuth to the actual program material that is interesting. Aligning to a calibration tape assumes that the person who recorded the program material calibrated to the same tape standard you used. Aligning to the tones that recorded on the very exact same tape as the program material assumes that the tones were recorded on the same machine and at THE SAME CALENDAR TIME as the program material. Those are bold assumptions, and Murphy will make sure they don't hold up in practice. The best way is to listen in mono with someone with good high frequency hearing and tune for maximum high end. If the recording is mirrored mono it's easier and you can just use the oscilloscope.
My cassette head doesn't put out enough volume as before with less clarity. What does that need?
Good Lord, dude.
Been setting azimuth by ear for 40 years, Aiwa still sounds great 2024.
For azimuth setting you must do....
1. clean all heads and rollers, old rollers need replacement.
2. be sure do not turn wrong screw for azimuth....some 3 head decks have separated r/p heads and tilt/height and azimuth for record and playback so pay attention.
3. For adjusting use good recorded tape original etc.
4. switch amp from stereo to mono and adjust azimuth to higher sound frequency.
5. check with stop/play and rew/ff several times on mono mode to be sure that alinghment is ok...if not....you must replace rollers and check belt, idler, tape path etc for replacement or alighment.
6. finally... if you have old and veared rollers adjust azimuth only if you change them.
If you want to have satisfiying result with any reverse deck with reversing heads , You'd have to optimize the mechanism first , which also requires a sort of azimuth check .. After that you start aligning the heads itself .. unless were talking about the same thing here
Recording white noise is always an option , also to check highfreq playback losses with three head decks , which is also a common problem.. , could be mechanically or technically as well .. or one of them
2 Head decks are much more stable because the gaps are of course in the centre
of the cassette ..
The erasing head is also most forgotten , this one should also be aligned and should have the perfect angle towards the capstan .. And there's the tilt angle
I prefer 2 Head decks with manual bias calibration on the front and separate switches for type 1 , 2 and 4 and even separate eq 120 usec of 70 usec
I use my Nak Cr -7 which is solid 100% perfect as a reference although parameters for discrete 3 head decks could be slightly different :)
I've managed to make some wonderfull various decks from different manufacterers quite compatible with each other . The only difference you hear is playback sound quality due to the quality of the playback amps
the mid 80's Aiwa decks were excellent recorders, Great bandwidth for the money!
The are probably the best when it comes to recording. I have an AIWA AD-F770 and it blows out of the water my Sony ES, Pioneer Elite, Akai GX-M-50 and Nakamichi RX505 when it comes to recording!
I got my 770 from kentucky,usa.Aiwa is a darn draggo slayer,killer even!! SUPERB recorder. Also 660 and 990 is. But 990 gets too hot and takes lot more energy from socket. Anamorphic head is only good improvement versus 770.
770 got canon`s dx-head- an AIWA DX Head.(made by canon) automatic bias ecu and demagn system.Tons of tech in it!!
Don’t go kicking yourself mate. You did well. May not appear so, but you are way better now than when you started. At least a 400% improvement from where it started. That’s not bad. The lack of output could be a worn out head. Don’t know without further testing, but it certainly is a vast improvement from where it began!👍🏻
I agree, there's many ways to set azimuth correctly. But in your example, there's a much easier way - without any "special" equipment.
Just remove mono information from audio image, and turn a screw until you hear just a tiny echo. You may hear some silent mono sound, but that's limited by cross-talk characteristics of cassette deck.
Removing mono information from the audio image requires removing "negative" (minus) wires from the PCB (or where they connected to the main board), BUT - very important - those two "negative" wires must stay connected to each other.
You can do this either on head cable, cinch connectors or on the speakers.
The result is exactly the same as in your example.
Cheers.
Damir Ulovec and how is this easier? I understood perfectly what he did and have no idea what you mean.
This is just one way of doing the job. The mono recorning has to have identical levels to get a good result.
also make sure the output level potentiometers inside the deck are set correctly to 0db
Very clearly and well explained many thanks for the video your time and efforts Shane uk 🇬🇧
Want to make sure I understand what I just saw. Did you go back and adjust the azimuth alignment by ear and get better results the second time, than those you got the first time whilst using the sensitive voltmeter?
Yes. But I was also using the meter to see how close I can get it by ear. And you can get it almost spot on.
Aiwa auto-reverse heads often change azimuth when they change direction (the screw settings, that were adjusted, stay the same, but the spinning head will stop at a different angle than it did before since the head spinning mechanism is far from perfect and only a small error of few minutes of arc is enough to get a phase error in the playback). I've seen it on an 808 model (both decks). Also, many cassettes are recorded with different azimuth adjustments, so if you want to play them back without azimuth error, you'll have to re-allign your playback deck every time you use a prerecorded cassette from another deck. And then there's another problem. All decks (and especially the cheaper ones) with either worn, misalligned or dirty pinch rollers will even change azimuth during recording at various times, which is a nightmare. To play back such recording correctly, you would actually have to listen to the tape in mono and re-allign every time you heard a phase error (dirty sound with high frequency loss).
What about decks without auto-reverse, would it still be knocked out of alignment when reversing the tape?
drummerben04 The head would stay in the same direction, but depending on mechanism quality, pinch roller(s) might change the exact direction of the tape itself, when it passes through the head after the cassette was manually reversed or even during the playback (prerecorded tapes in single capstan decks often have that problem). Double capstan mechanisms, such as with Revox B215 tape deck or Sony ES decks, would help a lot. Even the spring in the cassette housing, supporting tape pressure to the head, would effect pb/rec quality of the tape, but when using properly alligned high end double capstan deck, it would mostly effect the high frequency "pick up" from the tape, even more so on a dirty or damaged tape in degenerated, non flat form, that has been through some damaged mechanism or even "pulled in"). You have to realise, though, that every time you start a playback, the whole tape path is "re-alligned", pinch rollers "grab" the tape and if the whole mechanism is in good condition, the tape should allign with the same azimuth setting as many times before.
Thanks! How can you tell a single from double capstan deck apart. The two decks I own are the Kenwood KX-1030 made in '77 (Single Capstan) and the Sony TC-WR710 made in '89 (unknown). Tried the Sony Manuel that came with the deck but to no avail.
This doesn’t help with tapes recoded on other decks, unless of course you have actually recorded tones using those decks.
If it’s a recoding made in another deck (this includes store bought recordings), you can use a dual channel meter that shows phase error, but I personally have gotten excellent results just going by ear. To do that, I simply sum the left and right outputs and listen in mono while adjusting. Azimuth error causes phase shift between the left and right channels. Summing the two channels together in this condition causes phase cancellation which results in a sharp drop off of the high frequencies. The effect is very noticeable, even to the untrained ear.
It does if you want to set a second machine to a reference deck. The phase method only really works well if both channels are exactly the same levels.
@@SoddingaboutSi
Of course - but when someone gives you a random cassette to transfer, how likely is it that they’ll also happen to have one containing reference tones recorded from the same deck?
As for the phase method - that’s why I go by ear. Summed to mono, the distortion from phase error is unmistakable.
Hi Simon I have a strange problem with my late model Marantz twin deck player . The right deck, the pinch rollers do not make contact with the spinning silver thang ( sorry still learning all the part names )Each direction is the same. The other day the head didn't do a complete 180° and the clicking noise made me turn it off and I had to take the cover off and turn the wheels manually to hopefully disengage the mechanism so I can eject the tape and add fine quality oil under the head . The head now moves sprightly like the left side tape deck but the pinch roller(s) fail to make contact when I press play. Maybe a cigarette paper gap between. The belts are perfect and inside is spotless because I mainly play vinyl. Ys Russell.
Thank you sir, much appreciated!
I used to own a F812 model which was a 3 head tape deck (not reverse), an had a couple of more displays and buttons over this one. I deeply regret having sold it years ago.
Brilliant tutorial. ....love it...
the 10k tone continues after the video, neat!
Quality video editing my myself!
I had a boombox and it sounded so dull, and stuff. Thank you so much ^^
Lissajous pattern on a dual trace O'scope would have been the ideal way to align azimuth... but your method is adequate.
Yep. Agree with that.
Thanks Simon. That was really useful. How are the tape outputs connected to the voltmeter? In parrallel? If so you are assuming the left n right channels are putting out the same voltage yes?
I wondered about that. Is it a passive mixer BNC connector you have got there to mix left and right channels.
I want to adjust the azimuth on my Pioneer K-600 deck. Service manual instructions say to "Remove the direction cap assembly". That's a horizontal metal part with forward and reverse indicators that cover the head assembly. The illustration shows a lifting up of this part. But I can't see how to do that without breaking something. No instructions are given. Any instructions would be helpful and appreciated.
Yo para alinearlo, uso unos auriculares con el negativo desconectado y usando un cassette original estéreo que este grabado por una maquina con un azimuth perfecto y con los canales compensados (que los 2 canales se escuchen al mismo volumen), cuando se ajusta el cabezal, y cuando el canal central de la canción desaparece por completo (por ejemplo voces), significa que esta alineado perfectamente, y no se necesita ninguna herramienta especial :).
I to align it,
use a headphones with the negative disconnected and using an original
stereo cassette that is recorded by a machine with a perfect azimuth and
with the channels compensated (that the 2 channels are listened to the
same volume), when the head is adjusted, And when
the central channel of the song disappears altogether (for example
voices), it means that it is aligned perfectly, and no special tool is
needed :). (sorry my bad english)
-ElectroMoty Reparaciones- Yep that works too.
Audifonos con el negativo desconectado? Podria explicar mejor eso?
@@stanley2004 Si tienes una pista de audio con 2 canales, y uno de los canales tiene una voz que se escucha en el lado derecho, al quitar el negativo común se oira en ambos audifonos, pero si la pista contiene una voz que se oye al mismo volumen en los canales R-L esta voz no se oira, pero si las voces que solo esten en un canal.
Gracias a esto, puedes alinear el cabezal adecuadamente, ya que si pones una cinta pregrabada estereo, sabiendo que por lógica, si tienes una voz que se escucha en el derecho, si esta se oye flojo, pero si vas ajustando el azimuth se va escuchando más fuerte hasta que vuelve a bajar el volumen (porque le cabezal se va desalineando y el segundo canal empieza a captar la otra pista), y cuando obtengas el punto máximo de volumen de un solo canal, ese cabezal esta calibrado.
Es algo complicado de explicar sorry.
@@SrWolf90 Muchas gracias por responder. Si, la verdad es algo complicado de entender. Lo mejor seria viendo un video de como hacerlo especialmente eso de como desconectar el negativo. Necesito alinear el azimuth de mi deck Sony KA2 ES que despues de cambiarle las bandas de goma ahora suena horrible. No puedo explicarme que paso. Yo para nada toque las cabezas. Este deck lo compre nuevo en 1996 y lo use muy poco.
I have a quite strange problem with my deck, it's a Pioneer CT-W604RS. The thing is, if I record something in it, it sounds quite good in both wells, but if I play the same tape back in any other machine, and this happens mostly with TDK A90s and Sony Metal XRs, it sounds with the azimuth off, but here's the catch, If I play back any pre recorded tape or tapes recorded on other machines in the Pioneer, it also sounds ok and if I use any of those tapes as reference for azimuth calibration, I end up with the same calibration as before because apparently it's ok. I just don't know why, I don't know if something in my deck is failing or the tapes are bad quality.
+CoTeCiOtm So your saying the quality varies with different tapes? Check pinch roller and head wear. Head height will also cause drop outs in one of the channels.
+CoTeCiOtm So your saying the quality varies with different tapes? Check pinch roller and head wear. Head height will also cause drop outs in one of the channels.
Well, today finally I could get my hands on a pinch roller from another machine that I know works well and the problem persist. It doesn't really affect the quality of the recording, it's just that the azimuth calibration is different for different tapes, but if I calibrate the head wrong so it works on all my other machines I can achieve over 21 khz recordings on metal tapes on every test done in every deck, so I don't think the heads are worn and both channels register at the same level, so I don't think it has to do with head height either. This problem happens with both wells on both forward and reverse playing. I suspect it has to do with the tape not sitting properly in the mechanism, but I have no idea how to check that or to fix that.
Im currently working on pioneer ct-400, it needs a speed and level adjustment as i have fitted new belts, not an easy task at all, even the vu display has adjustments
Do portable cassette players have head adjusters on them, or are they just fixed? The reason I ask is that when I play my tape and apply a little pressure on the play button the sound is much better with no muffle. It's a good finding in a way since I know my cassettes sound ok but I don't really want to spend my time listening to cassettes pressing on the play button.
Most have adjustment for azimuth.
@@SoddingaboutSi Is there a specific tool you have to buy since I can see a gap for adjustment when I open the cassette door but can't make out the screw type. Some pressure pads are lower down into the cassette and when you press play the head doesn't travel far enough down to make contact with the tape so the sound is muffled. I may have to stick another pad on top of the existing pad rather than fiddling with the azimuth everytime I want to listen to a tape.
Very helpful video.
Are you Alan Davies off of the tele?
The azimuth misalignment is one of the two things that I really hated about cassettes. The other thing was the rewinding :)
YES!!! FINALLY!! SOMEONE WHO WHOS WHAT THEY ARE FUCKING DOING!!! VERY GOOD TUTORIAL!!! I use the EXACT same METHOD!!!! Very GOOD information SINMON!!! Very, VERY GOOD INFORMATION!!!! Pass it along!!!!! ^_^
To be honest io hate auto reverse decks they always knock themselves out of alignment after a few plays as the heads move in position, they should make them auto reverse without the head even moving at all it is completely possible, just play the tape the other way
If a deck just pulled the tape in reverse without flipping the head, it wouldn't be playing side B, it would play side A in reverse. The head on an auto-reverse deck has to flip to be aligned with the other side of the tape. I suppose a design that pulled the tape in reverse would work if there were some sort of spring mechanism that pushed the head forward and backward depending on the direction the motor was running. Interesting idea.
Or just use a stationary 4 track head. Walkmans do this, as well as AC Delco car decks. The Nakamichi Dragon does this, too.
@@fostyyyyyyyyyy No, you can have a 4 track stationary head. You can listen to side B the right way once the tape reverses by electronically switching from one set of 2 tracks to the other. GM Delco car cassette head units do this, and so do many walkmans. The Nakamichi Dragon has this set up, too.
Is there an economical vtvm option on the market? Is possible to use a multimeter with a frequency meter?
Micronta did a fet front end meter back in the 80's limited bandwidth but fine for audio,
dam this is old tech, I used too do this when I was at school, I am now 50yr old.
I have a nakamichi dr1. The azimuth adjust should have been mandatory on all decks.
+dwoodog It is. But there were always slight differences between manufacturers.
You are Alan Davies and I claim my £5.
I have a Pioneer CT-W503R auto reverse , the tape head attempts but does "not flip" around when changing direction , this results in playback being backward . I can manually move the head around into position though eventually it reverts back to not functioning . Is this an worthy issue ? you might know about . thank's
Hi FireEd, Don't know if you still need help with your Pioneer Auto-reverse deck but thought I'd post the answer here for you and others. I have the same deck. Problem was the belt. The auto-reverse mechanism depends on the belt to switch the head back and forth with a positive snap action. When the belt gets old and slippery and starts to slip (like they all inevitably will do), there's not enough 'power' to flip the head around properly. After changing my belt, which I will admit was a little involved (have to remove the transport and take a PCB off the transport), AutoReverse worked perfect every-time, back and forth. Hope this helps someone - Cheers!~ Bellarmine
still relevant! i cant tell whether my cassette motor is slow or if its my azimuth. playback on it sounds lower pitched.
Azimuth has no effect on pitch,that's a transport issue.
I'm adjusting my decks by summing the stereo to mono and listening to high frequencies. I have two Pioneers which factory adjustment is different from the cassettes with factory recordings (studio). Which one should i choose?
+Vasilian Sotirov You need a reference tape ideally. Summing the two frequencies only works if left and right are at the same level and perfect phase. The two decks being the same make should be very close anyway.
Also bare in mint head wear and pinch roller condition.
+Vasilian Sotirov You need a reference tape ideally. Summing the two frequencies only works if left and right are at the same level and perfect phase. The two decks being the same make should be very close anyway.
Also bare in mint head wear and pinch roller condition.
My tape deck does not have a slot in the door, I assume I would have to remove the door in order to adjust the azimuth during playback. Did you cut that out yourself?
Kenwood KX-1030, 3 heads made in '77.
Many doors have an outer cover that slides up and off, providing access to the compartment.
what is the other screw for, there are two at the head of mine...do you adjust both the get the max signal???
The other screw is usually fixed and is just for security. However sometimes this screw is Head height. I would leve that alone as that will effect stereo separation and interchannel crosstalk.
@@SoddingaboutSi I found out since I sent the last message...that the left screw is for decks that play in reverse, or have auto reverse...and the left screw is for the azimuth adjustment for reverse playing...
Mine only is muffled on the reverse, its weird, took the same song on a tape and flipped the tape manually and got a muffled sound on reverse, is that still the azimuth?
Depends on how the head mechanism works. Some have one screw for both directions. If you can see two screws with springs on them you may be able to a just the reverse azimuth only. What make a model is it?
@@SoddingaboutSi sony wr635s, I think you are right since there are 2 screws
@@SoddingaboutSi thanks by the way lol, I'm going to try and do some research to figure it out, thanks for the help, really appreciate it
So, do you have to adjust the azimuth every time you play or record a new cassette? Holy sh*t! I grew up on cassettes, and I'd never heard of an "azimuth adjustment" until just a few weeks ago!
No. Once it's set that's it. It really only needs to be done if you think its out or you have changed to another machine and you tapes recorded on the previous machine sound dull.
I notice a beer on the left, what do you recommend? Seriously thanks for the info, excellent vid.
Whatever in the fridge. But speckled hen is usually a favourite.
t
best to align for oprimm playback response first - should work for majority of your musicassettes and previous -recorded you made previously. this applies to 2 and 3 head decks.
then record white noise (use fm radio interstation noise. on a 3.head machuine with off-tape mnitoring switch, you can adjust head screw of record head on the fly, immediately hear most ‘faithful’ to original input signal. for 2-head, much slower, as you need to record hiss, then rewind, then listen - repeat until it sounds accurate.
on buying a deck, I did the above immediately, to ensure my tapes would be easily playable on most/any machine in the future.
of the 3 Nakamichi decks I bought, on two - 600/700ZXE, the playback auimuth was way off. deliberately, maybe. - to make owners check and optimize. a bad idea, as most people would never know/bother. (Nakamichi knew/thought most of their decks wee bought by enthusiasts)
use a palalimium screwdriver to adjust head screws, or a demagnitized steel one.(you can use a tapehead demagnitizer t do this) this avoids magnetizing the heads.
i
optimizing azimuth helps the treble range to be recorded more accurately, in particular.
Wow i did this and now i can‘t distinguish from source and Tape. (Type 2 tape)
how do you adjust a 3 head tape deck ?
Using a reference tape set playback azimuth
Then if there's a separate record head to the playback head record a tone and monitor it using the playback head while adjusting the record heads azimuth. Most three head machines have a joint record playback head so just do the first operation.
What about microcassette tape recorders?
They also have azimuth adjustment screws.
Did you remove the window from the cassette door? (or whatever you'd call it)
How did you use the screw with it?
Usually you can just slide them off. Upwards
I cavetti di Out L+R che vanno al multimetro .. dove sono collegati ?'
Al line out della piastra
cada cassette grabado tiene su propio azimuth
Yes, I am setting the heads to a calibration tape.
im going to record the 1k tone option that audacity can give on a deck i know is good and than compare its max led levels with other decks i have just for fun
+++
Seriously, who still listens to cassettes these days?
Not many people. But some still do.
Cassette tape sales were up 136.1% from 2016 to 2017. And increased on that last year.
I returned to the tape deck last year. Love the sound. Wav file to tape...