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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

2074.0. ""Wow/Flutter" on Yamaha MT100 4track?" by FGVAXY::LAING (Soft-Core Cuddler*Jim Laing*285-2194) Tue Aug 08 1989 23:38

    I started hearing a noticable "warble" from my MT-100 4-track when
    using the slower speed.  I noticed it first when I played a normal,
    pre-recorded tape (at 1-7/8 ips).  Then, I tried recording a steady
    tone on it, played it back; noticed the warble.  Lastly, I recorded
    a steady tone on a standard stereo deck, played it back on my MT-100
    at 1-7/8 ips, and still a slight but noticible warble (is this what
    the spec "wow and flutter" is all about?)
    
    Have any MT-100 owners out there noticed this?  It seems to only
    be at the slower speed (I only use the slower speed for playback
    of tapes I did NOT record on the MT-100; else I use the MT's
    3-3/4 ips speed)...
    
    	-Jim
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
2074.1My X-15 has a somewhat similar problem...4TRACK::LAQUERREWed Aug 09 1989 11:2920
I have a Fostex X-15 and I ran into a similar problem a while back.  After 
investigating the problem for quite a while, I came to the conclusion it was
the brand of blank tape I was using.

I've never noticed the problem using the TDK SA90s or Maxell XLIIs, but I 
have run into with other brands and even some "better quality" TDK and Maxell
tapes.

My conclusion (based on less than extensive testing) is that the X-15 puts a 
lot of wear and tear on cassette tapes with all that rewinding, overdubbing,
pausing, etc, and that you need a tape that can hold up to it.

However, I didn't find the problem in the scenario you mentioned.  If I 
recorded a tone on on my stereo deck and then played it back on the X-15,
there was no problem.  It was only songs that I had recorded on the X-15.

Also, the X-15 has only one speed, 1-7/8 ips.

Peter
2074.2SALSA::MOELLERMean, with a large deviationWed Aug 09 1989 11:5510
    I agree with Peter (hi, Pete!) about tape.. if the tape is not
    absolutely the same width throughout, then the varying width causes
    it to shift back and forth across the head, causing periodic dropouts.
    
    Once in a while one of my cassette dex will do the same thing, playing
    a tape I KNOW is good - time to clean the pinch roller/capstan
    thoroughly - if it gets slick it can pull the tape jerkily, causing
    the same kind of wow/flutter that bad tape widths can cause.

    karl
2074.3other than what's already mentioned, that is.DYO780::SCHAFERBrad - back in Ohio.Wed Aug 09 1989 14:3126
    Another agreement.  Believe it or not, a Tascam tech I talked to a few
    weeks ago actually *discouraged* the use of metal and 'premium' tapes
    in the Tascam cassettes, suggesting that the best tapes to use are: 

    	Maxell UDXL-II
	TDK SA
	Denon HD

    The tape that works best in my Tascam 144 (old 4track cassette w/Dolby
    B) is Maxell UDS-II.  Practically NO dropouts, great saturation
    characteristics, and very durable.  Works even better than SAs or
    UDXLs.  Really weird.

    But that's more related to sonic properties - for wow/flutter, I'd
    guess one of two things:

	your deck has a problem maintaining consistent slower speeds

    	your tape is not properly packed

    Can't do much about the 1st, but the second is easy to fix.  Take the
    tape in question and tap it gently on a hard surface (e.g., if side A
    is face up, tape side B on tabletop).  Several taps oght to ensure
    proper tape packing. 

-b
2074.4update?MAIL::EATONDFri Jul 20 1990 12:138
    RE .0
    
    	Did you ever solve the problem of flutter on the MT100?  Is this
    the Mk I model or the Mk II?
    
    	Dan