Hi,

I have been recording audio cassettes (family gatherings & my kids) into
MP3 files.

Unfortunately one of these cassettes is Ampex (problem brand) with a
history of "drag". I removed the tape and put it in a new cassette case,
but it wasn't a complete "fix". Note: The cassette player(s) I have been
using holds the cassette in a up/vertical (common in modern cassette
players) position.

I suspect the tape composition used by Ampex is at fault.

I would like to get a reply from someone who actually had this problem,
if you "fixed" the problem, what technique did you use?

Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.

Brad wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have been recording audio cassettes (family gatherings & my kids)
into
MP3 files.

Unfortunately one of these cassettes is Ampex (problem brand) with a
history of "drag". I removed the tape and put it in a new cassette case,
but it wasn't a complete "fix". Note: The cassette player(s) I have been
using holds the cassette in a up/vertical (common in modern cassette
players) position.

I suspect the tape composition used by Ampex is at fault.

I would like to get a reply from someone who actually had this
problem,
if you "fixed" the problem, what technique did you use?

Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.


Wind each tape FF to the end and then REW to beginning perhaps . But
real/reel problem would likely be slip-clutch/ belt problems


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

On Oct 3, 8:07*am, "N_Cook" wrote:
Brad wrote in message

...





Hi,

* * I have been recording audio cassettes (family gatherings & my kids)
into
MP3 files.

* * Unfortunately one of these cassettes is Ampex (problem brand) with a
history of "drag". * I removed the tape and put it in a new cassette case,
but it wasn't a complete "fix". *Note: The cassette player(s) I have been
using holds the cassette in a up/vertical (common in modern cassette
players) position.

* * *I suspect the tape composition used by Ampex is at fault.

* * *I would like to get a reply from someone who actually had this
problem,
if you "fixed" the problem, *what technique did you use?

* * * * * * * Thanks in advance, *Brad

* Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
*be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.

Wind each tape FF to the end and then REW to beginning perhaps . But
real/reel problem would likely be slip-clutch/ belt problems

--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list onhttp://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What about spraying some teflon spray on the inside of the case before
putting the reels including the tape into the case? This might let
the reels turn a little easier. Otherwise, I'd try a second or third
tape player.

Bob Hofmann

N_Cook wrote:
Brad wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have been recording audio cassettes (family gatherings & my
kids)
into
MP3 files.

Unfortunately one of these cassettes is Ampex (problem brand)
with a
history of "drag". I removed the tape and put it in a new
cassette case,
but it wasn't a complete "fix". Note: The cassette player(s) I
have been
using holds the cassette in a up/vertical (common in modern
cassette
players) position.

I suspect the tape composition used by Ampex is at fault.

I would like to get a reply from someone who actually had
this
problem,
if you "fixed" the problem, what technique did you use?

Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your
PC.


Wind each tape FF to the end and then REW to beginning perhaps .
But
real/reel problem would likely be slip-clutch/ belt problems



See this article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_baking

We do this routinely to old 2" quadruplex video tape at work. The tape
does indeed get "sticky", some to the point we couldn't roll the
transport more than 1 foot (and on a 5000 foot reel this is bad)
before the tape simply stopped. We use a commercial food dehydrator 12
hours at 135F. We've done hundreds of 2" reels, some 3/4" cassettes,
1/4" and 1/2" open reel audio tapes. NONE have been ruined so far in
the past 3 years of this and ALL have played properly.

An electric oven with a circulating fan could work but be VERY certain
you keep the temperature down. I don't think a gas oven would be
suitable as water vapor is a combustion by-product and might defeat
the whole purpose.

G²

Brad wrote:
Hi,

I have been recording audio cassettes (family gatherings & my
kids) into
MP3 files.

Unfortunately one of these cassettes is Ampex (problem brand)
with a
history of "drag". I removed the tape and put it in a new
cassette case,
but it wasn't a complete "fix". Note: The cassette player(s) I
have been
using holds the cassette in a up/vertical (common in modern
cassette
players) position.

I suspect the tape composition used by Ampex is at fault.

I would like to get a reply from someone who actually had this
problem,
if you "fixed" the problem, what technique did you use?

Thanks in advance, Brad

See this article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_baking

We routinely bake 2" quadruplex video tapes at work using a commercial
food dehydrator running 12 hours at 135 F. Several hundred quad tapes,
a few 3/4" U-Matic cassettes (plastic housing), 1/2" and 1/4" open
reel audio tapes have gone through the process. NONE have been damaged
and ALL (so far) have played properly. One of the tapes was a 1/4"
alignment tape on a plastic reel. It too is fine.

The actual problem is the binder absorbs moisture and while Ampex did
have a problem with this until they identified the issue, 3M, Memorex,
Fuji and other brands have required baking as well.

G²

wrote:
Brad wrote:
Hi,

I have been recording audio cassettes (family gatherings & my
kids) into
MP3 files.

Unfortunately one of these cassettes is Ampex (problem brand)
with a
history of "drag". I removed the tape and put it in a new
cassette case,
but it wasn't a complete "fix". Note: The cassette player(s) I
have been
using holds the cassette in a up/vertical (common in modern
cassette
players) position.

I suspect the tape composition used by Ampex is at fault.

I would like to get a reply from someone who actually had this
problem,
if you "fixed" the problem, what technique did you use?

Thanks in advance, Brad

See this article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_baking

We routinely bake 2" quadruplex video tapes at work using a commercial
food dehydrator running 12 hours at 135 F. Several hundred quad tapes,
a few 3/4" U-Matic cassettes (plastic housing), 1/2" and 1/4" open
reel audio tapes have gone through the process. NONE have been damaged
and ALL (so far) have played properly. One of the tapes was a 1/4"
alignment tape on a plastic reel. It too is fine.

The actual problem is the binder absorbs moisture and while Ampex did
have a problem with this until they identified the issue, 3M, Memorex,
Fuji and other brands have required baking as well.

G²

I wonder if the OP's verified that the *program* material on the tape is
recorded correctly? If the problem exhibits consistently (ie drags at
the same rate, in the same spots) on various players, it might simply
have been a speed problem in the machine the tape was recorded on. It
sounds like he's done most of what one does when you have this problem,
so I'd look into that. If the cassette was originally recorded in a
machine with poor speed regulation there's no fixing it, except to
manually vary the speed of playback to match reality.

That's not going to be easy. In any case, I'd get the best digital
transfer possible, then play with the pitch in that domain...unless
there's a mechanical issue that can be dealt with.

jak

On 3 oct, 14:35, (Brad) wrote:
Hi,

I have been recording audio cassettes (family gatherings & my kids) into
MP3 files.

Unfortunately one of these cassettes is Ampex (problem brand) with a
history of "drag". I removed the tape and put it in a new cassette case,
but it wasn't a complete "fix".

you probably have sticky shed syndrome - the tape has hydrolised.
playing the tape on a good quality machine which has a simpler tape
path (ie.e without any extra autostop levers etc) may help. if the
contents are valuable you may have to bake it to get it playable.
Google is your friend!
-B

Another possibility is that the idler tire, if it is rubber, is worn
and/or hardened, causing slippage.

One KEY question: Does this cassette deck have one or two capstans?
Is it an auto-reverse deck?