Topic: DA-P1 Question

[hzgone]

I have been running my p1 for about 12 or so shows and i have run into a slight problem.  This usually happens in the beginning of the second set.  Just beofre a band returns i format my tape and usually hit stop so i can hit record when the band comes on.  Twice i have hit record and the p1 will start to record and roll tape and then it will stop a few seconds into it.  I hit record again and it will do the same thing.  Not sure what is going on but i have missed the beginning of the second set cause of this twice.

[John R]

try pause-record to get it into standby (blinking led) and release pause (solid led)


jr

[hzgone]

that is what i do and for some reason it will record for a few seconds then stop

[wboswell]

you may want to try some different types of tapes in your machine.  My p1 doesn't like sony tapes unless I fast forward and rewind them and put the 1 min leader.  Maxell tapes are fine no matter which way I do it.  

[John P]

Happened to my old P1.  I sent it to Paul who did a simple (but costly) repair.  

Has to do with the belts, and grease getting onto them.  I bet yours is a little older.  Paul explained to me that older models used grease that dripped when hot.  After running a whole set, your belts might be starting to slip.  

A couple of P1 tricks you can do are to power down between sets.  

Change brand of tapes - Audio grade tapes do work better imo and experience.  

Also, there is a trick of exposing the tape and manually tensioning it back to the beginning.  The deck reads those black bars to start the absolute time.  If you get a bad load, you can run into the same problem.  

Hope it helps.  Doug Oade has written about some of this as well.

[creekfreak]

My deck did that from time to time with Sony data grade tapes. I only use hbb audio DAT's now...the trashcan is much happier with me now, less dropout, etc.

[Zaphod]

Hey hzgone, I think I patched out of your rig at Keller on 4/1. I'm Alex, I gave Keith a AA battery.

I don't know if you've heard your tapes yet, but the recording I have is full of drop outs, through the second set. Just an FYI if you didn't know.

[grider]

not a solution to your technical problem but it is a solution to your practical problem of missing the beginning of shows, I just start rolling tape a few minutes before I think the band will even take the stage, then when they do you are already several minutes into the tape and you don't have to worry with the start up and you can enjoy the first moments of the show, works really well, hope this simple practice helps, nothing worse than missing those opening notes, Grider

[hzgone]

Looks like there are a few things i can try out.  One trying out some diffrent tapes, and maybe sending it to prodigital to have it checked out.  Thanks for all the info

[noahbickart]

For what its worth, I have been using Quantegy (brand formerly known as Ampex) 90m DATs for some time, and have never had a problem with my P1. They are very inexpensive and quite reliable.

-Noah

[Uncle Jimmy]

Dooood,


   I have not had exactly the same thing, but very similar. My rig (borrowed) would appear to be recording, the levels were bouncing, etc. When i went to do the transfer, the rig would play for a second or two and stop no matter where in the tape. Most of the 4 (ouch) DATs to cover the 6 hour (ouch ouch) lost time coding as well, although the beginning of one was OK.

   I know that SOMETHING was recorded on the tape, as i could get a second or two of audio in random places. Sent it to TASCAM and they knew exactly what was wrong and fixed it. The bummer is that i still have not found a way to rescue the other music. (Any help there???)

Anyhoo, the grease thing sounds plausible. Point of the story: get it serviced! And try really hard not to let them tell you the heads need to be cleaned/replaced (unless they do).

UJ