Topic: Dat Deck Shutting Off During Taping

[Boedi-taper]

Hello Everyone!
My Sony D8 Dat has stopped recording during a show twice in the last 8 months or so(Last fall at A Ratdog show in Albany,N.Y.,and this Past June at a Moe show in Utica,N.Y.).I monitor my levels quite frequently,and noticed that the deck stopped.I taped at least a half dozen other shows in between the above mentioned shows and I'm just wondering if its probably just the fact that the deck is 8 years old.I clean the heads on the deck quite regularly,fast forward and rewind the dat tapes before,etc.Yes,I know that I'm in the minority taping Dat these days,but that Sony D8 deck has recorded some memorable shows.Would like to keep it as long as possible.Any info on possibles causes/cures would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!!!

[gratefulphish]

Could be the battery contacts, you may want to sand them lightly.  And more critically, it could be the transport mechanism locking up.  That is what happened to my DA-P1.

[Boedi-taper]

I suppose I could wipe down the battery contactswith a cloth right? How about the transport mechanism and fixing that?Thanks for responding!

[Belexes]

An 8 year old deck? I'd send it into Paul for service if you are going to continue on with it:

http://www.prodigitalinc.com/

[guysonic]

Of course, the obvious question is "did you have the deck's hold switch on?"

[dave570]

My D8 used to do this too.  Moisture from weather changes (cold to hot) caused it.

Send it to Paul at Pro Digitial.  He's the best. My D8 gets cleaned by him every 12-15 months.
Its 8 years old and going strong, it got a clean bill of health from Paul in January.
Yeah, I want to dump it for a memory card recorder, but the heads are still very good.
I never play a tape on it.  I only use it for recording. 

[Boedi-taper]

Thanks for the info guys....Also,no,I did not have the deck's "Hold" position on.I suppose this would certainly prevent the deck from shutting off,right?

[jerryfreak]

this used to be a common problem with d8s. sometimes they would just freak out and reset. since youre not recording anymore after the reset, it goes into sleep mode after awhile.

i cant remember what the fix was.

Thanks for the info guys....Also,no,I did not have the deck's "Hold" position on.I suppose this would certainly prevent the deck from shutting off,right?

[sleepypedro]

if i remember, this was a symptom of head failure.  it's basically totalled.  would sony even produce replacement heads at this point?

just spend $300 and enter the 24-bit portable game.  it's a worthwhile upgrade for so many reasons!

[jerryfreak]

better resolution, smaller, lighter, are all very good reasons, aside from the cost of media you will save. DATs are still $4-$5 each right? i havent bought any in 7 years!
 

if i remember, this was a symptom of head failure.  it's basically totalled.  would sony even produce replacement heads at this point?

just spend $300 and enter the 24-bit portable game.  it's a worthwhile upgrade for so many reasons!

[bluegrass_brad]

if i remember, this was a symptom of head failure. 

Im pretty sure this is a symptom.  Not positive, as It's been awhile since I owned a D8. but pretty sure.

[Boedi-taper]

if i remember, this was a symptom of head failure.  it's basically totalled.  would sony even produce replacement heads at this point?

just spend $300 and enter the 24-bit portable game.  it's a worthwhile upgrade for so many reasons!

Do you have any good 24-bit portables that you'd recommend for the above price and where I can find them on-line?Thanks!
                                                                                                                                                                        Dave