Topic: Tascam DA-20 Troubleshooting - Won't Play

[RyanJ]

So I've got a bunch of DATs. I had one DA-20 that was a tank. Been working for me for the last 15 years. I put a DAT tape in to it to start the project and it loads fine. Once I press play, tape rolls but nothing happens. I just chalked it up to it being old and I really didn't want to wait to get it repaired, or really even find one who may still work on these things.

I've been having a pretty tough time with all the Apogee DAT tapes that this collection has... None of them engage and open. They give an ERROR in the Tascam and just kick back out on the D8. Anyone have any experience with them? I know that is off topic.

So I got another one here on TS. A MKII. It has gone through about 15 DATs and now the same thing happened to it! Anyone know what may be going on? I haven't opened it up because I don't have the time to troubleshoot it... I'm in the middle of moving and was just hoping to pop DATs on while I pack.

I basically have two big bricks here if I can't fix them. Appreciate your time. Thanks!

[morst]

I've been having a pretty tough time with all the Apogee DAT tapes that this collection has... None of them engage and open. They give an ERROR in the Tascam and just kick back out on the D8. Anyone have any experience with them? I know that is off topic.

Does the DA20 have a diagnostic mode that tells you anything? Like is the error rate high or low or flat zeroes when it's rolling but not playing?
and on the apogee DATs, can you open them manually by pushing down the little buttons, sliding the sleeve and lifting up the flap? They might have some slack which is making them not load? Wind them back up snug and close them back up and try again?

[rocksuitcase]

http://www.tangible-technology.com/helical/swabbing.html

In  my book, it is almost impossible to do the above without a workbench and the proper tools.
BUT, I am certain cleaning the helical drum takes care of 75% of the non playing issues.

[GLouie]

If it's moving normally but no sound, if you are lucky a DAT (same as DDS) cleaning tape might help. Supposedly they cause extra wear to the head, and often don't clean everything very well, but if you aren't into opening the deck and doing a manual cleaning with the right swabs (Chemtronics chamois tips), it might work.

Playing just a portion of a bad tape can clog a DAT head. At this time, many tapes are deteriorating and do this.

[RyanJ]

I've been having a pretty tough time with all the Apogee DAT tapes that this collection has... None of them engage and open. They give an ERROR in the Tascam and just kick back out on the D8. Anyone have any experience with them? I know that is off topic.

Does the DA20 have a diagnostic mode that tells you anything? Like is the error rate high or low or flat zeroes when it's rolling but not playing?
and on the apogee DATs, can you open them manually by pushing down the little buttons, sliding the sleeve and lifting up the flap? They might have some slack which is making them not load? Wind them back up snug and close them back up and try again?

No diagnostic mode from what I can gather.

DATs are taught. Super annoyed right now that I'm concerned these DATs were possibly not stored properly and are now ruining all of my decks.

I've got a cleaning DAT, I'll give it a go. Then try manual.

EDIT: Just tried a Maxell cleaning DAT, I then took the cover off and everything is engaging. My isopropyl and cleaning cloth/swabs are already packed up. I doubt that is the issue of a dirty head.

[morst]

No diagnostic mode from what I can gather.

If you have the MKII, this will work, maybe it works on the original too?

"the DA20 MkII error rate display function can be viewed by the following steps:
in stop or play mode, press the COUNTER MODE button while pressing the REC MUTE button to display the error rate. Pressing the play button starts error counting, "-----" blinks in the display, when error counting ends, the number of errors is displayed.
each time you press the AUTO ID button the error rate display scrolls in the following sequence: > A head > B head > mean rate of A+B head >
Pressing the COUNTER MODE button resets the deck to the normal mode"
https://tascam.com/downloads/tascam/289/DA-20mkII_addendum.pdf

Tascam still sells service manuals and parts for DAT machines. A rarity anymore.

[RyanJ]

No diagnostic mode from what I can gather.

Tascam still sells service manuals and parts for DAT machines. A rarity anymore.

I wish they still serviced them. That would be amazing.

Thanks for the diagnostic mode settings. I will check it out. It is really unfortunate that it's harder and harder to find people who can fix these older media players.

[Scooter123]

90% of DAT problems are belts, and they are available on eBay.  I don't have the skill set to do the work myself. 

That said, I have a guy that repairs for the studios in Burbank.  Let me know if you want his name.  I have two DA-30s and one DA-20MKIIs which are regularly serviced there.  They are thirty year old machines and thus very finicky.  I get about 150 DAT transfers out of a service, sometimes more.   

[morst]

I wish they still serviced them. That would be amazing.

I think they do, but you gotta pay shipping to and from los angeles!?
Repair dept contact form: https://tascam.com/us/support/repair/contact/5

[RyanJ]

Pulled out one of the DAT decks and I decided to go the 99.9% isopropyl/electronic swab method right now. A LOT of debris on the heads. I know the lighting doesn't really help. But there are some black streaks on the swabs.

Giving it a bit of time to dry and then see if it will play. I checked out the error rate mode on the MKII. It did nothing to show me any errors on the playheads.


EDIT: Still does not play any of the tapes. Not even my master DATs. It safe to say this batch of DAT tapes that I have tried to transfer are going back as they have some issues.

[GLouie]

You could have any number of problems, but if it worked recently, I have seen severe head clogging that required several very careful cleanings of the head pole tips to get signal again. I use the Chemtronics chamois sticks and very carefully rotate the pole pieces back and forth under the wet chamois. A piece of alcohol saturated cardboard can substitute, just be very careful to not snag the head tips and break them off. It's a matter of feeling how much pressure vs. the material to not snag.

I don't believe in the foam swabs for the pole pieces myself.

[RyanJ]

You could have any number of problems, but if it worked recently, I have seen severe head clogging that required several very careful cleanings of the head pole tips to get signal again. I use the Chemtronics chamois sticks and very carefully rotate the pole pieces back and forth under the wet chamois. A piece of alcohol saturated cardboard can substitute, just be very careful to not snag the head tips and break them off. It's a matter of feeling how much pressure vs. the material to not snag.

I don't believe in the foam swabs for the pole pieces myself.

If this needs several cleanings, I believe I have done all that I am comfortable with. Sending these off to someone today as I don't have the experience with these.