Correct tape type

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mz-80a
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Correct tape type

Post by mz-80a »

Hi,

I got some tapes recently which are Ferric type 1 and my MZ-80A doesn't seem to like writing data onto them! I get a very quiet signal on the tape and, naturally, the MZ cannot read the tape back in again. Is there a specific type of tape which is required for the MZ to write to?
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S_U_C
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Re: Correct tape type

Post by S_U_C »

Hi,
Ferric type 1 is OK.
Is it a branded tape like TDK?
Or just a cheap "data" tape?
Weak recordings, low sound, may indicate that the tape head requires a clean.
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Re: Correct tape type

Post by mz-80a »

Head cleaner ran beforehand. Ordered from the same company some C60 tapes as well and these work fine. The tapes which don't work are replacement for broken Sharp cassettes. I'm hoping to hear back from them whether the same type of tape was used on the blank C60s. There is something very different about the Sharp cassette shells though so it could be that they missed something in the shells when carrying out the work to replace the tape.
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S_U_C
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Re: Correct tape type

Post by S_U_C »

If other tapes work then it must be the tape/tape cassette.
There should be a spring loaded pad behind the tape to hold the tape close to the tape head.
It is possible that the cassettes alingment holes are slightly out place. These and the pad present the tape to the tape head
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Re: Correct tape type

Post by S_U_C »

Have you tried the suspect tapes in another machine ?
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Re: Correct tape type

Post by mz-80a »

Well, I've tried them in a hi-fi separates tape deck (using it to record onto the tape) and the difference was that the signal was slightly louder but the amplitude of the signal was like a sine-wave! Louder then quieter then louder and so on...
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hlide
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Re: Correct tape type

Post by hlide »

A little bit off-topic:

I read we should avoid C-60 tapes for dataset because the more lengthy you get, the more speed will vary according the position due to mechanic constraints. The best is to take the length the closer to what you need to record for one program (it can be multi data block). Trying to stuff everything in a C-60 tape should be considered as a bad practice and can increase the risk of having bad encoding.
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Re: Correct tape type

Post by mz-80a »

Yes, good point. Certainly I would avoid C90 always. I think C60 might be pushing it a bit but I've had only success so far really when I've been using them.
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S_U_C
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Re: Correct tape type

Post by S_U_C »

I used C 60 cassettes and higher in the past with no problem.
But extra drag can build up with use, with repeat forward wind to counter xxxx and load program, there may have been rewinds to lower tape counter setting to.
You could try fast wardwarding and fast rewinding the whole tape a few times to re-aline the tape on the spools and removing any height irregularities in the coiled tape that can cause increased drag.
But new tapes should have none of these irregularities unless they were loaded by hand.
Yes I can remember buying cheap Data tapes and replacing the tape to allow only a 1 or 2 programs per track.
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Re: Correct tape type

Post by mz-80a »

Thanks. I may try the fast forwarding / rewinding. I've sent one of the tapes back to the company today (which they should get tomorrow) and will see what they say as well. I tried one more time last night recording to the tape via my MZ-80A and again when reading the audio back into my laptop I see hardly any amplitude on the signal.
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