Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder
Electronics Forum Index Electronics
Circuits, theory, electrons and discussions.
 
 FAQFAQ   MemberlistMemberlist     RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 
 
Google
 
Web ElectronicsHelp.net
Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Electronics Forum Index -> Repair
Author Message
JonathanM
Guest
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:11 am    Post subject: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
Greetings --

This is a unit I have bought on eBay recently. It functions reasonably
well almost in every sense but one: I can hear only two of four
tracks. Would anyone know a reason for this? If repair is necessary,
where? I live in the Washington, DC area.

Thanks and regards

Back to top
Paul Brooks
Guest
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:11 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
"Michael Black" <et472@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
news:cts9l9$782$1@theodyn.ncf.ca...
Quote:

JonathanM () writes:
Greetings --

This is a unit I have bought on eBay recently. It functions reasonably
well almost in every sense but one: I can hear only two of four
tracks. Would anyone know a reason for this? If repair is necessary,
where? I live in the Washington, DC area.

Thanks and regards


Is it supposed to play 4 tracks at a time? I thought 4-track often
meant stereo, in two directions, not 4 tracks at a time. Even
when 4-channel came along in the seventies, they either used a
different scheme or they used encoding (depending on the 4 channel
method).

Michael

Yes, 4 track means 2 channel stereo one direction and 2 channel stereo the

other way.
Anyway, the odds are oxidation on the record/playback switch in these old
tape recorders. Switch needs cleaning. Due to being left probably unused for
nearly half a century it's managed to get the contacts oxidised on the
rec/play switch - and if you don't know where to find that and how to clean
it take it in for repair as you are dealing with a bit of history here.

Paul
Back to top
Michael Black
Guest
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:34 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
JonathanM () writes:
Quote:
Greetings --

This is a unit I have bought on eBay recently. It functions reasonably
well almost in every sense but one: I can hear only two of four
tracks. Would anyone know a reason for this? If repair is necessary,
where? I live in the Washington, DC area.

Thanks and regards


Is it supposed to play 4 tracks at a time? I thought 4-track often
meant stereo, in two directions, not 4 tracks at a time. Even
when 4-channel came along in the seventies, they either used a
different scheme or they used encoding (depending on the 4 channel
method).

Michael

Back to top
Alan R. Betz
Guest
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
Quote:
"Michael Black" <et472@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
news:cts9l9$782$1@theodyn.ncf.ca...


Is it supposed to play 4 tracks at a time? I thought 4-track often
meant stereo, in two directions, not 4 tracks at a time. Even
when 4-channel came along in the seventies, they either used a
different scheme or they used encoding (depending on the 4 channel
method).

Michael

Yes, 4 track means 2 channel stereo one direction and 2 channel stereo
the other way.
snip
Paul




The Sony TC-105 is a quarter track mono unit. In normal use the track
selector switch (marked "TRACK EXCH") would first be set to tracks 1,4.
After two passes of the tape, one in each direction, the switch is reset
to tracks 3,2 and two more passes are made. In this way the tracks are
recorded or played in the sequence 1, 4, 3, 2.
Alan.
Back to top
Tim Schwartz
Guest
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 7:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
Jonathan,

I used to own a TC-105, and it is a mono machine. The switch on the
front will allow you to listen to the left or right channel, assuming a
stereo, 1/4 track tape. So the good news is that there is nothing wrong
with your tape recorder, but the bad news is it will not do what you
want it to do.

Regards,
Tim Schwartz
Bristol Electronics


JonathanM wrote:
Quote:

Greetings --

This is a unit I have bought on eBay recently. It functions reasonably
well almost in every sense but one: I can hear only two of four
tracks. Would anyone know a reason for this? If repair is necessary,
where? I live in the Washington, DC area.

Thanks and regards
Back to top
JonathanM
Guest
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
Thanks, Tim. I am pretty sure that this machine should allow me to
listen to all four tracks. After all, they were taped originally on a
similar machine in the 1970s. I have no doubt of that at all. Might
there still be another reason?


On Thu, 03 Feb 2005 13:25:46 GMT, Tim Schwartz
<toschwartz@worldnet.att.net> wrote:

Quote:
Jonathan,

I used to own a TC-105, and it is a mono machine. The switch on the
front will allow you to listen to the left or right channel, assuming a
stereo, 1/4 track tape. So the good news is that there is nothing wrong
with your tape recorder, but the bad news is it will not do what you
want it to do.

Regards,
Tim Schwartz
Bristol Electronics


JonathanM wrote:

Greetings --

This is a unit I have bought on eBay recently. It functions reasonably
well almost in every sense but one: I can hear only two of four
tracks. Would anyone know a reason for this? If repair is necessary,
where? I live in the Washington, DC area.

Thanks and regards
Back to top
JonathanM
Guest
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
Thanks, Paul, I don't suppose, given your UK location, that you'd know
where in the USA I might be able to have it repaired or serviced
responsibly, would you?


On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 06:20:39 +0000 (UTC), "Paul Brooks"
<mail@suffolkelectronics.co.uk> wrote:

Quote:

Yes, 4 track means 2 channel stereo one direction and 2 channel stereo the
other way.
Anyway, the odds are oxidation on the record/playback switch in these old
tape recorders. Switch needs cleaning. Due to being left probably unused for
nearly half a century it's managed to get the contacts oxidised on the
rec/play switch - and if you don't know where to find that and how to clean
it take it in for repair as you are dealing with a bit of history here.

Paul
Back to top
Buck Frobisher
Guest
Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:40 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
<JonathanM> wrote in message
news:8gm401dhf4ptb11qmpmtjjhto8v2r73be9@4ax.com...
Quote:
Thanks, Paul, I don't suppose, given your UK location, that you'd know
where in the USA I might be able to have it repaired or serviced
responsibly, would you?

Of course, it was Alan Betz that correctly identified the format:

------------------------
The Sony TC-105 is a quarter track mono unit. In normal use the track
selector switch (marked "TRACK EXCH") would first be set to tracks 1,4.
After two passes of the tape, one in each direction, the switch is reset
to tracks 3,2 and two more passes are made. In this way the tracks are
recorded or played in the sequence 1, 4, 3, 2.
Alan.
-------------------------

But Paul did tell you the most likely cause for the problem and how to fix
it. Have a look at www.caig.com and get yourself a can of DeOxit. If it
isn't the switches, THEN you can take in for repair, or even Sony themselves
will give you their local depot's name. Likely to be pricey to have a
capable tech look at it.

Start with cleaning the switches, it's really quite simple to do and usually
doesn't require much disassembly. You can always take it in for repair if
that doesn't work...

--
"Stay calm. Be brave. Wait for the signs."

regards,

Frank Johansen
Aurora, Ontario

Quote:
On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 06:20:39 +0000 (UTC), "Paul Brooks"
mail@suffolkelectronics.co.uk> wrote:


Yes, 4 track means 2 channel stereo one direction and 2 channel stereo
the
other way.
Anyway, the odds are oxidation on the record/playback switch in these old
tape recorders. Switch needs cleaning. Due to being left probably unused
for
nearly half a century it's managed to get the contacts oxidised on the
rec/play switch - and if you don't know where to find that and how to
clean
it take it in for repair as you are dealing with a bit of history here.

Paul
Back to top
NSM
Guest
Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:44 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
<JonathanM> wrote in message
news:3j7301ljco9uo38s0fitjv5g6d555uc9rh@4ax.com...
Quote:
Greetings --

This is a unit I have bought on eBay recently. It functions reasonably
well almost in every sense but one: I can hear only two of four
tracks. Would anyone know a reason for this? If repair is necessary,
where? I live in the Washington, DC area.

Where does it say "4 Track"? What is the age?
--
N
Back to top
Harvey
Guest
Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:04 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
<JonathanM> wrote in message
news:s6m401p3iknrdd3gu2794uqpjbccuofrc1@4ax.com...
Quote:
Thanks, Tim. I am pretty sure that this machine should allow me to
listen to all four tracks. After all, they were taped originally on a
similar machine in the 1970s. I have no doubt of that at all. Might
there still be another reason?

Looking at this picture of one here

http://www.oaktreeent.com/web_photos/Stereo_Tape_Decks/SONY_TC-105A_Reel-Reel_Tape-deck_Tapecorder_web.jpg ,
it looks like a standard *stereo* four track tape machine. That is, it plays
two tracks on one side of the tape, and two on the other.

The tape you have was recorded on a 4-track multitrack recorder, which would
look something like one of these - http://www.electrofix.com/teac3440.HTM
and allows all four tracks to be recorded/played at the same time.
Back to top
NSM
Guest
Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:09 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
"Harvey" <harvey@not.ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:ZSzMd.2484$Ck4.2346@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...

Quote:
Looking at this picture of one here

http://www.oaktreeent.com/web_photos/Stereo_Tape_Decks/SONY_TC-105A_Reel-Reel_Tape-deck_Tapecorder_web.jpg ,
it looks like a standard *stereo* four track tape machine. That is, it
plays
two tracks on one side of the tape, and two on the other.

I sure don't remember any reel to reel recorder that let you flip the tape
over (or run it backwards) for extra storage. Were there any more like this?
--
N
Back to top
Bill Renfro
Guest
Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 1:28 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
Quote:
I sure don't remember any reel to reel recorder that let you flip the tape
over (or run it backwards) for extra storage. Were there any more like
this?
--
N

Almost all of them did. The only ones that didn'e were pro level
multitracks. If you play a tape recorded on a multitrack on a standard 1/4
track machine you only will hear 2 of the tracks, and if you trun the tape
over you will hear the other 2 tracks but backwards. The tc-105 is a 1/4
track machine not a multitrack. It will play only 2 of the 4 tracks at any
one time.
Back to top
Buck Frobisher
Guest
Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 2:49 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
"Bill Renfro" <brenfro@charter.net> wrote in message
news:ScQMd.8792$hv1.2709@fe03.lga...
Quote:
over you will hear the other 2 tracks but backwards. The tc-105 is a 1/4
track machine not a multitrack. It will play only 2 of the 4 tracks at
any
one time.

Close: it's 4 track mono. You can play only ONE of the 4 tracks at a time.
The "exchange" switch lets you choose which one on a given side.
Back to top
NSM
Guest
Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 3:58 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
"Buck Frobisher" <farside114@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fdRMd.22632$Ck1.1744589@news20.bellglobal.com...
Quote:
"Bill Renfro" <brenfro@charter.net> wrote in message
news:ScQMd.8792$hv1.2709@fe03.lga...
over you will hear the other 2 tracks but backwards. The tc-105 is a
1/4
track machine not a multitrack. It will play only 2 of the 4 tracks at
any
one time.

Close: it's 4 track mono. You can play only ONE of the 4 tracks at a
time.
The "exchange" switch lets you choose which one on a given side.

Interesting. I fixed a lot of Sony's and others but never anything like
that.
--
N
Back to top
WEBPA
Guest
Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:07 am    Post subject: Re: Sony TC-105 Reel-to-Reel Recorder Reply with quote
Don't think you never will get 4 simultaneous audio channels from a Sony TC-105
or '105A. They are 4-track, 2 channel machines. In 1/4 inch tape parlance this
means: 4 linear tracks (with guard bands) consisting of a stereo pair for each
direction.

A hint about the machine's number of tracks is: How many VU meters are on the
front panel? Two or Four. That's how many tracks it can record and play at the
same time.

Quote:
Greetings --

This is a unit I have bought on eBay recently. It functions reasonably
well almost in every sense but one: I can hear only two of four
tracks. Would anyone know a reason for this? If repair is necessary,
where? I live in the Washington, DC area.

Thanks and regards





webpa
Back to top
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Electronics Forum Index -> Repair All times are GMT
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Home & Living New Topics
Contact Us
Powered by phpBB