Audacity Forum

Hello. This may not be possible but I am just looking for any tips or hints on use of what seems to be a fantastic program.

I have recorded from cassette to my laptop it only has a mic input but I set it to line in as far as I can see.
I am recording from an amplifier that my tape deck is connected to I originally tried to record from the rec out twin outputs on the back of the amp and also directly from the tape deck but this did not work so I am running straight from the phones socket on the amp but it is a good, direct, phones output.

The problem The recording is ok volume is good no distortion but there is a slight kind of wavy sound to the track like if you were moving your ear closer then further then closer to a speaker. It is slight but it is there. Now I played with normalization and equalization but these made no difference. I am no sound engineer but I am wondering is there anything I can do about this. I am trying to think what it might be I guess it could be the tape not being in constant pressure with the tape head maybe???

So any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading.

cheers
Martin

gurnard wrote: I guess it could be the tape not being in constant pressure with the tape head maybe???

Martin, this could be the cause - or it is possible that the heads are out of alignment. Also, is this the same cassett recorder that was used to record the tape in the first place?

It's also worth cleaning the tape transport - the capstan and the pinch roller in particular.

WC

The cassette is one I purchased many moons ago. I will try cleaning the heads and it is a twin tape deck so I could also try the other player if the heads may be better, less used.

Thanks for your reply and tips.

cheers
Martin

Does the sound do that with your headphones connected to the tape machine or external amplifier directly? Then yes, as above, get some rubbing alcohol (not scented) or, oddly enough, unflavored vodka and a pack of Q-Tips. Gently scrub all tape contact surfaces with a Q-Tip moistened with the alcohol. Then go over it all again with a dry Q-Tip. Don't leave any cotton sheds behind. Strong light and reading glasses helps, too.

I got one of those little vodka bottles the airlines used to give out and I cleaned heads with that for several years.

It is certainly possible to rescue this performance in any good audio editing program, but you may decide that it's not worth the effort. You have to design a graduated sound profile for the work each time it wows or flutters away from normal. It shouldn't take you more than about six or eight months per song.

And yes, this does sound like what we grandly call "tape transport problems." Cassette tape has a lot of information in a very small space so any misalignment at all is clearly audible. You can have puck problems as well.The little capstan is responsible for pulling the tape past the heads in a controlled and steady manner, but it's the drag puck on the feed reel that keeps the tension on the tape. If that's failing then the tape will periodically fall away form the heads and give you the near-far effects you have.

You can't clean those. They have to be replaced.

I can give you more good news later, if you want.

Koz