Crying audio cassette ????

conpiar Posted messages 15 Registration date Status Member Last intervention -
mariam-j Posted messages 48 Registration date Status Member Last intervention - 11 Dec 2024 at 14:27

Hello everyone,
As a HiFi enthusiast, I’ve noticed that some audio cassettes 'cry' when played, despite being in near-new condition.
They 'tremble' and the sound is VERY unpleasant.
The fast forward and rewind functions work perfectly, so I don’t understand the trembling.
The device itself works great, as I can listen to other cassettes beautifully...
So I don't get it!
It seems like the tapes are slippery and they’re not moving as they should.
Could someone please help me ???? ?
Thank you in advance ????

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9 answers

Answer 1 / 9

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fabul Posted messages 42235 Registration date Status Moderator Last intervention 6 081

I can't hear very well, but I believe the lubricant in your mechanism is dry.

It's a cassette with a lot of tape, maybe 90 minutes or more, so it's more demanding on a motor and a mechanism.

Have it repaired by a specialist if you can't do it yourself.

If you want to do it yourself, you'll need oil for the metal parts and lithium grease for the plastic parts.
3
1. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  Thank you for the valuable advice.
  However, I notice that the device, regularly maintained, is not to blame, as the same whining is audible on at least 2 other players.
  No, sorry, in my humble opinion, the problem lies elsewhere.
  Moreover, I've recorded a snippet where you can clearly hear that the cassette works perfectly during the first 20 seconds, so...
  Thanks a lot in any case.
  
  0
2. fabul Posted messages 42235 Registration date Status Moderator Last intervention 6 081
  
  The readers are 20 to 25 years old and older, they all have dry lubricant.
  
  There is something that squeaks, like a motor that struggles or a mechanism that rubs, then it gets lubricated.
  
  A cassette does not need lubricant, and then it does not get lubricated.
  
  0
3. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  Surely...
  The fact is that with the same device(s) I have quite a few tapes that work perfectly.
  So it's those tapes that have an issue, that seems obvious to me.
  But what is this issue?
  If only I could open them without damaging them...
  
  1
Answer 2 / 9
quentin2121 Posted messages 9011 Registration date Status Member Last intervention Ambassador 1 313

Clean the cassette player with 90-degree alcohol.

--

“Take your chance, hold your happiness and go towards your risk. By looking at you, they will get used to it.” René Char
1
1. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  Well, thank you, but...
  the device, as I was saying, I won’t blame it, because it reads the other tapes very well!
  So it’s THESE tapes in particular that are causing the problem.
  I don’t know if I'm making myself clear...
  
  0
2. SurfAdCom Posted messages 4214 Status Member 1 843 > 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member
  
  Hi 1:0=, the player doesn't seem to be the issue if it plays other tapes correctly, especially if the same problem occurs on other players...
  
  For me, the problem is either mechanical (one of the tape support spools has a defect and is getting stuck or the pressure spring of the tape against the playback head is not correct and skips) but if FF and REW work, it's unlikely.
  
  Or the tape is suffering from partial demagnetization, if it was stored near a speaker for example. If the noise comes back periodically, that could be it.
  
  Would you have a short 30-second excerpt for us to listen to so our trained ears know what you mean by saying that the tape is crying?
  
  Is it a home tape or a commercial tape? Are there screws to open it or is it glued? Are the 8 affected tapes from the same brand, duration, origin, storage,...?
  
  Personally, I lean towards the demagnetization issue...
  
  0
3. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  I understand, and I'll make sure it's possible to listen to a track.
  Regarding demagnetization, is it possible that this could cause the tape to STOP while listening to the defective cassette?
  Also, yes, the eight cassettes are of the same brand, duration, origin, storage as they are part of a... SELECTION of romantic music published by the same producer.
  There are no screws to open them as they are glued.
  I haven't listened to all of them, but I've noticed that the defect appears randomly: either right from the start, or during playback, then they stop turning... But they always fast forward and rewind quickly,
  For me, it's a real tape headache, and I'm beginning to think that the tape is worn down in thickness...
  Is that possible?
  
  0
4. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  Or there are several factors at play, and the result is that now they are tapes... that cry, and that’s all.
  As soon as I have a bit of time, I will publish a recording piece.
  
  0
5. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1 > SurfAdCom Posted messages 4214 Status Member
  
  Here is the excerpt
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyvC9rIrFB8&feature=youtu.be
  
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Answer 3 / 9
Mattlilou

fabul, you're talking nonsense, it's just that the magnetic tape disintegrates after several years, they say it becomes sticky, a bit like an old belt. I advise 1:0= to take the cassette out of your case, to do several quick back-and-forth motions, and then to place it near a strong heat source to dry the tape but not too much to avoid melting it (on a radiator at about 60 degrees) for a good day and then do quick back-and-forth motions again, with a bit of luck you can save the tape, I've saved a few like that????
1
Answer 4 / 9
mariam-j Posted messages 48 Registration date Status Member Last intervention 34

Hello,

It should also be noted that it depends on the quality of the tapes.

The tape does not wind evenly in the radial direction, the layers of the tape are not aligned.

This can be easily observed upon examination; the surface of the wound tape is not smooth.

As a result, the tape occasionally rubs against the box.

Which can cause slowing down and squeaking.
1
Answer 5 / 9
fabul Posted messages 42235 Registration date Status Moderator Last intervention 6 081

Hello,

There are the parts in contact with the tape that need to be cleaned with alcohol, a degausser cassette, and then screws on the head support (to align) the magnetic head, the last step is not always easy.

I have already had to put some glue and plastic film in a cassette hole to pad it with the head to see if it was properly aligned right in the middle.
0
1. Cosi
  
  Well, thank you, but...
  the device, as I was saying, I won't call it into question because it plays the other tapes very well!
  So it's THESE tapes specifically that are causing the problem.
  I don't know if I'm making myself clear...
  
  0
2. fabul Posted messages 42235 Registration date Status Moderator Last intervention 6 081
  
  So, it's the tapes that have had a sunbath, so there's nothing left to do with them except endure them as they are.
  
  0
3. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  I understand.
  So if that's the case, I'm the one crying now ????
  Is there really nothing that can be done at all?
  Especially since their appearance is impeccable ...
  There are eight of them, aesthetically beautiful, and the sun hasn't left any marks?!
  Are you really sure that there is nothing left to do?
  
  0
4. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  It seems like they are stuck, and if I change the device, it's the same thing...
  What bothers me is that in fast forward and rewind, everything works perfectly.
  I mean, the tapes and the boxes of the cassettes are not distorted...
  
  0
5. fabul Posted messages 42235 Registration date Status Moderator Last intervention 6 081
  
  If it's not the sun, it could be that they were recorded with a misaligned head.
  
  0
Answer 6 / 9
1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1

Here is an excerpt that clearly shows what it's about

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyvC9rIrFB8&feature=youtu.be
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Answer 7 / 9
fabul Posted messages 42235 Registration date Status Moderator Last intervention 6 081

The problem is that the tape is too long; it's more demanding than your other cassettes. Look at the tape spool, it's bigger than your other cassettes.

It wasn't like in the CD days with 74 minutes and that's it, nothing more.

You had 5-minute cassettes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes...

The more tape you add, the longer it lasts, but the more it strains the device to turn, the more it squeaks on a low-end, poorly maintained device.
0
1. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  Yes...
  It is true that my well-maintained BEOSYSTEM 10 by a specialist technician is a low-end device... Ha! Ha! Ha!
  
  0
2. fabul Posted messages 42235 Registration date Status Moderator Last intervention 6 081
  
  If you had told me a Nakamichi, I might have blushed.
  
  0
3. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  Not the intention.
  
  0
Answer 8 / 9
fabul Posted messages 42235 Registration date Status Moderator Last intervention 6 081

At first, I thought it was the speakers that were crying, like a misaligned playback head that reads the tape poorly, but ultimately it's mechanical.

Just move further away from the player at worst to not hear it if you don't want to engage with it fully.
-1
1. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  ???
  To distance myself?
  Do I have to distance myself?
  And why is that?
  I don't understand...
  Mah!
  
  0
Answer 9 / 9
fabul Posted messages 42235 Registration date Status Moderator Last intervention 6 081

If you get 5 cm away from your cassette player, you're sure to hear it.

You're still lucky it didn't eat a tape.
-1
1. 1:0= Posted messages 40 Status Member 1
  
  Ah yes!
  To have luck, I have plenty!
  Have a nice day!
  
  0

Crying audio cassette ????

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