There is an error of about 7 Hz (confirmed with a frequency counter app) between the record and playback speed (recording is slightly too fast: cassettes recorded on other decks sound "in tune" on this deck when playing). As a result, music recorded on this deck sounds out of tune (flat) even when playing its own cassettes (and obviously, when playing those cassettes on other decks as well).
As mentioned above, the speed sounds dead-on when it is playing pre-recorded tapes, or ones recorded on my other machine. However, I'd like to get this one recording, since my other recorder, a GE boom box, does not have level meters or adjustments like this one does, so recording at the right volume is somewhat of a guessing game with the boom box.
The belt seemed tight enough on the pulley that I believe it is fine. My experience is that a bad belt would cause wow and flutter in addition to playing slowly.
Does anyone know, based on experience, how speed is supposed to be regulated in this machine? I don't believe I saw a sensor pointed at the "flywheel" if that's the right term (the metal wheel with the pulley, whose shaft is the capstan). My understanding is that some recorders have active feedback from a speed sensor of some kind, but simpler ones just have a voltage regulator. It would be a simple matter to find the adjustment for speed if it was consistently off by the same amount. However, the fact that it changes between record and play leads me to believe there's some kind of problem with speed regulation.
As mentioned above, the speed sounds dead-on when it is playing pre-recorded tapes, or ones recorded on my other machine. However, I'd like to get this one recording, since my other recorder, a GE boom box, does not have level meters or adjustments like this one does, so recording at the right volume is somewhat of a guessing game with the boom box.
The belt seemed tight enough on the pulley that I believe it is fine. My experience is that a bad belt would cause wow and flutter in addition to playing slowly.
Does anyone know, based on experience, how speed is supposed to be regulated in this machine? I don't believe I saw a sensor pointed at the "flywheel" if that's the right term (the metal wheel with the pulley, whose shaft is the capstan). My understanding is that some recorders have active feedback from a speed sensor of some kind, but simpler ones just have a voltage regulator. It would be a simple matter to find the adjustment for speed if it was consistently off by the same amount. However, the fact that it changes between record and play leads me to believe there's some kind of problem with speed regulation.