2nd May 2012
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#1 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: MT
Posts: 52
Thread Starter | Ampex mm1000 speed problem
Hello all. I've recently acquired an Ampex mm1000 16 track recorder (sold to me as "recently serviced"), and it's record speed seems to be about as fast as its fast-forward speed, even at 15 ips. I can indeed play back sound at the speed I recorded it (ie. at the same pitch), but something is obviously wrong (the quality of said sound also seems to be about as good as my 1/4 inch TEAC rig, tops). I have no idea where to begin in terms of troubleshooting, and any advice/solutions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time!
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2nd May 2012
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#2 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York and Charleston SC Un-ited States
Posts: 162
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I don't think I have any of my info left on that machine, I think it all went with the unit. I used to love that machine though, I hope you can get this worked out. I hope "serviced" meant all parts are in good working order. I'll look around this weekend and see what I can find.
__________________
~Michael
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2nd May 2012
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#3 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: MT
Posts: 52
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldschoolwax  I don't think I have any of my info left on that machine, I think it all went with the unit. I used to love that machine though, I hope you can get this worked out. I hope "serviced" meant all parts are in good working order. I'll look around this weekend and see what I can find. | Wow  Thank you. I would really, really appreciate that.
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2nd May 2012
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#4 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 830
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Originally Posted by Sunn Ra Hello all. I've recently acquired an Ampex mm1000 16 track recorder (sold to me as "recently serviced"), and it's record speed seems to be about as fast as its fast-forward speed, even at 15 ips. I can indeed play back sound at the speed I recorded it (ie. at the same pitch), but something is obviously wrong (the quality of said sound also seems to be about as good as my 1/4 inch TEAC rig, tops). I have no idea where to begin in terms of troubleshooting, and any advice/solutions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time! | I've only seen one of these, once, but I have some history with the MM-1200.
If the machine travelled to get to you, even across town, across the street, or across the hall, you should carefully go through it, WITH THE AC UN-PLUGGED and make sure that all of the various circuit cards, connectors and sub-assemblies are seated properly and making good contact. The other thing you should do is check out the Ampex list at ampex@recordist.com
Somebody over there will have some good ideas.
Best,
Ike
__________________
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Ike Zimbel,
Zimbel Audio Productions Ltd.
Toronto
416-720-0887
"Studio House Calls". Authorized Warranty service for Allen & Heath, Clear-Com, Drawmer, Soundcraft, SPL and Yamaha. Repairs and upgrades to analog audio equipment including: AMEK, dbx, Neve, Neotek, MCI, Soundcraft and more. Ask about our RF frequency co-ordination services! www.zimbelaudio.com | |
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2nd May 2012
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#5 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 1,497
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I don't have any advice on the problem you're experiencing, but wanted to say congrats on landing an MM1000. I worked on one for about a decade with both the 16 and 24 head stacks. Loved the sound.
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2nd May 2012
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#6 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: MT
Posts: 52
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Ike Zimbel I've only seen one of these, once, but I have some history with the MM-1200.
If the machine travelled to get to you, even across town, across the street, or across the hall, you should carefully go through it, WITH THE AC UN-PLUGGED and make sure that all of the various circuit cards, connectors and sub-assemblies are seated properly and making good contact. The other thing you should do is check out the Ampex list at ampex@recordist.com
Somebody over there will have some good ideas.
Best,
Ike | 'Travelled quite a ways... will indeed go through it. Thank you, sir.
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2nd May 2012
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#7 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: MT
Posts: 52
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben B I don't have any advice on the problem you're experiencing, but wanted to say congrats on landing an MM1000. I worked on one for about a decade with both the 16 and 24 head stacks. Loved the sound. | Hah Thanks, Ben. Sure I'll love it too | |
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3rd May 2012
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#8 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 61
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Basic question: is the pinch roller engaging with the capstan when you press Play?
Perhaps you can post a short video on YouTube to help us see what is happening.
There are quite a few folks operating MM-1000s in the US (not me, though - MM-1200s here), so you are not alone.
Regards
David Ollard
Thin Brown Line
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3rd May 2012
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#9 | | Gear addict
Joined: Nov 2009 Location: the Netherlands
Posts: 326
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How old is your MM1000 ?
Depending on age it can have a synchro capstan motor or a DC controlled capstan motor.
If you have a vari-speed control unit in the MM1000 it is a DC controlled servo.
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3rd May 2012
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#10 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Duluth,GA
Posts: 221
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I found something, maybe it helps.
Problem: After warming up, machine starts to run very fast in play mode. Problem can
be activated by twisting Transport Control PWA slightly.]
Solution: Check for broken traces on 3rd pin down from right side of IC A15.
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4th May 2012
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#11 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Bradford UK
Posts: 561
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Sounds like pinch roller related to me, that happens on my machine (soundcraft) when the tape is on the back of the capstan not between it and the pinch roller..... that was a confusing couple of moments when I got that wrong once..... it sort of works but fast.
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4th May 2012
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#12 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 61
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Karas
That problem and solution that you found relates to the MM-1200, not the MM-1000.
Dave
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7th May 2012
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#13 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York and Charleston SC Un-ited States
Posts: 162
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Sorry, I had nothing left regarding the machine, all I found was a ton of old tracking sheets.
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7th May 2012
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#14 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 61
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When can you get us that YouTube video?
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9th May 2012
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#15 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: MT
Posts: 52
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldschoolwax Sorry, I had nothing left regarding the machine, all I found was a ton of old tracking sheets. | No prob. Thanks for looking.
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9th May 2012
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#16 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: MT
Posts: 52
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by davidollard When can you get us that YouTube video? | I'm afraid I don't require the means to upload a video at this juncture...sorry man.
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9th May 2012
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#17 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: MT
Posts: 52
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Studerfreak How old is your MM1000 ?
Depending on age it can have a synchro capstan motor or a DC controlled capstan motor.
If you have a vari-speed control unit in the MM1000 it is a DC controlled servo. | I'm afraid I don't have much info on the machine, as the previous owner had little himself. It was (verifiably) owned by Fantasy Studios at one point, but I'm not sure which sub-studio it resided in. Its initial operating period (assuming Fantasy was the original owner) could have begun as late as '75 with that in mind.
Last edited by Sunn Ra; 9th May 2012 at 03:17 PM..
Reason: grammatical error
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10th May 2012
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#18 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 61
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Does the pinch roller engage when you press play?
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10th May 2012
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#19 | | Gear addict
Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Ottawa |
To the original poster:
Hang in there. These are awesome sounding machines. I've got two (one for spare parts).
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10th May 2012
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#20 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: MT
Posts: 52
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by davidollard Does the pinch roller engage when you press play? | Yeah, it does. Sorry. Forgot to address that.
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1st December 2012
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#21 | | Gear interested
Joined: Dec 2012 Location: Vancouver BC and elsewhere
Posts: 3
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Hey Ra - did you solve your speed problem? I've just aquired a lovely 2" Ampex MM-1100 16track and I'm having the same problem. I suspect its not happy from being shipped as I know its history and it is overall a very stable unit (for an old ampex). But I'd prefer that it run at 30ips instead of 230ips! So I'm taking suggestions on likely culprits. At least I'm learning a lot...where's the UNDO button?
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1st December 2012
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#22 | | Gear interested
Joined: Dec 2012 Location: Vancouver BC and elsewhere
Posts: 3
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I should mention: on my ampex, pinch roller is engaging properly, tension bar at 2", so far no broken traces or visible component failure on any cards I have pulled. Cheers.
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1st December 2012
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#23 | | Gear Head
Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 61
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Have you done a tension alignment yet?
My suspicion is an MDA failure, and that will be immediately apparent when you try to normalize the tensions.
Regards
David Ollard
Thin Brown Line
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