How often do I need to calibrate my 2-track?

[Ruudman]

I have a Studer A80RC 1/4"
that I use for mixdown.

I wonder how ofted I need to recalibrate this thing,
provided I use the same type of tapes and levels.

Anyone?


ruudman

[3db@1K]

I cal for every mix project. And if the power does something wierd I check it again. I have an A80 1/2" and it moves a bit after awhile. If I turn it off and back on moves quite a bit. I cal a lot on my two tracks.

[JTR]

Check cal & bias before every important session, with the tape stock you will be using - and tone check when putting on a fresh reel of tape thereafter.

[wwittman]

Every day that you use it.
At the beginning of a mix with a test tape.. then for the duration of the project using the tones you printed the first day.

[Ruudman]

Thanks for answering everyone

Now, do you all use test tapes (calibration tapes)?
What about the recording head?
Anyone use a tone generator?
Sorry for not knowing more about this..


ruudman

[lucey]

Originally posted by Ruudman
Thanks for answering everyone

Now, do you all use test tapes (calibration tapes)?

Yes, it's basically a requirement

What about the recording head?
Anyone use a tone generator?
Sorry for not knowing more about this..

first you set up the bias on every channel, per tape

then use the MRL for 1k, 10k (100hz some machines) in Repro

with tones record and set 0vu for 1k, adjust 10k and 100hz to taste

record 1k for 30 sec and set sync level with playback in Sync



1 hour max with bias and MRL unless the machine is WAY out

10-20 mins with levels from tones everyday

[JTR]

I'd add that you should clean, de-mag, and check head alignment before starting in on the full calibration setup:
there's a thread on Degaussing-demagging over in the Geekslutz forum

And don't attempt a head alignment unless you know (like really know) what you're doing

Track down a studio techie in your area if you can, and invest the $ in having them go over the machine with you; that way you'll know it's in good shape, they can show you the basics (it's not hard, just some commonsense) and they'll be able to catch any little tech issues that you might not be aware of.

this may seem like a pita, but it's totally worth it for any good piece of gear like your Studer, and sonically too. (studios used to do this every day)

Good luck!

[wwittman]

After aligning playback to the test tape (whcih is where you set your operating LEVEL as well... as in: 0 Vu will equal +3 over 250nW/m for example)...
You set playback levels and 10k high end, and leave the low end (more on this later) to be 0 referenced to the level set at 1k... do this for Repro AND Sync.

you set up a tone generator to be 0 Vu out of your desk...

then on a piece of tape that relates to your project (preferably on the dedicated tone reel) you leave the machine in REPRO but put it inot record.
You've set the repro levels witht he testtape.. so now you set RECORD LEVEL to be 0 Vu on the machine...
now 0 out of your desk equals 0 in and out of your machine.
AFTER that, switch to input and adjust any input calibrations that need to be tweaked to LOOK like 0 on the input meters of the Studer.

Now you go back into REPRO and RECORD and witht he machine rolling in record, again, feed it a 10k tone at 0 Vu and adjust the hi Freq record EQ to 0.... then do the same at the low end... here it's generally a good idea to rpint a sweep or a choice of low tones.
Some people find on some machines that aligning 100Hz to 0 leaves 50Hz low. But you may find using 50 as the reference that that leaves too much of a bump at 100 or 120 or so.
A sweep let's you compromise while looking at a rough idea of the machine's low end response.
For example, i tend to find that a compromise freq of 70Hz set to 0 Vu usually gives me decent 50 without too much 120.. that's what i tend to print on my 2 track masters to go to Sterling with.

anyway, you set the low end with the machine in record like that (the reason having to o with 'fringing' between tracks in a multi-track format from the Full Track test tape)...

After all your fidling, you should endup with a good clean set of tones (that is, go BACK and print good tones) with a minute at 1k, and 30 secs to a minute of 10k and 70, or a low end sweep. Follow this with a leader and then 5 minutes or so of blank tape for Record Pad to use when you check record again tomorrow or the next time you work on this session.
or better yet, dedicate a reel to this to avoid ever recording tones over the first song by accident!

hope this a) helps and b) isn't redundant info for you

[Ruudman]

Thanks for all the helpful responses, guys thumbsup

If it wasn't for the fact that it's a great machine, I wouldn't
dive into it.
But I' take JTR's advice;
I'm going to contact a techie to do an overall check,
plus guiding me through the aligning procedure.

Hopefully it will become pure routine in the future.....

Thanks again


ruudman

[wwittman]

it will (become routine).