Akai 747 connect ipad missing treble

[surfer10k]

Hi everyone,
just got my Akai 747 up and running. I want to record from my iPad to the 747.
I have connected the ipad to the 2 input ports on the back.
When listening to the music thru the source button it sounds pretty good. However when listening thru the tape button it sounds slight garbled, slightly muffled and missing treble.

Should I connect the ipad to the headphone jack or use some converter on it?
Could it be cleaning and demagnetizing of the heads?
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Thx
Rob

 

[Okke 70s]

Hello Rob,

You don't need any kind of adapter for your iPad. If it sounds good over "source" then the input signal is fine.

The distortion you diskribe is way more typical for tape machines. Did you try playing a tape you know to be properly recorded?

As for the demagnetizing: yes you have to do that now and then with an RTR. As well as cleaning the tape path. Plenty on the Internet on how to do that. Be aware that a demagnetizer kan harm your tapes, and tape machine. Read up on it first!

When you get bad sound on a tape machine, always try cleaning and demagnetizing first. Maybe you get lucky! But be aware that RTR's need a little more love then iPad's

 

[oldvinyldude]

Okke 70's has good advice here.

Rob-you did not mention what type of tape you are using. Old tape, improperly stored, or of suspect quality when new, should be ruled out. Generally, Maxell UDI or TDK LX should work well with your deck. Odds are very good that a used tape purchased from the bay or similar, will perform well-they seem to have aged well-still capable of excellent recordings. A new reel of LPR35 will rule out tape related issues.

Electronic issues can cause these symptoms, but first line of attack is addressing "spacing loss" ie-thoroughly cleaning the heads. The tape must make close contact with the heads-so any dirt on the heads will add 'space' between the tape and head, and the primary symptom is loss of treble.

Demagnetizing the heads is also a good step.

Next, you should clean pots and switches, especially the record\Monitor switch. Any poor contact in those devices will result in poor recording, as the signal passes through them.

I don't know if your deck has relays or switches to move the signal from the record heads to the play heads, in forward and reverse modes. These contacts can also become dirty, and as the signal passes through them, they will give symptoms like the ones you report.

Last step would be replacement of faulty transistors. The deck has quite a few known noisy transistors, and replacements are common and inexpensive. However, their failure symptom is normally noise\hiss, and less often distortion symptoms.

 

[surfer10k]

Okke 70's has good advice here.

Rob-you did not mention what type of tape you are using. Old tape, improperly stored, or of suspect quality when new, should be ruled out. Generally, Maxell UDI or TDK LX should work well with your deck. Odds are very good that a used tape purchased from the bay or similar, will perform well-they seem to have aged well-still capable of excellent recordings. A new reel of LPR35 will rule out tape related issues.

Electronic issues can cause these symptoms, but first line of attack is addressing "spacing loss" ie-thoroughly cleaning the heads. The tape must make close contact with the heads-so any dirt on the heads will add 'space' between the tape and head, and the primary symptom is loss of treble.

Demagnetizing the heads is also a good step.

Next, you should clean pots and switches, especially the record\Monitor switch. Any poor contact in those devices will result in poor recording, as the signal passes through them.

I don't know if your deck has relays or switches to move the signal from the record heads to the play heads, in forward and reverse modes. These contacts can also become dirty, and as the signal passes through them, they will give symptoms like the ones you report.

Last step would be replacement of faulty transistors. The deck has quite a few known noisy transistors, and replacements are common and inexpensive. However, their failure symptom is normally noise\hiss, and less often distortion symptoms.

I was using older Maxell UD tapes. I switched to another UD tape and the recording definitely sounded better albeit still not what I would like. So I have bought new tapes which will arrive tomorrow. Will klet you all know.
Thanks for the quick and informative replies.