Cassette high ends distorted

[81Music]

I recently got a Yamaha KX-W602. It sounds fantastic, and I have some recordings with basic mastering that I made with it recently that I can PM if any one is interested. Now all of the sudden the high ends sound super distorted, especially with the cymbals. I had identical cymbals on another track, but I didn't have any trouble with those. This is my second to last track to record on my album, would it even be worth continuing to record the whole thing on cassette, instead of taking the time to hook my mixer up to my computer and only recording parts onto cassette?

Please help,
Thanks in advance.

 

[illinoisteve]

I would clean the heads. It might have picked up just enough tape residue to begin sounding bad.

 

[drumbum]

What level are you recording @?

 

[81Music]

I have already cleaned the heads with a Maxell head cleaner multiple times. I am recording at 4/10, ten being the max. volume (that's how my machine shows it). Unfortunately, the screen on the deck that has the volume meter on it is broken; so I don't know the recording level in decibels. I think I'll try Deck B (I can't believe I haven't tried that already), and/or record at a lower volume.

 

[illinoisteve]

Are you listening through headphones connected to the tape deck (or recvr/amp) or through speakers connected to your stereo system.
* If headphones, check the phones are working right with another source and clean the tape deck's (or recvr/amp) headphone jack (they can get dirty from dust or corrosion or spider webs). I've even seen where a dirty headphone jack in a receiver -- with nothing plugged into it -- caused a weak and distorted channel heard over the speakers.
* If listening through the system, try different cables from the deck to the system.
NOTE: I'm just trying to help you eliminate little things that could cause the problem you are hearing.

 

[81Music]

Tried everything you guys said, plus anything I could think of. I think It's a problem with the tape (Type II). I am so confused with my cassette deck right now, with so many other things, I think I'll just record the last couple of tracks via my computer.

Thanks anyways.

 

[JoeESP9]

IME recording anything on cassette deck and pushing record levels past 0dB results in distortion. I recommend using Dolby B/C (if available) and never pushing record levels past 0dB.

Every cassette deck I've ever seen has meters that have a 0dB point.

 

[musichal]

I have a pretty good Optonica deck and dozens of blank tapes, mostly normal but some chrome, and I don't know why. I recorded a few things, and it was sorta fun because I liked doing it back in the day. However, I never play them. Nothing else is vying for the shelf in our huge bedroom audio cabinet, so it can continue to sit there in perpetuity, I guess.