Seeking help with recording record to tape

[Tyler Prock]

Restored pioneer sx 1010, Sony tc-160 serviced this week, nad pp2e mc phono preamp, thorens td 103a, ortofon quintet bronze cart. So I’m fairly certain I have it all plugged in right, nad phono preamp is in play back and the Sony tape player is in the rec from line out. When I got to play the tape back after recording I get a hum like a bad grounding hum then if turn it up enough I can barely hear the recording. It’s there just no where near where it should be, almost inaudible even at high volumes. Of course I played with the record volume and all it did was add more of the ground hum and no additional volume to the music. Tried both tape one and two outputs on my amp and tried two different sealed tapes. I also had the exact same outcome with another marantz tape player. Not sure the model number but it was a nicer piece of equipment. Also tried both tape biases also tried several different plug in scenarios (that make no sense but sometimes you have to double check your own logic) so I have ruled out a lot of factors and maybe I’m just missing something very small? Am I somehow adding unnecessary gain with the phono preamp? I don’t see how that could be the case but it’s a thought. Maybe my tape selectors are both ****ed? My reciever is completely up to spec and playback sounds fine. If anyone can help I would be forever grateful. Sorry for the lengthy post wanted to rule everything out for everyone.

 

[Tyler Prock]

Actually I did try rca to phone and got the same results. So it can’t be the phono preamp. Man I’m so lost.

 

[dr*audio]

If the record sounded good when you played it on the system, obviously the turntable and phono preamp are working!
The receiver has a Tape 1 output. Connect that to the tape deck record input.
Connect the Tape 1 input on the receiver to the tape deck Play output.

 

[Tyler Prock]

Okay I’m fairly certain I have it plugged in correctly but I am going to verify everything with you I’ve got “aux in” on the tape deck plugged into “rec” on tape 1. The phono preamp is plugged into pb on tape 1. Nothing but hum when I play the tape back though, obviously I plug it in correctly when I play the tape back.

 

[cademan]

Take the NAD phono preamp out of the equation and just use the built in phono preamp section of the 1010 and see what happens.

It could be bad RCA cables.

If your turntable has a ground wire, make sure it is grounded to the 1010.

 

[Tyler Prock]

Take the NAD phono preamp out of the equation and just use the built in phono preamp section of the 1010 and see what happens.

It could be bad RCA cables.

If your turntable has a ground wire, make sure it is grounded to the 1010.

okay so I will try it. But the phono preamp in the 1010 doesn’t have enough gain. The quintet is a VERY low output cart. Also the rca cables are good. I run them to listen through both the tape and the record player and have absolutely no issues. I’ve been reading some things that it could be possibly my wall outlet? How do I even attempt to reconcile that?

 

[likebike23]

Okay I’m fairly certain I have it plugged in correctly but I am going to verify everything with you I’ve got “aux in” on the tape deck plugged into “rec” on tape 1. The phono preamp is plugged into pb on tape 1. Nothing but hum when I play the tape back though, obviously I plug it in correctly when I play the tape back.

I can't figure out what this means exactly. On your tape deck you should have 2 pairs of RCA jacks, one "play (out)" and one "rec(in)". The back of your sx1010 should have a similar setup. Lets say we are hooking up to tape 2 on the sx1010. You would connect the red and white RCAs from "play (in)" on the receiver to the "play(out)" RCAs on the tape deck. You would then connect the RCAs to "rec (out)" on the back of the receiver to "rec(in)" on the tape deck. The phono preamp should be connected to another line level input on the receiver like the "AUX" or if there is no AUX you could plug it into "Tape 1 (play)" on the receiver.

 

[bobdod]

Did the person that serviced your tape deck test that it records?

 

[Grenadeslio]

ok, it's quite obvious really lol

take your turntable phono pre out of the tape jack, plug it into aux

connect the tape deck into tape 1 in and out as normal

select aux as source

at this point you'll be able to record

playback will require selecting tape 1 monitor on the Pioneer receiver

if not a 3 head deck you won't be able to monitor off head during the recording process, only the source

 

[Tyler Prock]

ok, it's quite obvious really lol

take your turntable phono pre out of the tape jack, plug it into aux

connect the tape deck into tape 1 in and out as normal

select aux as source

at this point you'll be able to record

playback will require selecting tape 1 monitor on the Pioneer receiver

if not a 3 head deck you won't be able to monitor off head during the recording process, only the source

we have a winner! I thought I had already tried that solution but I guess I skipped that whole process. Thanks guys, I knew it had to be something simple. Anyone know how I can get play back through the speakers while I record?

 

[cademan]

I also own a 1010 so it probably depends on the tape deck.

You should be able to hear recording going through the tape deck as a monitor with tape 1 (or tape 2) selected on the 1010.

 

[Tyler Prock]

I also own a 1010 so it probably depends on the tape deck.

You should be able to hear recording going through the tape deck as a monitor with tape 1 (or tape 2) selected on the 1010.

So do I just loop the tape back in to hear it through playback? While you’re recording there is no sound unless it’s plugged into playback which obviously isn’t where I want to be haha

 

[likebike23]

Just connect the tape deck as was described and leave it that way. Press tape 1 to listen while recording. Look 4 posts up last sentence for more details.

 

[cademan]

As mentioned, you need both the "ins" and "outs" of the tape deck connected to the "ins" and "outs" on the receiver. This is how they work and what they were made for.

 

[Grenadeslio]

or just play the record and record without the tape monitor selected, you should hear the record playing directly the same as if you weren't recording, this would work even if you didn't have the tape deck outputs connected.

The tape outputs on the receiver are always live so the deck will record whatever is selected on the input whether phono, tuner, auxiliary etc.

with the outputs of the tape deck connected to tape in you can also select tape monitor to hear the source, but I believe you'll have to select "source" on the deck.