🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <7380104@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com>, donrm@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Don Montgomery) writes:
> In sci.electronics, bb099@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Adam Trent Phillips) writes:
> 
> 				    [...]
>>  But to adjust the tape head there is usually one of the screws that has a 
>>  spring and a washer under it. the head it pivoted on the other, fixed screw.
>                                     [...]
> With this type of adjustment, I've always had good luck recording a monaural
> sinusoid on a recorder known to be in alignment, then playing the tape on
> the machine in question and adjusting the screw for a null in a pair of stereo
> 'phones that have the L-R common disconnected.  You could also make a differ-
> ential measurement with a dual-channel 'scope if you didn't trust your ears.
> 
> Don Montgomery
> donrm@sr.hp.com

My experience is that stereo cassette decks' two channels are often not matched
in level well enough to allow head alignment by any "differential" method.  
This includes Lissajous patterns, "A plus B with B inverted" on a scope,
headphone with a missing L-R common connection, etc.  

It is much easier just to use a dual-trace scope, display the two channels
(chop or alternate mode doesn't matter, as long as you are always triggering
from the same channel, of course), and adjust to make the peaks line up with
each other. 

If you have the time, patience, test tapes, other equipment, and information
necessary to do a complete electrical alignment first (including matching
levels), then fine, no problem.  

	--- Jamie Hanrahan, Kernel Mode Consulting, San Diego CA
Internet:  jeh@cmkrnl.com, hanrahan@eisner.decus.org, or jeh@crash.cts.com
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