I know this is probably a really dumb question, but not everyone is
informed on every subject so please bear with me.


What is the tape monitor? How do you connect it? What's its purpose?

I've looked high and low and haven't found a clear answer.


Please help!

73,

Tim

On 22 Oct 2005 17:28:09 -0700, wrote:


What is the tape monitor? How do you connect it? What's its purpose?

It's purpose is to be able to listen to a tape recording while you
actually record it. Analog better tape recorders for home usage (as
well as all studio tape machines) have a separate tape head for
recording and playback, meaning that you can send a source signal (for
instance a tuner or CD) to the recording head, whle you listen to the
result via the playback head, some milliseconds later.

You connect the tape monitor "out" jacks to tape recorder input, and
"in" to tape recorder output. The "input" selector (or whatever it is
called) will select what signal will go to the tape recorder, and the
"tape monitor" button can then let you compare the original signal
with the recorded tape signal.

This will only work with tape recorders that do have separate heads
for recording and playback, some do and some don't.

With modern digital recorders, this function is kind of obsolete.


I've looked high and low and haven't found a clear answer.

Was this answer clear enough?


Tim

Per.

wrote:

I know this is probably a really dumb question, but not everyone is
informed on every subject so please bear with me.

What is the tape monitor? How do you connect it? What's its purpose?

I've looked high and low and haven't found a clear answer.

Please help!

This should be answered in equipment user documentation, but that's
hopeless these days. The simple inclusion of a decent block diagram
would do. Consider this one of a somewhat typical receiver, best
viewed using a fixed-width font.


+-----------+ ---
| TUNER |----o o--+
+-----------+ |
|
+-----------+ --- |
| PHONO AMP |----o o--+ TAPE +--------+
+-----------+ | MONITOR | VOLUME | +-----------|
+-----+----o----o----| TONE |---+ POWER AMP |
--- | | src | ETC | +-----------|
CD ----o o--+ | o +--------+
| | |tape
| | |
--- | | |
AUX ----o o--+ | |
| |
INPUT TAPE TAPE
SELECTOR OUT IN


The signal chosen by the input selector is sent to the tape out at all
times. The signal sent to the volume and tone controls then on to the
power amp is chosen by the tape maonitor switch.

The tape monitor switch is set to its "src" position in order to directly
monitor the tuner, phono, CD, or aux inputs. Setting the tape monitor
to its "tape" position allows one to monitor the output of the tape
recorder, whether to monitor tape playback or to ensure the quality of
the signals sent to and returned from the tape deck while making a
recording.

If the tape recorder is of the "three head" variety, monitoring it
during recording is especially valuable as doing so results in hearing
a slightly delayed playback of the recorded signal. Regardless,
monitoring tape during recording is a good idea as it ensures that the
desired signal is reaching and returning from the recorder.

The "tape loop" can be put to other uses, too. If can connects the tape
output to the input of a processor such as an EQ or compressor and the
output of the processor to the tape input, the tape monitor switch then
selects whether the processed or unprocessed signal is monitored.

Feel free to ask if you need the function of the "phono amp" explained.
;-)

--
================================================== ======================
Michael Kesti | "And like, one and one don't make
| two, one and one make one."
mrkesti at comcast dot net | - The Who, Bargain

Thank you all for the informative responses!

All my questions were answered, and I understand how the tape monitor
works now.


Thanks!!!!!


Tim

wrote in message
ups.com...
I know this is probably a really dumb question, but not everyone is
informed on every subject so please bear with me.


What is the tape monitor? How do you connect it? What's its purpose?

I've looked high and low and haven't found a clear answer.


Please help!

73,

Tim

Used to be called Tape A-B switch (After-Before) but is only experienced on
decks with a separate repro read head.