Help! I think i killed my R2R!

[buddy holly]

Hi. This is really embarrassing, but I accidentally used a demagnetizer on my Tascam TSR-8 tape heads with the power on. Now the thing won't record on tracks 1-5. In record mode and during recording I get good strong levels on 2-5 (almost nothing on 1) on the meters, but during playback the levels are very weak (not even enough to show up on the tascam's meters. Also, there is quite a bit of cross talk between tracks now, enough to show up on the meters of the adjacent tracks.

What specifically have I done here? Can someone give me a best case/ worst case scenario? Is this something that is fixable? Or should I accept a learned lesson and start saving up for another?

thanks in advance for any help, and please feel free to berrate, lecture, ridicule, etc.

--bh

[ladewd]

I accidentally used a demagnetizer on my Tascam TSR-8 tape heads with the power on.

You're not supposed to do that!!! (ridicule finished). My guess is you probably fried some electronics. It would be hard to say just what, but I would guess it is in the repro amp area. I'd get an estimate and if it costs more than you feel the machine is worth, start saving for another one.

CA

[NewYorkDave]

Or, keep an eye open for a TSR-8 with transport problems or with shot heads. Such a machine could be obtained cheaply. Then steal the cards out of that machine to replace the damaged cards in yours.

[analogcabin]

I always wondered what would happen if you did that. I used to sweat bullets when de-magging........now I know why.

[buddy holly]

That's what I figured happened. i read in the TSR-8 manual that magnetism in the range of .7 Gauss would affect performance. the damag puts out a field worth about 10K Gauss.

I guess I'll get an estimate, but i bet a repair would exceed the cost of buying another one. Good idea dave on the cards thing. TSR-8s are all over ebay. Are the cards easy to replace?

Man, how frustrating. I had just upgraded to a better mixer and was just trying to get that little extra bit of performance out of it. It probably wouldn't even have been a noticeable improvement. I never even got to record with the new setup. At least now i might be able to swing an Otari 1/2" without the wife divorcing me.
--bh