We have a marantz tape recorder that we use for meetings. Sometimes, when we record, the tape spins very fast and the recording is totally garbled. If we stop it and start again, it is okay. But sometimes, we don't notice the fast spinning and as a result, out minute taking is a great problem.

Sorry to say that it's clear that this Marantz recorders develop this problem over time and Marantz has offered no solutions. When I first purchased this recorder it was enormously reliable and stable, but I find now that it is totally the opposite -- often it has recorded for a while and then suddenly develops an inability to read the SD card and so either quits recording or freezes up.
There seems to be no clear solution to this, and the random nature of the problem makes the recorder wholly unreliable in a live or field setting. This is, sad to say, unacceptable.

1. Try to change the tape speed on your machine. Sometimes that will fix it.

2. Maybe the tape is just old (has been dictated on too many times) and in that case, have the person dictate on new tapes and discard the old ones. They dont last forever.

Hope I could help!

Take a set of RCA Jack cords (4 jacks) and on the tape recorders "out" jacks attach one pair and on the PMD 670's "In" Jacks attach the other pair. Set the tape a few seconds before where you want to record , set your levels to where you want them, start the recorder then start recording with the PMD.

You may need to test record a few seconds to make sure the recording is at the level you want it to be. Plug in a set of headphones to the PMD and listen in from time to time to make sure it's recording OK.

There you go.

Best,

Dan

You have an analog tape recorder, so you need an interface which will allow you to plug it into your computer. This kind of interface is sometimes referred to as a USB Audio Interface. I use a Tapco Link.USB, and it works well, but there are many out there to choose from - you can use something pretty simple, nothing fancy needed.
The interface will plug into your computer via USB cable, and then you will use RCA cables to plug the PMD201 into the interface. When you play the audio on the tape machine, you should be able to select the "USB interface" on your computer as your "input device" and record on the computer. Watch on the computer recording software for input levels (meters that show sound is coming in), and set them to appropriate levels, not too low, not too high (if there is a red zone, you want to flirt with it only on the highest levels) ... don't hit "zero" if your computer shows zero as the peak level for input.

Final Cut Pro is far to complicated for what you are talking about doing. Many computers come with software already installed that will make simple audio recordings like this.

Please feel free to visit my website, rexark.com, for more information on audio and recording, as well as audio presentation and PA systems.

Good Luck!

Generally speaking, there are two reasons this happens.

[1] tape recorders have to move tape past the record/playback heads at a highly consistent and accurate rate of speed. What makes this possible is a rubber "pinch" or pressure roller and a spinning metal spindle. Tape is routed between the roller and the spindle, and when the recorder is in RECORD or PLAY mode, the roller presses the tape against the spinning spindle, causing the tape to move from the feed reel to the takeup reel. When the pinch roller and/or the spindle become coated with oxide particles shed from old tapes, they get sticky and the thin tape will begin wrapping around one or the other. THE SOLUTION is to get some cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol and clean the oxide (brown from cheap tapes and dark gray from better tapes) from both of these parts.

[2] many tape recorders use rubber belts and pulleys to turn the feed reel and the takeup reel. If the tiny rubber belt that makes the take-up reel turn is stretched, it will not wind moving tape fast enough, which causes tape to bunch up. If this is the problem (you will not be able to see the belts without removing the recorder's outer case), then you might as well junk the recorder.

If you see that the part of the rubber drive roller that contacts the moving tape has a ring of brown or gray coating on it, you

Audio cassette tapes are not erasable.
You must record over the recorded portion or side of the tape you want to delete. You can of course record silence if you want a "clean" or "new" tape (turn the volume all the way down and then press the record button).
I found that I could do very fast with some recorders by pressing the record button and simultaneously pressing fast forward.

The machines playabilty setting has gone off. take to nearest repair shop and they will probably reset or change guide posts.
These components normally will allow a tape recorded in one machine to play on another. Had many of those esp from camcorder to vcr

Dear Sushant,    I do not think your use of an equalizer has caused any problems.  I will explain the proper use of the source/direct button.  This button's function is to monitor the output of a recorder connected to the record outputs of your amp.  When this button is pressed on the sound going to the speakers comes direct from the "source" (cd, radio tuner, phonograph etc.) when in the off position you can monitor the recording of whatever source is being recorded via the tape deck.  This switch must be off to record through the amps record outputs.    To test this, put a blank tape in the tape deck, choose the source as phono and place the dec in record/pause.  With the source direct button pressed on you should hear a change in volume when moving the amp's volume knob only.  When source direct is off you will be able to hear the output of the tape deck, so adjusting the tape deck's record level will also affect the volume coming out of the speakers.  more record level in/ more level out.!    Below is copied from page 9 of your user operation manual for Marantz's explanation of the source/direct button. 
best of wishes, Michael Mittelsdorf

If you are recording the tapes in a slow speed, then I would suspect that the tracking pulse is not being recorded properly. Since this is a new VCR, return it for an exchange. One of the recording heads is bad.
Dan

Check the outlet voltage and set the AC adaptorfor that voltage fter words, insert the AC adaptor's output plug into the 4.5 V DC jack in the recorder. see attache image