[QuadList] Rebuilding RCA TR-600s - Success

[Don Norwood]

Hi Bill:

First, a caveat to say that the info below applies to the machines I've 
dealt with and have documentation for, but there were a number of changes to 
the AVR-2 through its production cycle, so perhaps not all of the machines 
work this way.

I'd think most mono recordings would be low-band, so a standard AVR-2 won't 
play them anyway, but if you have hi-band mono recordings, the AVR-2 should 
play them just fine.  There's circuitry in the machine that generates a 
"mono burst" specifically so the TBC can work on mono recordings.  The 
synthesized burst is automatically used when the off-tape signal does not 
contain burst.

The AVR-2 is normally configured to go to black on a loss of playback RF, 
but that can be defeated with a jumper selection.  In any case, your video 
out should be fine when playing mono tapes.

Don Norwood
Digitrak Communications, Inc.
www.digitrakcom.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <bill.spencer at northstarstudios.tv
>
>
> As to my preference, I like the AVR-2 better than the TR-600.  I've been
> using both since the 70's and the TBC on the TR-600 has always been
> touchy.  The vel-comp is very hard to set up to not get some one-line
> shift or venetian blind effect unless the recording is a really good
> one.  I keep the machine mainly for doing low-band playbacks and
> monochrome as it doesn't care about no burst on the tape, but the AVR-2
> dumps to black if there is no burst on the recording.  We used to record
> a lot of mono stuff with burst so there would be no problem on playback,
> but stuff older than about 75 usually doesn't have it.
>
> If you can get that AVR-1 going you will be amazed at what it can do.  I
> babysat a bunch of them at PBS in Washington, DC during the 70's.
>
> Bill Spencer
> RF Engineering Supervisor
> NorthStar Studios, Inc.
> 3201 Dickerson Pike
> Nashville, TN 37207
>