[Peter Kelly]

Thanks for all the responses

I’m actually not working in the office with the Beta Deck today, but I will answer the questions I know for a fact and check/double check the rest on monday

The smaller tape that won’t record; does it load up all the way or immediatly get spit out automatically?
Does just the inhibit light come on, but the tape still stays inside until manually commanded to eject?
If the smaller tape stays in, can you play, fast-forward, and rewind it? What do you see then?

Small tapes do not get spit out. I can rewind fast forward, watch whatever is on the tape and eject it manually with no issues
The entire time the inhibit light is on, and I am unable to record

Have you hand-turned the hubs until the tape is so tight you can’t turn the hubs in opposite directions any more? Did this have any effect when loaded?

Haven’t tried this, will try on Monday. I am attempting to record onto brand new Sony Metal tapes though. tried several different ones, no difference. Also tried with several older, used tapes. No difference

When was the last time the machine worked all right with this kind of tape, and what’s changed since then?

The deck was used 2 weekes prior for exporting with this kind of tape (from the same box of Sony Betas, with no issues.
As for what has changed. I want to say nothing…but I have junior editors working at night, using it to digitize footage. They say they haven’t changed a thing, but with 3-4 of us using the computer it is hooked to, I can’t say for sure.

Has the machine had the heads and transport path cleaned? When last?

The deck was purchased used 6 months ago. I was told it was checked out and cleaned as a condition of the sale (I had nothing to do with the purchase, so beyond that I don’t know…will look into this though to get specifics)

Does the display give an error code number at any point when loading and trying to record the trouble tape? What is the code?
I am not getting a error message.

[Peter Kelly]

Yeah, the record tabs are in the correct position 🙂

I have tried over a dozen tapes (different brands) and I get the same thing every time.
It is as if the size of the tape is the issue.

I mainly want to record to a Sony 30 minute Metal Tape which is a no go.
The larger tapes I have are all used, so I don’t have the original label to ensure if they are Metal or oxide (I did have a 90 min sony one that looks to be the same as the 30min metal Sony I have, and it works fine)

as for the indexing holes, yep they are exactly the same.

Could this be the smaller tapes aren’t threading correctly for some reason?

Peter