Mystifying Cassette Recorder Issue

[NoiseWiki]

most likely the input is mono. you can get a mono 1/8" cable or even a 1/8" mono male to 1 /4" mono male quite easily and cheaply.

Sure but a mono cable won't solve the issue with ironically named Monotron. I'm not sure exactly how they wired the stereo output but it shorts out if connected to a mono cable or jack.

[The Mysterious Creep]

Plugging the mic into a digitech death metal and using a 1/4 inch converter with an aux cable was my plan to test input volume as a solution, after using the mic and monotron on their own. The cable is stereo, it's the only one I have. Just a standard cord with a 3.5mm plug at either end.

Yea if your cable is stereo and one end is plugged into the stereo output of the monotron and the other is plugged into a mono jack its the same problem I described.

Try plugging just the mic into it.

You can also try plugging the stereo cable only half way into the Monotron.

Also try plugging your computer headphone output into the tape deck using the stereo cable.

The mic was the first thing I tested. Worth mentioning it has a sub-3.5mm connector naturally (no idea what the name is), it's got an adapter of unknown origin attached to make it a 3.5mm. The seller said they'd used that mic to make sure it worked, but obviously I just have to take their word for it. I haven't tried the computer yet, though.

[NoiseWiki]

The mic was the first thing I tested. Worth mentioning it has a sub-3.5mm connector naturally (no idea what the name is), it's got an adapter of unknown origin attached to make it a 3.5mm. The seller said they'd used that mic to make sure it worked, but obviously I just have to take their word for it. I haven't tried the computer yet, though.

You mentioned you got no sound running it through through a DM.

Can you plug the mic into your computer input and confirm that the mic works at all?

FYI the that smaller plug is 2.5mm and is often referred to as an earphone plug as opposed to a headphone. Can't say I've ever seen a mic with one.

[RUBBISH]

I'm starting to think the seller wasn't as honest as they should be.

[FAP]

Worth mentioning it has a sub-3.5mm connector naturally (no idea what the name is), it's got an adapter of unknown origin attached to make it a 3.5mm.

Do you mean something like this?

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If so, thatxe2x80x99s for older mics with a switch; the idea was to have a mic with an on/off switch that would shut down the tape recorder while recording when the micxe2x80x99s switch was flipped to xe2x80x9coff,xe2x80x9d then start it back up when flipped to xe2x80x9con.xe2x80x9d
Herexe2x80x99s an example:

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Generally speaking, you can just ignore this and plug in a 1/8xe2x80x9d mic into the appropriate input. Sure youxe2x80x99ll lose that switch ability, but if the mic doesnxe2x80x99t have that option to begin with it doesnxe2x80x99t matter.

Pictures would help.

[FAP]

Is this your tape recorder?

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[RUBBISH]

Is this your tape recorder?

I got one of those once...the power supply was wonky and the plug would fall out.
It also made a horrible cliking noise that you could hear when recording.
Would play ok but was worthless for recording.

[The Mysterious Creep]

This got more responses than I was expecting, so here's as many answers as I can come up with in one post.

Is this your tape recorder?

Looks like it. The mic, however, was not that included one in the picture but a different one (picture attached) and it has a different power brick (which I sincerely hope is not the cause of my issues, another picture attached). However, the side of the recorder does read DC 6V, while the adapter says it's a 5 volt output, so I can buy it being a problem.

You mentioned you got no sound running it through through a DM.

Can you plug the mic into your computer input and confirm that the mic works at all?

FYI the that smaller plug is 2.5mm and is often referred to as an earphone plug as opposed to a headphone. Can't say I've ever seen a mic with one.

I did indeed try it before without the DM and plugged it into an amp to test that it did pass sound through. I tested it again (mic plugged straight in), just in case, and this time something did happen: by cranking the tape up loud through my other tape player (a combo CD boombox thing that can't record and doesn't play tape loops), I actually could faintly hear my yelling (though not the quieter scratching on the mic and other noises I made into it). This was through the mic input like before, but before I'd never actually heard anything beneath the noise (the attempt with the direct in Monotron I think was me hearing things that weren't there).

Also try plugging your computer headphone output into the tape deck using the stereo cable.

Tried this through both mic and aux input with computer playing at full volume each time, not a sound on playback. It's definitely receiving the input nice and loud, there's a small blue light that reacts to input volume on top and it glowed quite brightly for the duration of the audio.

may I ask what exactly you're trying to achieve with this tape recorder?

Just trying to record onto tape loops and tape in general for the signature sound of blown-up tape recordings. Being able to plug straight in with pedals or a line out would be nice but isn't essential.

[FAP]

Try batteries if you havenxe2x80x99t already.
The adaptor on the mic may also be loose or otherwise not making a solid connection.

[NoiseWiki]

Tried this through both mic and aux input with computer playing at full volume each time, not a sound on playback. It's definitely receiving the input nice and loud, there's a small blue light that reacts to input volume on top and it glowed quite brightly for the duration of the audio.

Okay well can you take a picture of the record? The only thing I can think of is that maybe the head is really dirty.. get a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol and wipe it off.

If that doesn't fix it then something must be wrong with the electronics.. I kinda doubt that power supply is the problem if it will play back but if you did have another PSU with the correct voltage and amperage then it'd be worth trying.