Akai X-100D User manual

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MODEL X-100D
OPERATOR'S
MANUAL
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CROSS-FIELD
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
II!
GENERAL INFORMATIONS
I. SPECIFI CAT IONS .... .. ..................... ®
2. CONT R OL L OCA TIOJ\ .........,.. .. .... @
3. CROSS-Fl ELD H EAD .. ............. .. .... ©
4. RECO RD II\C ;PLAYB AC K
FOR 4 T R AC K...... @
5. PRECA UTIONS ................ .. ............ ©
ti. VOL T AGE AND CYC LE
CONVE R SION ...... (V
7. SE LECT I ON OF TAPE SP EE D ...... @
[ OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
I.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(l .
7,
8.
9.
IO.
11.
TAPE L OA D ING PR OCE DURE ...... ®
ST ER EO P LAY B ACK ..................... ®
/\UTO ~-I A TI C SH UT.O FF ............... Qm
INSTA1'T STO P CONT R OL ............ QIJ)
STE R EO RECORDLNC .................. @
RECOR DING l'R O:V l ST EREO
B ROADCAST . .. . .. @I
RECOR DING FR OM STE REO
DI SCS .. .... Q!,
:M ONAU R AL RECORD I NG ON
TRACKS 1\o. 1.4 ...... @
~I ONAU R AL RECOK DING ON
TltAC KS No. 3-2 ...... <!,
;-. I OI\AU R AL P LA YBACK ............... (ij,
TAPE ER ASII\G .............................. ®
12. FAS T. FO R\ VA RD AND R P. l l' I NU ......... -i§·
I S. :>1 0N I TOR l:siG....... .... ........ .. ....... .. ......... ~•
14 . TAP P. S PL IC I NG ,\ ND EDIT I NG ......... @
15. CLEANI NG HE AD ................................. ®
1 6. HE AD DE,;v lACNE.TI ZAT I ON ............... ®
17. TAPE DU PLICA TI ON ........................... )$
18 . DIN ( ONE CONNEC TI ON J JAC K ......... ,~
19. VENT !L AT I ON ........................ .. .......... 11 ,
II ACCESSORIES
I. ACCESSORIES OPT I ONAL ....... .. ......... ~
2. ACCESSO RI ES ST A NDAR D .... .............. e
3. A l l'ONDE RF UL COM BI NATION .... .... . ~ ••
IV SCHEMATIC ..................... .. .... .. ...................... ~
V CONNECTI NG DIAGRAM .... .. ............. .... ....... cc,

1. SPECIFICATIONS I GENERAL INFORMATIONS
Tape Speed
Wo .. · and Fl utt er
{P la yb ac.k Only)
Prequency R ta p on .s e
D lil. Wrtion
S ignal to N oi. ae Rat.io
Tnput Level
Output Level
F. qualir.ation
Recording Biu Frequenc, ·
Recording Le, · el Indicator
Recording $y$tem
Fa&t Forward and R ewi nd Tim e
:\la xi mum Recording C apa city
Head
Motor
T ran s is to r
Power Supply
Power Cons umption
Dimeruiion1
Weight
4 speeds .... .. 1,718, :~.:1 1, 1, 7.J/2 ;md IS i p-. opcion :l l
I~ 1h:in 0.15°0 R~1 S at 7.1 · 2ips
I..A--5S than 0.25~0 R. \1S :it 3.3 '4 ips
Less th an 0.:159., RM S <H 1 -7 , 8 ips
30 10 23,000cps ± 3db at 7-l/2 ips
30 lO 18,000q).$ +. 3 db 31 3-3/ 4 ips
:~) to 9,()0()cp:s i, 3 dl, :1 t 1- 7/ 8 iJ >$
W i1hi n Mo l ,OOOcps O VU
B ette r 1 han 45 db
Mi c• • ········ ........... 0.5 mV ,..._, 20 mV
L.i ne• •· ······ ··· ·· ····· ·· 50 mV ,...,,, 2. 5 V
0 VU fl.23 V RM S)
C or rect eql• .:il iia.tion for pl.:iylxlck of iar)( •s rt-coc • clcd 10 the N AB cur\'C-.
: 60 kc
VU f'IW t (! r X 2
C RO ss. 1: 1EL D bi~s S)'S tt , n. 4.1r ac k m- ·r<:o ,. monnura l srs 1 em
90 seconds using 1. 200 teet ltlf)c ~t 50 cydes.
75 11eco nds at 60 cycles.
8 hours m onaur;\l r erordi,,g :i t 1.1, 8 i ps (l.200 feet recording t ape ,.
4 hours stereo record ing at 1• 7 8 i ps
R«Ol"di n_g /playb.ack head •· ··• •4• tra ck ster eo ' mon.wr.il lo,\ iinfx-dan cc 1,000ohms at l.OOO<p s.
Bias he~d •....... . ............. .. ... 4.1raclc st <'tt<>, 1 0, \1 impedance 500 oh1 ns a, 60 kc,
Er ase hcad .............. ... .... ...... 4.1 rack stereo. l ow i mpedan ce 300 o hm s at (;(I k c.
H)'stcresis synchronous 2•spced mo tor
Traosi.stor x 11
Diode x 2
R« tifier x 2
AC 1 00 10 240\I, 50 , 60 cycles
55 VA
1 3- 1/ 2" H x 13,1/ 2'' Wx 9''0 (340 H x 340 W x230 D mm;
30 lb, 13.5 kg )

GENERAL INFORMATIONS
rn
(j) .Suppl)' R ed Shaft
(ii Cycle Conversi on S" ·itrh A
@ C.-.p~rn n Storage Post
© H1 •ad Co"'! •' f. '-\ /
@ H ca d Co ver 18J
•~ T rru.k Sd t:(· to r K ncl>
® ·r ape· Gu id e
'ID Tape Cleaner
® lnd c:x Cotm Cc: r
@ Kl"'~·, H ut1 ( 11 l
@ Erase He ad
1} R «or di ng ' .Pl a yb a<.· k Ilt'ad
@ Hi as H ea d
:W Microphone: J ack (L dt J
'IJ J ~1 iC'rop hooe Jad : (Rig lH ,,
2. CONTROL LOCATION
@ Recording Lcv<: I Co ntr ol Kn oh (LcflJ
® Recording Level Co ntr ol K nob /Righn
@ t<t un li zer K nob
@ VU Meter ILeft;
~ VU . \1 ett r (Ri ,g: IH j
@ R eco rding Lamp
@ rowt'r Switch
@ St eN! o Hea dphoo e Ja de
@ R ecord ing Safety Ouu on
'® AS Switd 1
@ AS l. e vt,
~ R ecord /Playback Kn ob
@ Fasi -F orward / R c:: wind Kn ot
• !;ti In s.t am St op Le ver
@) Pinch Wh ed
tv C::ip!:>' t an Sh ah
® Ca ps tan
@ Tak e-Up Red Sha ft
@ Sp,e ,e d C hangt Sw itch
® Din J ack
* Lin e (np ut Jack (l c: ft 1
® I. ill ¢ lo pv t J l'.U; k IRightJ
~ Linc Outpu t J ack (L cf c,
© Lint Ot 1q>ut Jack (RightJ
© V oltag e Co nversi on Swi tch
l.f! Fuse Pus(
@ C}(le Conv er sio ,l Sw i 1ch '6 ,
· 4) AC Cord

3. CROSS-FIELD HEAD GENERAL INFOR~
'I ATIONS
Cross-fidd he< ul <. n :.l ld a ~ 11 -.;i1ion in th(' l :l J ')(- r c-C'or<lc r ,,·odd b~ making a "'id(' ra n ge of recording \,hi t. hi " never heard before ~Ut)
tap(" i' t."<.Q r der.
li~ing chi.-. <ro\S.- li e l<l head .. \1 o,kl X-I OO D providt's a ~u rprising rc<.ording r~ r form~ in,e ~O lo '.!3.llOO<p., :H 7- 1 2 i1 ~. 30 to Ifl: .O(>ft <fJ'
a1 :{,:t , <l i ps an d :lO to 9.000 ~•l 1-7 8 ip~ .
Wh:11 is supe ri or :ibou1 n·oss.fidcl re-co r ding? Mow doe s il di ff er from 1~ ·pi('~ 1I n:<ordiug O ll;'l h01 h ;1-. fa1 · at- ro n~1ru<'lion 1:- coor,y n nl?
On th e:se, ex 1>l:ma1i on is gi wn btlow i rl $,(' Q uences;
In the I) pi caI recording system, the sign -1 1 c ur re nt f in d bia !> n ,r rt r lt ar e <'Ombi 1wd t 1..g \·lh<'1' and nppli<·d 10 lh<: rcconl,ng head.
(R tfor 10 Dia gram LJ
h is wdl known that the purpOS<" of Lias <:v rrtnt is J'ff(lrdi11g a1 high scm iti,il )' ,,i1h a signal a pp h c:d on 1hc: tape:, ,, ·i 1h no distor-
1ion an d mi, ,im ii i ng noise gener:uion.
How- c: " er , 1h e bias cur r en l pro "iding S l• <.h an adw mta ge also has an un desirable c- harnctor.
bi as cun ·em a fl' Ccts 1hc recorded signal, resl•hing in we al;t>ni ng or eve,, c .- a~ in g 1h c signnl.
;\b le ~l high fre ql • en cii:s,
T hat i .s. . the wi de: 111 .\gnecic fi dd of the
T hi s phenomenon is pani culn rh · no1 in•.
In the cr oss- fidd system, the sign.i.1 n ir rcnc is applied 10 the r ecor ding head ,.,, hi lc th e bias c um: m 1s npphed 10 th e b1a:. head.
T hc.se l WO heads a te l o<a1c d in di ff' erem positions, n .s dete r,n jm :d i1u er -r(');uivel ). so Ihat th t: m,ig,,t tic 1 11.'·ld of Ihe bias will 001 Mfon 1h1 ·
signal rtto rd ed on 1h c IUJJC' . even a Sl dl k i (' nt bi s. s is app li ed. Thi s allo ,, •s 1h e recorded ~ignal to remain on 1he 1arx- with hi gh fi dclit~
Di ag ram 1. Ordintu~ .- ecor<l i ng sys1em
Diagram :l. C ros:s -fie ld reco rding system
" A -
Sig n al
and bias
) --
y Di
re c lion in
W hich tape Is
t ranspo rte d.
) S i gna~
y
@ Crossfie ld
head
Bias

GENERAL INFORi\lATIONS 4. RECORDING/ PLAYBACK FOR
4-TRACK
T he M odel X-1000 em ploys a mos1 {Hhan c:e d 4. 1, · ad : S)'S-h:m. ei th er St e reo or mon:n,raL
@:
/ - )
,
F' 1rs1. track
,
_,
Second track
"\
\ Th1
r<1 t.rack
' F
ou rt h track
' ·
fA) Recording/Playback for 4-T rack Ste reo
S1e1· e,o phoo ic re co rd ing ·pfoyb:ick 1 1ses 1wo crac.-b <'U a
1i,n c. Set ch c TR1 \CK SELECTOR KNO B@ 10
"S TEREO ". The fir st s1ereopho ni c recotding/ 1>lay-
b.."lr k is m,,de in the POSITI VE TRA CK ( Tra cks
;,lo. l and 3) .:i nd the second ster eop ho ni c reco rding I
Tape •idth
3 Ettl
Th e required track Ct'l n be setec 1ed b~ 1h e TR 1\ CK
SE LECTOR Kc<OB @.
4 ______ _ _ _
playback is made in the :'\1 EGA·rrvc TRA CK (Tracks No. Z and 4) afte r the tape r« ls ha ve be en turn ed over .
fB) Recording/Playback for 4- Track Monaural
Rccor di ng/ pl a) ' b.lc.k (If tn()rl;:lll r (I I s ho uld be dont: in the se qu ence of 1 -4 -3-2 ( tr ach.
1 ~fo n.:1\ 1r al r<. -<:ording/pla} ·h a c:- k on tra cks No . 1 -1
Set th e TRACK SELECTO R K ~08 @ 10 ••1--4., _ T he fir llt reco r di ng / playback i~ on POS IT IVE TRA CK Ko . l and \,
1
he n
the t;.1pe is tev ers ed, oo ~ tG 1 \T I VE TRACK No. ◄.
1 '2 ~fooaur al rccording· ))la yhack on tra cks No . 3-2
Sci th e TR ACK SELECTO R Kf\08 @ l<l ·'3-2". So. rec ording /playb ac k i:s on POSI T I VE T RACK No. 3 an d "' he n 1h e
1.-ipe is ,·everSc d, on ~E(;AT I VE TRACK ~o . 2.
Tape transport direction

5. PRECAUTIONS GENE RAL I NFORMAT IONS
1~-11'0R T A;,,'1 ', KEAIJ T HE FO LLOWIN G l !'ST R UCT IONS C.. \REF U l.l ,Y RJ;F0RE OPERAT ING YO UR MA CHI NE,
(i) TH E USE OF NEW TAPE WI LL RESULT 1. \l THE BE ST RECO Rl )INCS .
@ THE S Y~IPTOM S LISTED BELOW DO NOT :-IECESSARILLY INDI CATE MEC H AN I CAL Ft \l LU Rt OF YO UR TA PE
l)J;CK. ff YO UR M AC H INE EXHIBIT S AN Y OF TH ESE S YMP TOMS, CHliC K FOK THI \ T RO UBLE .- \S I NDIC ,\ TE D.
' I) l.0 ~1 of .se n .i; i1i vi1} ~ 11H I 1 one qua lity ma y be due: t n:
r\ , Oirl)' recording hem.I. Thi $ will pn ;vc:nl prtrtc<mJc:d ma t er i al fron, being ('Ornpl t1d) ' erased.
6. Oust on the recording head. Clean ,he head ge ntly \,·ith a m ft co tto n &wa b soaktd in n 1b birlg ~l co h ol or carbon
1e1rach 1o tide.
C. A.C. power voltage Ids than the st andar d , vh,._gell 10 whi eh ro l1r Oli~ Ch,ne is ;"1dj1.1sted.
(2J lrregu1ar ity in the tape tri\n$por1 rn.\)' be d1.1e to:
A. Crime adhering to the head$,
B. O il O il th e capstan.
C. Sticky or di r1y cape s1.1rh.\C:t.
0 . A bent take. up r« L
,. :l ; !! )·our machine will not record. check to sec chat the foUowing arc in cor-rett position.
A. Record/Pla)1 bact knob.
B, l nJX •l plvgs .
:-- OTE,
(I, Before operating )' Ol1r mac:. hi ne, b<: s1. 1r e 10 dean 1h e surface ol the head,
(2, Unused tape may become soft and stick> •· Thertfore, i1 is ::id"i,ahle 10 r"l lll 1he 1ape once from 1h e supply red to the
tal:e,t•P ~ I before 1hreading it for use,
@ TH E FO L. LOWl:s/G !'/OTES ARE PROVIDED FOR YO UR CONVEN IENCE.
'A) Jr anr trouble de"elops, plea,e take )' Our machine 10 the nearest auth or ized agent in y0t1r an'<l or inq l1ire a1 the Ser" ie('
l '.>tp 1. of the Akai Company in T ol.:) ' 0, Japan .
(B) Y our :\ka i ·r ape Deck Model X-100D re q uird constant "ohag e for OP4imt nn p,erforinar lC('.
(C) The st andard 1,200 feet le,,g th of iape on a 7" reel plays up to 32 minutes at 7.5" /s ec.. s p«d in one dir ce1ion.
(D) If the sound sources arc so far from the mi cr opho nes 1h31 1h e volume control must be turned up to maximum. some hu m
or noise wi ll inevitab ly be recorded. In such CM<, it is recommended tha t Al'.'SI r~l)f'( li ng be made before a final recording
is a tt emp ted.

GENERAL INFORl\1ATIONS
OUT 50 o,,,
~
I N 600,,,
OUT 50 o,,,
~
IN 60 o,,,
7
6. VOLTAGE AND CYCLE CONVERSION
POWER VOLTAGE ADJ UST ME NT
The M()('lel X. 1()0[) is <>pt r .a li\bl~ <mrwhcre in the world. With the bu ilt.in
$tepdown pow er transformer, the u .sc: r can c-as.il )' re. ad just the record er 10
ti ny ooe (H 1h e !- ix stages of powt'r voltage f rom 100 to 240 \'Oh s A.C.
Generally, the r eco rdc:r·s input voh a.ge is pr esc.: 1 for th e fon.,:irding terr•i u:i ry.
T he user is r e- ql •esced t0 <: h ec k Ihe previously set vohage be f ore ope rn tion.
T hi$ ean be :se en at the rear of the , ·ccot<d.
If ::rnocher voh .-..ge is required, readjusting of the voltage can be accomp li shed
in :.iccordanci." with th e follm,•in .g in suuctio n :
(I ) T;."1\:e off the co ver pand IJr rt"mov ing two mouming sc , ·ews as sh ow n
in picture " A' '. Th en po ll w t the VOLTAGE CONVERS ION
SWITCI-I @i gently and resel the knob so th at 1h e desired vo lt age: w ill
appear on 1hc p;rne l. lSee r>ic 1l11 ·e "8')
2, The voltage cot we nion sw itch is a plug-in S) 's1c m :rnd is dev id ed inio
~i,c Mtj:~ 100/ 110/ 120/200/220/24-0/, For exa mple , if the: power vohn.,i; c:
distnb utcd in yo ur arc-a is 220 vohs A. C., l"eS<;t 10 che FICURI:: of 220,
macching 1h e MA RKI NG.
CAUT I O;\I: Di .scon n c:c t pow(:r plug fn:im AC w1le1 before read ju ~c ing
power v<>ha ge. To 1 na intain optimum performance an d 10 pro lo ng the lif e or
)'Ol•I' m: u: hi ne , it is important th:u the line "oh ;-.,ge bi: k ~pc wilhin 10 percent
deviation front che &e an da rd voltage.
PO WER CYCLE C HA NGE
A correc'l tape speed is not obcainabl c- if the recor der's CVCLf:. CONVE R.
SION' SW (fCH £S arc not pro f"" d y r ,d j u~tec. l. The: CYCLE CONVE RSIO:--J
S WITCH (A}@ is loc at«I at the: center of th e- dc ~k 1op pand and the CYCLF.
CON'VERSI 0'.\
1 SWJ'l'
CH rB J @ is loc.tted at the rear of th e: dec k.
Using a screw dr i\'er. rotat e: 1he CYC LE CO'.\lVERSIQ;-.l SW ITC F-1 (A) @
co unter doc kwi ~(: ;)f>proxirnacdy one.eighth of a turn. The: swi 1ch can chen
bi.: n lO\'Cd either OUT or IN. 50 cycle : opca 11io o is obw in c<l by mtl\'ing t he:
S\\'itch OCT 'Fig, © J, <m d 60 cyde operation, moving t he: S\\'itch IN
1
Fi g. @j.
T he r. wit ch (2) should ~ rotated bnck 10 its or igio~I po~ iti on ,,ft c: r it has btt n
moved e ith er 01.,;T Or I ~. 11 ill also nccc::isa ry to reset the CV CLf. CON-
VERS I ON SW I TCH (8) @ 10 1h e <lt$ ired 1 )()$ ition.
CA UTI ON : Do noc atcc:mpc to rotate ,he CVC Lg C O:--i-VER SI ON
S \VJT CHES whc: 11 1he n)l)I Or' i~ no t nu ming .

TAPE
SPH£0
lNC HES
PER SECO~O
''-1 2.
7 . SELECTION OF TAPE SPEED
POSITION Ol" $P6£0
CHANOE $ Vt 'JTCH CAPSTAN BUSHING
L() W HlGH
\'ES NO
0 0
0 0
0 0
U>ng tllle re-coro1.eg or Jau.
Speech Lect u re . etc
High 1tdelny recol'd1ng o! Popu•
l..ir or C!;:i$-$1Cill Ot;$IC. e1c
Re cor<1u1g 111s\c 'lltb 11ar c!anty,
PL17ba ct or 11re ·re ccr<1e-:: tape
l'hc X .1 000 op era tes usuall~ on 3 t;: 1p e $p<' l.'d~. 7- 1, 2, '3 . '3 '4 and 1-7 8 ips.
R di ·r to th<- (' ha1'1 above for sdcuing an ade qu ate: l <tf.lt' S. J ~t<. L TnJ)(' sp eed
is dc,c-rmint:d by tht' m (lh) r i,. J>< ·t·d :10 .-t b~ U!fe or a c:apsrnn bu sh ing on th e
mp<: d rive cnp sinn sh af t.
1.7 '8 if' '· T ht 1.7 8 ip s tape speed is ob tained b) * Hing th t' SPEED
CH 1\ NCE S\\'ITCI I ® 10 ch(' p(l$ iti on m:u·l:ed 0 LO \V". The
rn pstan bushmg is no t usc-d an d is inounh:d <m th e $t()1· ;;-ige pcm.
'3 . '3 . ·I 1J 1.S- The- 3.3 4 ip!I tf •P~ ~ spl'C'.d is ol n:iincd by se lling 1 hc SP EED
CHANCE SWI TCl 1 @ 10 chi: p(, :,: ition mi,r,kcd ,, · 1. 0W ". The
~; 1p ~l:l 1l bu shin~ is moumed on th e' ca p~ rnn ~hafl <md j,. loc:k.:d
auw m,uic.tll} in ri ~i 1i on h} 1h c ootch(•s pro, idcd.
7. 1 2 ips. T he 7. 1/ 2 ,p s tape svce d i~ ol> l< li m:d h) St: Uiog th('. SP EED
CI-IA;\'GE SW l' fCl-1 {ti 10 th e 1,ositi on mar ked "Hl Gl ·f '. T he:
ca pst an bu shing i> used. In :idd i1 ion. :1 15 ips tape speed c:in be
obtai n e<I b) us ing an e xtra cap:;l <Ul a nd piu rh \\ l we l ch; 11 wi ll lw
obrninrtl h} ' op 1ion:il :.i «es.i or i(• s.
GENERAL INFOR~fATIONS
it
ha}
CAPS TAN STORA.GE POS T
SPUD CH ANG E SWlTCH
1200ft
1800
2<00
1200
lllOO
4· T IU CK STtRF.O
4 brs J
• 3 I 5
8 '
4 -TR A Ck ~O NO
8
6
16 8 •
00

II OPERATING INSTR UC TI ON S
r
(ID
I
J
I ('
. _IiA
1. TAPE LOADING PROCEDURE
Pl:ice <l recording tape on 1h e SU PPLY R EEL S ll:\FT (D an d a t'mpcr red
on the TA KE· UP RE EL S HArr @.
Thrt'ad the tape as ill ust rn ted b) ' th(' do tt «I lin e.
To k eep reels fro m foiling dow n wh en using the mac h ine in the vc ni ca1
position, place the rn hb er red ('(I J )S on th e S f.l :\ FTS.
I MPO R TA~T:
W he n use of th(: a wom :i ti c- Shl•1o ff is re q uired. thrl"ad t he tape th rough t he
.\S LEVE R ®· Ir the al a lO fll.t ti < shut o ff is not re quired. thrt'ad the tape
dir« II)' to th e takc· .up ,·e('I. In thi ., 1..aS<" , lS<'t the AS S WI TCB @ to ·• OFF ".
2. STEREO PLAYBACK
Co n1 wc1 to AC 1:,o wer SO l•r Ce vsing th e a tta ched :\C CO RD .
A, Set the: POW ER SW ITCII @ to "ON ' ',
(H) S.,1 the TRA CK SELECT OR KNO B @ rn "STEREO".
(C) Sd('(;t th t' Wpe :speed as des ir ed.
•DJ S. t th e EQU ALIZER K:-108 @ tu 7- 1 2. 3-3 4 o ,· 1-%
{ s.: mu: as tlu ~ W()t' 11pee d i.
Aft er th t' abO\'e Ope ration. sc:1 a pre .r ecorded t ape to the recorder.
T he i\fodcl X- 1 000 d oe11 n Ol include 1 x,wcr amph ll cr nor l oud spcalct-rs. II ,
1h erc:fore, is nccess nrr w pro ,·idc an ex te rn al Merco amplifier nnd spc·akcrs
for MC'rcop honic sound r epr odu t 1i on.