Operation

This section of the manual provides a description of all operating controls and indicators and their use in operating the system, and step-by-step operating procedures for the various modes of operation.

III-1. CONTROLS AND INDICATORS↑ TOP

Table III-1 shows the location and function of each control and indicator on the tape transport and control panel.

Table III-1. Tape Transport Controls and Indicators

⤢ zoomTape transport and control panel photographed head-on with reels removed, numbered leader lines 1 through 15 pointing to each control and indicator

Index No.	Name	Function
1	POWER pushbutton switch	In depressed position, power is applied to entire equipment and VU meter illuminates.
2	CUE lever	In up position, system operates normally. In fast forward and rewind modes, moving lever downward enables variable control of tape lifter to permit audio monitoring. Lever locks in full down position.
3	Reel Rotation Counter	Four-digit counter used to locate or log program material on tape. Pushbutton resets counter to "0000".
4	Reproduce Head Selector Switch	Used to select appropriate reproduce head stack to conform with the kind of tape to be reproduced. (Note: Only applicable for MX-5050-2S, -4S and Full)
5	F. FWD pushbutton switch	Used to select fast forward mode to run the tape from left to right at high speed. Mode may be entered from any other mode except edit mode.
6	REWIND pushbutton switch	Used to select rewind mode to run the tape from right to left at high speed. Mode may be entered from any other mode except edit mode.
7	STOP pushbutton switch	Used to stop tape transport and cancel existing mode of operation.
8	PLAY pushbutton switch	Used to select play mode or used with RECORD pushbutton switch. Pressing PLAY pushbutton during fast forward or rewind modes stops the tape then automatically starts play mode.
9	RECORD pushbutton switch	Used in conjunction with PLAY and RECORD channel selector. With desired channel pushbutton switches depressed, either being in play mode or simultaneously pressing PLAY and RECORD pushbutton initiates record mode and red indicator illuminates.
10	RECORD indicator (red)	Lights when record mode is selected.
11	EDIT pushbutton switch	Used to initiate edit mode for aid in cutting out unwanted tape. When EDIT pushbutton is depressed, the green indicator illuminates, then PLAY pushbutton, when activates [sic] to remove power to takeup reel, causing tape to be spilled at takeup side of transport. Other operations are always stopped.
12	EDIT indicator (green)	Lights when EDIT pushbutton is depressed.
13	Large/Small REEL pushbutton switch	Alternate action pushbutton switch used to select supply and takeup-reel tape tension for large or small reel-diameter hubs. Pushbutton to "in" Small position for reels EIA bubs [sic] (2¼ inch diameter hub) Push button to "out" Large position for NAB hubs (4½ inch diameter hub) (SAME SIZE REELS SHOULD BE USED ON BOTH TURN-TABLES.)
14	HI/LO SPEED pushbutton switch	Alternate action pushbutton switch used to select operating speed. On low speed MX-5050 models, push button to "in" LO speed position for 3¾ in/sec and to "out" HI speed position for 7½ in/sec operation. On high speed MX-5050 models, push button to "in" LO speed position for 7½ in/sec and to "out" HI speed position for 15 in/sec operation.
15	PITCH CONTROL (D-type only)	Used to control speed of tape motion. Capstan speed can be controled [sic] within ± 7%. When PITCH CONTROL knob is pulled out and turned clockwise, capstan speed rises. When turned counterclockwise, capstan speed falls. In original position, capstan turns with the original speed set by SPEED select pushbutton switch independently of the indicated dial position of the PITCH CONTROL. In record mode, capstan speed is locked automatically to original tape speed and cannot be varied by the PITCH CONTROL.

Table III-2 shows the location and function of each control and indicator on the record/reproduce electronics control panel.

Table III-2. Record/Reproduce Electronics Controls and Indicators

⤢ zoomRecord/reproduce electronics control panels for channels 1 and 2, with a third annotated panel view below carrying numbered leader lines 1 through 12 pointing to each control and indicator

Index No.	Name	Function
1	LINE/MIC INPUT level controls	Used to control recording level input of line (outside knob) and microphone (inside knob) of related channel. Both levels can be mixed.
2	VU Meter	Indicates record and playback level of related channel depending on mode of operation and position of MONITOR SOURCE/TAPE switch (Index No.12 of this table). Meter lights when recorder is turned on.
3	LINE OUTPUT level controls	Used to control output level of related channel. (Control is deactivated when SRL switch is "SRL" position.)
4	SRL switch and indicator (red)	Use [sic] to fix output level at desired level. Output level is pre-adjusted to gain specified output level (+4 dBm or −10 dBm) when SRL of NAB standard tape is reproduced. (At that time VU meter indicates 0 VU.) Note: If you desire to obtain same output level (+4 dBm or −10 dBm) in other standard such as CCIR or IEC standard, please refer to Section IV-3-(1). + CAUTION + DO NOT TURN OFF THIS SWITCH UNLESS YOU TURN LINE OUTPUT LEVEL CONTROLS (INDEX NO.3 OF THIS TABLE) DOWN TO THE MINIMUM LEVEL WHILE OUTPUT SIGNAL IS CONNECTED TO OTHER EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT POSSIBLE DAMAGE.
5	RECORD selector switch and indicator (red)	Used to select a desirable channel for recording and used in conjuction [sic] with PLAY and RECORD pushbutton switches (Index Nos. 8, 9 of Table III-1). In "out" position prevents activation of the channel record mode. In "in" position enables the channel record mode to be entered and red indicator is illuminated.
6	SEL/REP selector switch and indicator (green)	In SEL REP (selective reproduction) "out" position, signal on tape is reproduced normally. In SEL/REP "in" position, green indicator is illuminated and signal on tape is reproduced by record head (rather than reproduce head) to permit recording on the other channel(s) in synchronism with the channel. Used for sound with sound recording.
7	BIAS/CAL adjustment Control	Used to adjust amplitude of bias current according to the tape to use. Used in conjunction with TEST OSC (Index No.11 of this table).
8	REC/EQ adjustment control	Used to adjust record equalization of related channel and speed mode (HI or LO).
9	SRL/CAL adjustment control	Used to calibrate to obtain SRL (standard reference level). Used in conjuction [sic] with SRL switch (Index No.4 of this table) and LINE OUTPUT LEVEL selector switch (Index No.7 [sic] of Table II-1).
10	PHONE Jack	Receptacle for headphone jack. Used to monitor input or output signal as selected by the MONITOR SOURCE/TAPE selector switch (Index No.12 of this table). (Output is −24 dBm, unbalanced, and for 8-ohm impedance load.)
11	TEST OSC pushbutton switch	When held pressed, a 1.0 kHz test tone is generated and fed to the line input circuit. Used for cue tone recording and BIAS/CAL adjustment (Index No.7 of this table).
12	MONITOR SOURCE/TAPE switch	In "out" SOURCE position, input signal is fed to LINE OUT connector, PHONE jack, and VU meter. In "in" TAPE position, signal being reproduced is fed to LINE OUT connector, PHONE jack, and VU meter.

III-2. OPERATING INFORMATION↑ TOP

III-2-(1) PRE-OPERATING PROCEDURE↑ TOP

After the equipment has been installed as described in Section II of the manual and the operator has become familiar with all the operating controls and indicators described in Tables III-1 and III-2, prepare the recorder for operation as follows:

1. Depress POWER switch to on position. VU meter lights will illuminate.
2. If metal reels are to be used, use a reel-adjusting disc (shim) between the reel and the turn table. Place a reel of tape on the supply (left-hand) turn table. Note that the reel must turn counter-clockwise as tape is pulled off the reel. Place same-size empty reel on the takeup (right-hand) turn table.
3. Thread tape as shown in Fig.III-1 and place the end of the tape in the slot in the empty reel. Wind the reel counterclockwise three to four turns to remove slack and operate the tension-arm safety switch.
4. Set HI/LO SPEED switch to desired tape speed.
5. Set the L/S REEL switch to conform to the size of the reel hub diameters being used. Place switch to the "out" LRG position for NAB hubs (4½ inch diameter) or to the "in" SML position for EIA hubs (2¼ inch diameter).
6. Set reproduce head selector switch (Index No.4 of Table III-1) to the appropriate position as determined by the track format of tape to be reproduced. (Note: This step does not apply to MX-5050-QX and -FL.)
7. If desired, connect an 8-ohm headset or monitor speaker/amplifier to the PHONE jack.

⤢ zoomLine drawing of an MX-5050 recorder with two tape reels mounted, arrows tracing the tape path from the supply reel down across the head assembly and capstan to the takeup reel, labeled TAPE

Fig. III-1 Tape Threading

III-2-(2) REPRODUCTION↑ TOP

To reproduce a tape, proceed as follows:

1. Perform all steps of the pre-operating procedure.
2. Set the channel RECORD selector switch(es) to the "out" position.
3. Set the reproduce head selector switch to the appropriate position. (Note: This step does not apply to MX-5050-QX.)
4. Set the channel MONITOR selector switches to the MONITOR TAPE "in" position.
5. Press PLAY pushbutton to begin reproducing of the pre-recorded tape.
6. Adjust the channel OUTPUT level control(s) for the desired output level.
7. When desired program has been reproduced, press STOP pushbutton to stop tape motion and deactivate play mode.

III-2-(3) NORMAL RECORDING↑ TOP

To make a normal recording, proceed as follows:

1. Perform all steps of the pre-operating procedure.
2. Set the desired RECORD selector switch to the "in" position for channel(s) selected for recording. The associated red indicator will illuminate to indicate the selected channel(s). Set the switch to the "out" position for channel(s) not to be recorded.
3. Set the desired MONITOR SOURCE/TAPE switch to the "out" SOURCE position.
4. Adjust desired LINE/MIC INPUT level control(s) so that VU meter indicates 0 for most audio peaks.
5. Push reel-rotation-counter pushbutton to reset counter to 0000.
6. Press Play and RECORD pushbuttons simultaneously to start recording on the selected channel(s). The tape transport RECORD indicator will illuminate.
7. While recording, the input signal of each channel can be compared with the reproduced signal of each channel by pressing the MONITOR SOURCE/TAPE switch to the "in" TAPE position.
8. When recording is complete, press PLAY puchbutton [sic] for play mode (Called punch out) or PRESS STOP pushbutton to stop tape motion and deacitivate [sic] record mode.

III-2-(4) RECORDING WITH SELECTIVE REPRODUCTION↑ TOP

The selective reproduction function causes the reproduced audio to be derived from the record head rather than reproduce head. This enables a recording to be made on another channel in synchronism (in phase) with the channel being reproduced. To record with selective reproduction, proceed as follows:

1. Perform all steps of the pre-operating procedures.
2. Perform all steps of the Normal Recording procedure for the channel to be prerecorded.
3. Rewind the tape to the point where the selective reproduction is to start.
4. Set the selective reproduction (SEL/REP) switch to the "in" position corresponding to the channel to be monitored while the recording is being made.
5. Set the RECORD selector switch to the "in" position corresponding to the channel to be recorded.
6. Set the MONITOR selector switch to TAPE "out" position corresponding to the channel being monitored.
7. Set the MONITOR selector switch to SOURCE "in" position corresponding to the channel to be recorded.
8. Adjust the LINE/MIC INPUT level control so that VU meter indicates 0 for most audio peaks.
9. Press PLAY pushbutton to start tape motion, then press PLAY and RECORD pushbuttons simultaneously to start recording on the selected channel(s).
10. When recording is complete, press STOP pushbutton to stop tape motion and deacitivate [sic] record mode.

III-2-(5) FAST WINDING↑ TOP

For fast-winding operations, and for editing or cueing, press the F. FWD or REWIND pushbutton as desired. These pushbuttons can be pressed alternately without having to press STOP between fast-winding operations. These modes may be entered from any other mode except edit mode. Pressing PLAY during a fast-winding mode causes the tape to automatically come to a stop and then enter play mode.

In a fast-winding mode, tape lifters are automatically actuated to lift the tape away from the heads. To monitor the tape in a fast-winding mode, the position of the tape lifters can be varied by operation of the CUE lever. Thus the distance of the tape from the heads may be varied to control the signal level from the tape.

III-2-(6) EDITING AND SPLICING TAPE↑ TOP

For editing and splicing operations, the CUE lever can be used in fast-winding modes to quickly locate desired program material. In addition, there is a EDIT [sic] mode of operation as follows:

Depress EDIT pushbutton in play or record mode removes power to the takeup reel thus causing tape to be spilled at the takeup side of the transport. This mode is used for aid in cutting out unwanted tape.

Edit mode can also be entered from stop mode by pressing PLAY while EDIT pushbutton is in depressed position.

A tape-splicing block (Fig. III-2) mounted on the head cover can be used to hold the tape for ease of cutting the tape with a single-edge razor blade and application of splicing tape.

Use splicing tape 7/32-in wide (3M Co., No.41) and do not use cellopharie [sic] tape.

The tape splicing block has the following features:

⤢ zoomDiagram of the tape-splicing block: a straight channel with a diagonal 45-degree cutting guide, a vertical 90-degree cutting guide near one end, head-stack indicator marks along the top, and calibration marks along the length of the channel, numbered 1 through 5

Fig. III-2 Tape-splicing blcok [sic]

1 Head-stack indicator marks:	Indicates location of the individual head stacks.
2 Tape-guide channel:	Holds the tape for ease of cutting and splicing.
3 45° cutting guide:	Used to guide tape cutter for a diagonal cut.
4 90° cutting guide:	Used to guide tape cutter for a vertical cut.
5 Tape length calibration marks:	Used to locate where a splice should be made.

For exact location of the point for tape cutting during editing, the distance from the right or left hand calibration marks to the 90° cutting guide is the same as the distance from the right or left hand assembly tape guide to the center of the reproduce head.