demonstration of SLHF-400 Betamax unit with wow and flutter issue

[manyvideoinerests]

Hi, I think that tyhe SLHF-2000 was the machine in 1993 that came out? I have heard a lot of thigns about the 2100 that came out in 91. I'm actually looking to sell Beta Camcorder. Send private message if you are interested. Also, I am looking for a camera to connect to the 2000 and the battery pack for it.

[Watcher3223]

The chassis used for your particular Betamax only used one belt, and it drives the loading carriage via a cogged polystyrene belt. The idler mechanism driving the reels had its own motor, which was brushless and slotless.

[Watcher3223]

I had an SL-100 that did the same thing. Cleaning and re-oiling the bearings for the idler pendulum on the reel table assembly resolved it. However, this may or may not be the cause with your SL-HF400.

Another possibility could be unwanted tape skew across the A/C headstack, which could be keeping the headstack from properly registering the control track. Two possibilities: worn pinch roller and/or dirty capstan (which also may mean a dirty tape path).

[classicman1664]

Please reshoot this as the quality of filming is AWFUL and very frustrating!

[MRLOL785]

I found one in my garage. It's been there 7 years and still works! A very good model imo.

[manyvideoinerests]

Ye it is excpt the wow and flutter issue. Have you used your's lately? I'd like to et to the bottom of the isue i I can.

[MRLOL785]

Uh......no. It hasn't been used in 3-7 years. I have no tapes as of now. The line in and out, display, clock still work. Can you tell me how to set the clock/timer.I don't have the remote and when I hit the clock button, it either goes to the tape counter or the clock. It's pulling that classic blinking 12:00 sign sh*t!

[manyvideoinerests]

What buttom are you pressing and in what compartment? I know one of the buttons you press it will sitch to the tape counter. WHere are you referring to? I know there i the lower compartment on tht unit with the flipper door on the bottom, and the buttons on the top you have to remove the cover for.

[MRLOL785]

The clock/counter button below the screen. I also tried pressing the ch+and ch- buttons while holding the clock counter button down.

[manyvideoinerests]

Try the buttons in either of the ompartments on the top or in the little compartment on the bottom.

[MRLOL785]

THNX!

[Teraforce88]

How to set the clock (from the SL-HF600 manual; assuming that the method used is the same as for the SL-HF400):

1. Press CLOCK. Set the day with the + or - button.

2. Press NEXT. Set hours with the + or - button.

3. Press NEXT. Set minutes with the + or - button.

4. For accurate setting, press NEXT at the same time with an announced time signal.

The clock will now show the current time.

Hope this helps!

[MRLOL785]

@Teraforce88 don't worry I got it. Once you start using it, the quality becomes better and tracking is now flawless. I used it to convert some old beta tapes, and it's really nice!

[manyvideoinerests]

Hieveryone, does anyone know how to remody the issue with wo and flutter? I've not had the chance to log on here or to use Betamax as Iv'e been busy myself like in the video!

[MRLOL785]

@manyvideoinerests try adjusting the tracking

[manyvideoinerests]

I've done that and have noticed that different tapes have required different tracking adjustments. Is this normal? I don't have that issue with the 2000.

[MRLOL785]

@manyvideoinerests yeah. The 2000, i believe, has auto-tracking. All VCR's of all formats are different just a bit, but enough to cause errors in playback of other machines, so tracking evens it out.

[manyvideoinerests]

Well, the 400 seems to have the worst problem with it. Also, anyone know of an instance where a tape actually has problems with playing back regardless of what the tracking is? I have had that problem with one tape.

[Watcher3223]

@MRLOL785

"yeah. The 2000"

Specifically, the SL-HF2000, which is a basic SuperBeta hi-fi unit from the early 1990s.

The SL-2000 was a high end top-loading portable monaural Betamax.

[MRLOL785]

@Watcher3223 I meant the SL-HF2000. The SL2000 was made before Hitachi invented auto-tracking.

[MRLOL785]

The onl problems I've had with mine so far are the belts are crapping out and the record quality is pretty low with lots of grain and bad tracking on X3.

[manyvideoinerests]

I don't know if belts are an issue with mine, but I'd sure like to get to the bottom of the wow and fluter isue with audio. It is a great unit.