Fostex X-12 owner manual Troubleshooting, Maintenance

		Model X-12 Owner's Manual
Troubleshooting
	Symptom	Check Point	Corrective Action
	The power is not turned on		Check the connection at the AC outlet and
	when you press the power	Is the AC adaptor plugged in securely?
			the [DC IN] jack of the X-12.
	switch on.
		Is the head dirty?	Clean the head.
	Sound flutters or skips.
		Are you using a type of tape other than high	Use a high-position tape.
		position?
	The sound distorted or	Is the level appropriate for the input signal?	Use the [LINE-MIC] knob to set the optimum
	clipping.		level.
	The [REC] button is not	Is the write-protection tab on the cassette	Place a strip of scotch tape over the broken
	pushed in.	tape broken?	tab.
	The sound cannot be heard	Is the [LINE OUT/PHONES] knob turned	Turn the [LINE OUT/PHONES] knob.
	through the headphones.	up?
	You cannot record to a	Is the [REC TRACK] selector set correctly?	Set the [REC TRACK] selector repeatedly
			until the desired track is selected.
	desired track.

Maintenance

* Cleaning the exterior

For normal cleaning, use a dry cloth.

For stubborn dirt, moisten a cloth in diluted detergent, wring it out firmly, and wipe the dirt off. Then polish with a dry cloth.

Never use solvents such as alcohol, thinner or benzene, since these will damage the printing and finish of the exterior.

or even damage the tape by pulling it out of the cassette. Since cassette tape is very thin, it is especially dangerous to use a cassette deck with dirty pinch rollers. As with the head, it is important to always keep these parts clean. Clean them using a cotton swab or gauze soaked in cleaning solution or isopropyl alcohol. Never use organic solvents such as lacquer thinner, since this will severely damage the pinch rollers.

* Cleaning the head

As the X-12 is used, the record/playback head will become coated with oxide residue from the tapes. If this residue is allowed to build up, recordings will contain more noise, and dropouts may occur during playback.

To prevent this, regular cleaning is important. Use a commercially available cleaning kit etc. to clean the head. If cleaning the head does not restore the sound quality, it is possible that the head is worn. Contact an authorized Fostex service station for repair.

* Cleaning the pinch roller and capstan

The capstan and pinch roller are important parts that hold the tape and move it along at the correct speed. As with the head, these parts can also become dirty with oxide residue and dust, which will cause increased wow or flutter,

* Demagnetizing the head

After long periods of use, the head begins to develop a magnetic field in addition to the oxide residue described above. This can also occur if a magnet or a magnetized object (scissors, etc.) is allowed to come near the head or touch it. If the head or capstans become magnetized, frequency response will be degraded and noise will increase.

In extreme cases, noise can be created on previously recorded tapes that you playback, rendering them useless. Once a month or so, you should use a demagnetizer (head eraser) to demagnetize the head. Carefully read and follow the instructions included with your demagnetizer, and do not allow it to come near recorded tapes.

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