March 21, 2005

Sometimes when I play back my mix tape, it sounds weird. It isn't distorted; it's that notes start "wavering." I've noticed that when I try to record, the tape starts moving out of place, as if it were a wheel that isn't a perfect circle. I'm using Maxell Type II tapes, and this has happened before. Another thing I've noticed, my deck seems to record fine on side A but not side B. Q: How can I fix these problems with cassette playback?

Cassette tape players are analog devices, like turntables, and require precision during recording and playback. As a result, back in the day when cassette tapes and LPs ruled, the "wow and flutter" specification, which refers to variations in speed, was pretty important.

Rick D.

A: If this is happening on more than one cassette tape, regardless of brand, then it's likely that something is out of alignment or is actually damaged inside your tape deck. This is causing the tape to not play back at the precise speed throughout -- that's likely the "wavering" you hear, similar to what you'd hear if you sped up and slowed down a turntable. I suspect if someone measured the wow and flutter on your deck right now, it would be pretty bad.

Depending on the cost of the tape deck, you might research getting it repaired by a qualified technician; alternatively, tape decks are pretty cheap and you might just want to buy a new one. As with many electronics products these days, buying new would likely cost you less than fixing your current unit.

...Doug Schneider