Operating instructions

4. Pull about 120 cm (4') of tape from the reel and thread along the tape
path shown in Figure 4-1 (also imprinted on the MTR-90III deck plate
near the transport buttons). Wind the tape 2 or 3 time around the empty
reel, make sure the tape does not slip and is wound firmly. Do not fold
the end of the tape as the bump created will disrupt the constant servo
tension and create unnecessary swing arm jitter (vibration).
5. Turn both reels in the direction shown by the arrows in Figure 4-1 to
tighten the tape. This will cause the swing arms to retract fully and
"click" into place. Both green LEDs on the REEL CONTROL PCB
Assembly (board #1 in the lower card cage) illuminate.
CAUTION! Hold the reels by the edge of the flange so if the reel motors
should be actuated, the reel can be released without risk to fingers or hands.
6. Press the STOP button. The STOP will be more brightly illuminated than
all the other tape motion push buttons, and both swing arms should
move to approximately mid-position (centered). The reel servos are now
activated, and the tape is under constant tension.
4.2.2 Recording Initial Tracks
1. Thread a blank tape on the transport (§ 4.2.1).
2. Select the desired Tape Speed, HI or LOW. Unless there is some special
application, use the FIX SPEED MODE setting.
3. Reset the Tape Time Counter by pressing the RESET button on the
MTR-90III.
4. Apply a test signal to those inputs to the MTR-90III corresponding to the
tracks to be recorded.
5. On the Remote Control Unit press the ALL INPUT button.
6. On the Remote Control Unit disengage the ALL SAFE switch (adjacent
indicator off) and move the READY/SAFE switches to the READY
position for those channels to be recorded. The indicators for those
channels will flash.
7. Adjust the mixing console buss levels so that the MTR-90III meters are
peaking no higher than between -3 and 0 VU.
NOTE: Monitor the output of the MTR-90III (which is the same as the input)
rather than the buss output of the mixing console.
8. It is good practice to record reference tones at the head of every session
tape for level matching later. Use 700 (or 1 kHz), 100 Hz, and 10 kHz
tones at 0 VU reference level. The tones should not be noise reduction
encoded even if a noise reduction system is being used.
9. When ready to record, press the PLAY and RECORD buttons on the
MTR-90III or the Remote Control Unit. The Ready/Safe indicators will
stop flashing and remain illuminated indicating the selected tracks are
recording.
10. To cease recording on all channels, press the STOP button to stop all
tape motion, or the PLAY button to remove the channels from Record
mode and continue in Play mode. To cease recording on only certain
channels and continue recording on others, move the corresponding
READY/SAFE levers to the Safe position.
Section 4 Operation
4 - 4
October 1990
MTR-90III Operation and Maintenance Manual