What is the 'TRICK' socket for? - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

DMcMahon · 18th Mar 2022, 10:08 pm

Yes certainly seems unusual to have a dedicated/separate input DIN socket for the source of the Sound on Sound/Superimposition/Overdubbing recording.

David

TIMTAPE · 19th Mar 2022, 2:32 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms660

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wishiknewmore

Thanks again for the further replies, Particularly to Lawrence for the comprehensive explanation and the link to the better schematic and to John116 for the manual link
Philip

No problem.

Here's the guff from an Optacord manual in German and translated to English using Google Translate:

"Tricktaste

Diase taste ermoglicht das Einblenden vor Erlauterungen und Studioefrekten in bereits bespielte Bander ohne deren Loschung"

"trick button

This button enables explanations and studio effects to be faded in to tapes that have already been recorded without deleting them"

Aka sound on sound.

Lawrence.

That is the short statement on page 4. Is anyone able to upload a translation of the longer paragraph (also entitled Tricktaste) on page 7?

ricard · 19th Mar 2022, 7:21 am

Stupid me, why didn't I attempt this before (brings back memories of having helped translate a tape recorder book from German a few years ago):

"Trick button

By pressing the trick button, which does not latch, additional text for enhancing an already recorded tape can be spoken, or studio effects mixed in. The volume of the recording on the tape will at the same time be reduced by half. The connection of the microphone in this case is done using the connector marked "Trick".

Adjustment of the recording level is done with the right hand knob. When doing "trick recordings" the two light fields on the recording level indicator should be about 1 cm from each other also during loud sounds."

So it seems that the "trick" connector actually is the microphone input used in this case. Strange. Well, looking at the schematics confirms this, the "Trick" and "Micro" connectors are side by side, and connect to the input of the EF86 when the appropriate switch is engaged. (Other connections made by the Trick button are supplying power to the EM84, and EC92 oscillator, as well as disconnecting the erase head and replacing it with a 2.2 kohm resistor to ground. I wonder if the Trick button can be used in some bizarre recording setup, where an ordinary recording is ongoing, and pressing "trick" lets the previous recording bleed through, while at the same time connecting a different microphone connected to the "trick " input. The schematics would allow this, but a mechanical interlock would have the final say).

I guess it's a classic example of German over engineering? Perhaps they want to emphasize that "trick" is different from an ordinary recording, which is driven home by the use of a separate connector?

TIMTAPE · 19th Mar 2022, 4:20 pm

Thanks for the translation skills Ricard.

18th Mar 2022, 10:08 pm	#21
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,607	Re: What is the 'TRICK' socket for? Yes certainly seems unusual to have a dedicated/separate input DIN socket for the source of the Sound on Sound/Superimposition/Overdubbing recording. David

19th Mar 2022, 7:21 am	#23
ricard Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 1,632	Re: What is the 'TRICK' socket for? Stupid me, why didn't I attempt this before (brings back memories of having helped translate a tape recorder book from German a few years ago): "Trick button By pressing the trick button, which does not latch, additional text for enhancing an already recorded tape can be spoken, or studio effects mixed in. The volume of the recording on the tape will at the same time be reduced by half. The connection of the microphone in this case is done using the connector marked "Trick". Adjustment of the recording level is done with the right hand knob. When doing "trick recordings" the two light fields on the recording level indicator should be about 1 cm from each other also during loud sounds." So it seems that the "trick" connector actually is the microphone input used in this case. Strange. Well, looking at the schematics confirms this, the "Trick" and "Micro" connectors are side by side, and connect to the input of the EF86 when the appropriate switch is engaged. (Other connections made by the Trick button are supplying power to the EM84, and EC92 oscillator, as well as disconnecting the erase head and replacing it with a 2.2 kohm resistor to ground. I wonder if the Trick button can be used in some bizarre recording setup, where an ordinary recording is ongoing, and pressing "trick" lets the previous recording bleed through, while at the same time connecting a different microphone connected to the "trick " input. The schematics would allow this, but a mechanical interlock would have the final say). I guess it's a classic example of German over engineering? Perhaps they want to emphasize that "trick" is different from an ordinary recording, which is driven home by the use of a separate connector? Last edited by ricard; 19th Mar 2022 at 7:27 am.

19th Mar 2022, 4:20 pm	#24
TIMTAPE Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,972	Re: What is the 'TRICK' socket for? Thanks for the translation skills Ricard.