Oberheim Matrix-12 - Causes of Cassette Errors; Selectable Transfer Speed

Causes of Cassette Errors
One other problem that cannot be listed by displaying an Error Message is if you
record the data at too low a volume or play it back at too low a volume. The result
would be no reaction or response from the MATRIX-12 at all. The displays will
remain dark and never change. The PAGE 2 LED will not flash either. The MATRIX-
12 cannot "hear" any of the data and, as a result, will continue to wait patiently.
You should recheck your connections.
In addition to the causes mentioned above, some of the more likely causes of
cassette errors are:
• The Leader Tone may not have played long enough. The MATRIX-12
will not respond at all unless it detects the Leader Tone before the data.
• The tape heads are dirty, out of alignment, or need to be
demagnitized.
• The tape quality is inferior or, when recording, was not biased for the
cassette machine that you are using.
• The connecting cables between the MATRIX-12 and your tape
recorder are the wrong type, broken, not pushed in the jacks all the way, or
the connections are reversed.
Please bear in mind that cassette interfacing requires a lot of patience and
experimentation. But once you've found the right settings for your recorder,
the cassette function will prove to be very reliable.
Other Items of Interest....
SELECTABLE TRANSFER SPEED
The Matrix-12's tape data storage system has a selectable baud rate -
the rate at which the data is transferred, expressed in Bits-per-Second.
You can record data at a higher rate that reduces the transfer time by
approximately 33%.
To set the Matrix-12 to the higher rate, hold the V key (in the X SELECT
section above the Page Modifier) while pressing TO CASS.
During CHECK or PLAY modes, the interface adjusts itself to the speed of
the tape being played.
Although a convenient feature, the Selectable Transfer Speed function
may have limitations, however. Certain tape/cassette machine
combinations may be questionable, and this feature may be less reliable
than normal speed transfers. Thus, the faster transfer rate should not be
used for longterm archiving or critcal backups.
Matrix-12 Owner's Manual 79