Yeah! Mods on these devices is super interesting. There is some info around, but sometimes not properly documented, and a lot of people discouraging trying them out... thanks!
Hell ya, good to see you're getting into mods! I've been toying around with adding a built in spring reverb in the effects loop. Or even just sticking a pedal design and wiring it to the 12v power
This is great! Seems like the most straight forward example I have seen of someone making this mod. A lot more straight forward looking than others would have you believe! Making me think I need to track down a Porta 02 Mk II.
Third time now I have looked for some help online and you have been right there with the answers and much more in a very well presented, easy to follow tutorial! CHEERS!
@@Tetrakan Question: If I wanted to install a switch that basically worked like a 1/2 Speed switch on a C-1 to drop the speed down by half... would I install this in the same way/place as this potentiometer? I do a lot of work with the Library of Congress decks when I play live and I love that speed control switch that goes from 1 7/8 down to 15/16. Would love to have that option on my Porta02s, as well!
Thanks for the video! I gave this a try today. I didn't have a 500 ohm pot either, so I wired things up the same as you did with a 1k resistor. I tested the resistance and received the same values as you. It worked great once. When I turned off the machine and turned it back on again, the transport would no longer do anything when "play" or "rewind" were pressed. If I take the pot back out of the wiring, transport works just fine. I'm stumped on why this is the case. Update: Still don't get why the pot isn't working since the resistance values are good, but I replaced with a different pot and all is good now.
Hi, that does sound odd., Especially it effecting rewind but not fast forward...I can only suggest the way you had the first pot mounted it shorted out against an electrical contact on the motor or the transport, but the new pot is not causing that problem?
@@Tetrakan Thanks for the line! I should have been more specific and said that it affected all transport controls. I went back through this last night and there was slightly less resistance when the pot was all the way open on the one that worked. The bands are also in bad shape and I think there might be just enough additional resistance on the pot that didn't work to keep it from spinning up the motor. Ordered some new belts today. Your channel is a gold mine for people who want to get into tape. I feel like a kid again working with it. Thanks again!
Actually, I do believe I found it! Put a switch across both sides of R47 on the Control A board. Now as I go through my boxes of old tapes it doesn't matter if they're 2 or 8 track, I can just dump them into the DAW (thanks to the direct outs I just put in). Yay! Wouldn't have gotten this far without your vids, bro, thanks a million.
I have a Tascam Porta Two that already has varispeed, but the machine is the High Speed version, so I want to slow it down to standard speed to play cassettes off the shelf, but still keep the HS effect for recording. Do you know of any good resources out there that can explain doing this type of mod? I can only find motor starve videos for players that don't have any speed control.
I’ve demonstrated that sort of modification ( lower speed of 4.8 cm/s from 3200 rpm motor) on Patreon on models including 244 and 414, the same principles should work on the porta two hs.
If I add this mod will I still be able to achieve the standard tape speed of the Porto02 or will the pitch always be slightly off? Interested but I also use the Porto02 for making mixtapes (which it is excellent at) and don't want to mess up it's more utilitarian features.
@@Tetrakan Right on, thanks for the reply. I might try it and if it doesn't work ,I can always just take the pot out and re-solder it back the way it was. Thanks!
I'm really enjoying your videos! I have a little soldering experience, but I wouldn't want to jump into modding a piece of gear - any recommendations on how to get started?
If you use guitar or synths a guitar pedal kit might be a good place to build your confidence and skill. I'd start with something like a fuzz which uses very few components. I don't know where you're located but in the UK fuzzdog make great kits, and they're a fraction of the price of boss pedals and the like.
Hello sir, thanks for the video i am no electrician and do not have any experience with them but still i tried doing this mod and the potentiometer works as a on off switch it doesnt really slow down the speed, it has jus 0 and 1 funtion could you please help understand how to make it working like you have?
Hard to say eithout seeing photos but two possibilities occur to me - maybe you used a higher value of potentiometer than I did? Or maybe you installed the potentiometer on the black ground wire? ( it should be on the red 22v cable)
Same issue here. Did you wired a 1k resistor on a 1k pot as shown in this video or do you added a 500 ohm pot? It's worth to mention that my porta02 model has a ceramic capacitor jumping from the + - terminals of the engine (unlike the one in the video)
I think capacitors accross the voltage inputs are there to smooth the DC power, so the absence or presence of such a capacitor should not effect the modification.
@@Tetrakan Thinking of picking up a porta 02 at some point in the near future, no electronics experience so would also be interested in hiring you to do the mod. I'm based in the borders.
Yeah! Mods on these devices is super interesting. There is some info around, but sometimes not properly documented, and a lot of people discouraging trying them out... thanks!
what a nice little mod !!
Thank you for the video !
Hell ya, good to see you're getting into mods!
I've been toying around with adding a built in spring reverb in the effects loop. Or even just sticking a pedal design and wiring it to the 12v power
This is great! Seems like the most straight forward example I have seen of someone making this mod. A lot more straight forward looking than others would have you believe! Making me think I need to track down a Porta 02 Mk II.
Third time now I have looked for some help online and you have been right there with the answers and much more in a very well presented, easy to follow tutorial! CHEERS!
Glad to help, have fun!
@@Tetrakan Question: If I wanted to install a switch that basically worked like a 1/2 Speed switch on a C-1 to drop the speed down by half... would I install this in the same way/place as this potentiometer?
I do a lot of work with the Library of Congress decks when I play live and I love that speed control switch that goes from 1 7/8 down to 15/16. Would love to have that option on my Porta02s, as well!
As usual a practical and educational video, many thanks Tetrakan.
just did this, works great! thank's for the vid
Thanks for the video! I gave this a try today. I didn't have a 500 ohm pot either, so I wired things up the same as you did with a 1k resistor. I tested the resistance and received the same values as you. It worked great once. When I turned off the machine and turned it back on again, the transport would no longer do anything when "play" or "rewind" were pressed. If I take the pot back out of the wiring, transport works just fine. I'm stumped on why this is the case.
Update: Still don't get why the pot isn't working since the resistance values are good, but I replaced with a different pot and all is good now.
Hi, that does sound odd., Especially it effecting rewind but not fast forward...I can only suggest the way you had the first pot mounted it shorted out against an electrical contact on the motor or the transport, but the new pot is not causing that problem?
@@Tetrakan Thanks for the line! I should have been more specific and said that it affected all transport controls. I went back through this last night and there was slightly less resistance when the pot was all the way open on the one that worked. The bands are also in bad shape and I think there might be just enough additional resistance on the pot that didn't work to keep it from spinning up the motor. Ordered some new belts today.
Your channel is a gold mine for people who want to get into tape. I feel like a kid again working with it. Thanks again!
just modded my porta03! works great with a 500 ohm potentiometer.
Nice!
Very cool! Have you tried this with a 488? I'm just trying to play it at half speed for normal cassettes, although that 'tape off' effect is killer!!
Actually, I do believe I found it! Put a switch across both sides of R47 on the Control A board. Now as I go through my boxes of old tapes it doesn't matter if they're 2 or 8 track, I can just dump them into the DAW (thanks to the direct outs I just put in). Yay! Wouldn't have gotten this far without your vids, bro, thanks a million.
thanks for this!
I have a Tascam Porta Two that already has varispeed, but the machine is the High Speed version, so I want to slow it down to standard speed to play cassettes off the shelf, but still keep the HS effect for recording. Do you know of any good resources out there that can explain doing this type of mod? I can only find motor starve videos for players that don't have any speed control.
I’ve demonstrated that sort of modification ( lower speed of 4.8 cm/s from 3200 rpm motor) on Patreon on models including 244 and 414, the same principles should work on the porta two hs.
Would this work on a porta ministudio 7?
If I add this mod will I still be able to achieve the standard tape speed of the Porto02 or will the pitch always be slightly off? Interested but I also use the Porto02 for making mixtapes (which it is excellent at) and don't want to mess up it's more utilitarian features.
I was wondering if this mod would also work on a Tascam 424 MKIII?
I'm not sure. The Mk 3 has 4 inputs to the motor board not 2, so maybe not. I'm 95 percent sure it wouldn't do any harm to try!?
@@Tetrakan Right on, thanks for the reply. I might try it and if it doesn't work ,I can always just take the pot out and re-solder it back the way it was. Thanks!
I'm really enjoying your videos! I have a little soldering experience, but I wouldn't want to jump into modding a piece of gear - any recommendations on how to get started?
If you use guitar or synths a guitar pedal kit might be a good place to build your confidence and skill. I'd start with something like a fuzz which uses very few components. I don't know where you're located but in the UK fuzzdog make great kits, and they're a fraction of the price of boss pedals and the like.
@@Tetrakan thanks!
Hello sir, thanks for the video i am no electrician and do not have any experience with them but still i tried doing this mod and the potentiometer works as a on off switch it doesnt really slow down the speed, it has jus 0 and 1 funtion could you please help understand how to make it working like you have?
Hard to say eithout seeing photos but two possibilities occur to me - maybe you used a higher value of potentiometer than I did? Or maybe you installed the potentiometer on the black ground wire? ( it should be on the red 22v cable)
Same issue here. Did you wired a 1k resistor on a 1k pot as shown in this video or do you added a 500 ohm pot? It's worth to mention that my porta02 model has a ceramic capacitor jumping from the + - terminals of the engine (unlike the one in the video)
I think capacitors accross the voltage inputs are there to smooth the DC power, so the absence or presence of such a capacitor should not effect the modification.
Did you happen to figure this out? I'm currently in the same situation@@maurodiciocia2850
Was this resolved? I'm having the same problem. Thanks
hey man, is there any way i could pay you to do this to my porta 02 mk2?
Where are you based?
@@Tetrakan edinburgh
That could work. Message me on Facebook or Instagram to discuss?
@@Tetrakan Thinking of picking up a porta 02 at some point in the near future, no electronics experience so would also be interested in hiring you to do the mod. I'm based in the borders.
Don't work on mine :(