VR T560 mono/stereo problem

[daniel-RPM]

dear lathetrolls!

hello! my first post...

we started setting up a Vinylrecorder T560 which has been collecting dust in our basement the last few years.
after various adjustments we relatively quickly managed to make a good-sounding cut.

however, it seems we are only getting a mono-signal, or somewhat of a stereo-signal but with the channels heavily bleeding into each other, resulting in almost-mono. i think we went through all cable-connections, try to bypass what is possible of souri’s parts in the chain, but just couldn’t figure out what we are doing or wrong, or what part of the equipment could be broken. i know it’s a long shot asking for help online in cases like this, but maybe someone instantly recognizes something based on the photos below? i know that's not much to get clues from...

we spend especially quite some time with those weird construction souri did with the cables at the mixer, try figuring out what they are and how to plug them correctly. does someone know what those are about and why it was done like that?

many thanks in advance. we are looking forward to become a part of this group and maybe at some point will be able to help out ourselves.

cheers!

daniel

[spinnertownblanks]

Hi!

Yes there is lots of crossfeed at times from that mixer.

Have you tired bypassing the mixer entirely? Ideally you bypass all of the original electronics.

Try this routing

Audio player
Main Unit
Cutter amp

[SueDenim]

This probably won't solve your 'mono' problem, but I'd double check that you have the DIN cables from the head plugged in the correct way round.
It all depends on your set up of course, but they usually cross over.

[mushroomjesus]

if you use the main unit for IRIAA the main unit will reduce the stereo image slightly.

if you use the optimizer it will also reduce the stereo image slightly.


Also check the optimizer is not in mono. the optimizer has some width control. but I find the optimizer is reducing stereo width too much even with the knob fully turned to stereo.


all of souris outboard will somewhat degrade that stereo image . I have removed all of souris racks in my setup.


what I did I was I sent audio into each single one of Souris gear into my daw to test how his gear affects my stereo image, noise floor, ect.


I found the main unit buzzes with white noise because the pitch and heat is tied into the same power supply of the main unit outputs. I bypass all racks and send audio directly from my daw to my cutter head amp. all width is adjusted in the daw.


I also think cutting in general will reduce width, sometimes adding a stereo widening plugins can help in some situations.


problem I see the most is bands will send audio that has stereo elements but the music is not true stereo.

example a mono song with stereo reverb. basically the music is mono with a stereo reverb on the vocal vs panning drums in the left completely and panning the vocal right completely . stereo vs true stereo.

why add vertical moment when its silly like vocal only stereo reverb. id say 90% of the time its poor recording mixing and mastering that I arrive at a mono record or reduced width because of lack of recording techniques between amateur recordings.

[daniel-RPM]

thanks for all the replies so far, much appreciated!
we will do some more troubleshooting after the weekend and then report back!

[trailerparkjesus]

I'd double check your playback chain too if you haven't already. Interface software could be set to dual mono instead of stereo linked outputs, it happens with our interface if you don't put your outputs to DAW through. Bypassing Souris stuff is a big improvement. If you did any DAW eq matching... that could have changed your stereo image too.