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Author
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Topic: Bell & Howell Soundstar XJ Super 8 No Sound No Speed Control
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Sky Blackwell
Junior
Posts: 4
From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Registered: Sep 2016
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posted September 13, 2016 10:37 AM
Hey everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster...
I'm a huge vintage media nerd. Finally getting into projected film... exciting stuff!
My first projector to own of its type, a Bell & Howell Soundstar XJ is sick and needs help. It wont play sound and appears to play everything fast. None of the controls work correctly like volume, tone, 18/24 fps, record, etc...
If I turn it all the way up I can just barely hear the sound. The record light appears to be stuck on. What I think has happened is the record button mechanism has broke to stay in the 'on' position. I have tried different super 8 sound films, all with the same result...
I opened it up and cleaned it fairly well, dug out some old film that was stuck. All the belts look and feel good. The projector is in excellent condition.
So I guess, if correct, disconnecting or replacing the recording function might resolve this problem. I don't have a copy of the manual but I found a similar model online and it says, amongst other things, to make sure the microphone isn't plugged in if you are wanting to hear sound but cannot. Maybe there is something lodged in the microphone jacks as well? But would that explain why none of the other functions work like speed etc?
Any ideas? Thanks in advance...
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Sky Blackwell
Junior
Posts: 4
From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Registered: Sep 2016
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posted September 14, 2016 06:54 PM
Yeah, thanks gang. I already have another projector (Bauer T180) on its way soon... Working condition is unknown however and there are always shipping damages to be weary of. Fingers crossed all goes well. (I work in the parcel shipping business and all I can say is sorry when things do get damaged, I personally do my best to take care of all packages but am just one man;)
Frustrating because this Soundstar looks like it was hardly used and would have a lot of life left in her. The microphone was still unopened, the trimmer was included, all kept in the original foam & box... It's only eaten one leader so far, lol (could of been user error, I was holding the orange 'load?' button further down when I don't think it was necessary at the time) Also might should be noted it had a 125v fuse in it and it calls for a 250v fuse, I exchanged it out for the 250v but no difference...
Wonder if there is a way to just disconnect and or bypass the recording functions all together? Recording is least of my priorities at this time. Got it because of the variable speed control to be able to record/digitize film without the shutter/blink effect. It seems the T180 does not have the variable speed control but I couldn't pass it up as it seems to be a better made machine overall.
My dream projector(s) one that plays both Normal Regular 8 Sound & Super 8 Sound with variable speed control (or one sound projector of each format), 150w bulb... I know reg 8 sound film and projectors are more rare, but that's one reason why this hobby is so much fun for me.
I prob will keep the Soundstar as a back up at the very least or just to take over to friends etc. Just wont be putting any more Star Wars films in it in case she gets hungry again. But Bambi Falls In Love however... (fun film, I just have doubles, she can eat on the doubles)
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