8mm Forum: Bell & Howell Soundstar XJ Super 8 No Sound No Speed Control

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Posted by Sky Blackwell (Member # 5565) on 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...

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on September 13, 2016, 02:13 PM:

From what I see here http://alphasensory.com/Skatetown/B&H_SoundstarXJ_Projector.html , the projector has a variable speed control knob. Are you sure it is set correctly ?

Posted by Sky Blackwell (Member # 5565) on September 13, 2016, 02:47 PM:

Hello! Yes, nothing changes when the speed knob is adjusted, nor when the 18/24 fps switch is flipped, the 'record' button doesn't seem to engage or disengage, it can be pushed in and it springs right back out without any thing 'clicking' if that makes sense. The record light is always on no matter what. I've tried two different films just in case the sound was distorted, but that wouldnt explain why none of the other controls work. Didn't want to try any more film incase having the record light on was erasing everything... I really appreciate the vast knowledge and community here. [Smile]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on September 13, 2016, 04:16 PM:

I don't know your projector so I can only say that on some models you can adjust the speed with internal potentiometers but that is far to be common. About the sound, I'm afraid that if the system is set on record postion you have ereased your films. Usually, the record button is unlocked when you switch the projector on off position. Something must be wrong around that. Sorry for not being able to help more.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on September 13, 2016, 04:17 PM:

I don't know your projector so I can only say that on some models you can adjust the speed with internal potentiometers but that is far to be common. About the sound, I'm afraid that if the system is set on record postion you have ereased your films. Usually, the record button is unlocked when you switch the projector on off position. Something must be wrong around that. Sorry for not being able to help more.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 14, 2016, 11:45 AM:

Sky ...

It's just my opinion, but if you will end up getting into super 8 films in a big way, by all means, get rid of the soundstar! It is a projector that LOVES to eat and scratch films. [Frown]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on September 14, 2016, 12:25 PM:

I see this model was made in Hong Kong. Not a particularly good omen!

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on September 14, 2016, 04:24 PM:

I have one of these projectors. I'll check to see if there are internal speed pots when I return home tomorrow.

Posted by Sky Blackwell (Member # 5565) on 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)

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 15, 2016, 11:42 AM:

Good move Sky, only show films on the Soundstar that you don't want damaged! (although, the 200ft STAR WARS is so common, you can pick that one up for a song all over again). [Smile]

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on September 15, 2016, 10:43 PM:

Hi Sky... I see a pot on the pc board (A)...but not sure if it adjusts speed or not. I don't have a schematic. Usually there would be 2 pots (one for 18fps and another for 24fps. I also noticed that the multi-connector marked (B) can come loose and easily detach...make sure it is pressed down firmly and making good contact. Examine the wires to make sure there are no broken connections or bad solder joints.

Remove the back cover and inspect the wires going to the speaker. You can also insert some earphones and check to see if you hear any sound thru the jack.

The model projector I have is a B&H 11XJ. It's pretty much identical to the Soundstar. I have to respectfully disagree with the comments about this projector scratching film. I've used it extensively for capturing audio from sound films and have found it to be very gentle of film. Granted it's not a high-end model...but the external variable speed adjustment makes it very useful for telecine work.

[ September 16, 2016, 12:22 AM: Message edited by: Janice Glesser ]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 17, 2016, 11:24 AM:

Perhaps I just had a bad experience with a very hungry projector, all I know is that I totally lost a very good low fade print of "The Band Concert" to it. [Frown]

It went in the bin after that, as i had just acquired my EUMIG 926 stereo.

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