Table of Contents
Do I need to demagnetize tape heads?
Demagnetizing tape heads should be a part of your regular maintenance routine when you own reel-to-reel recorders. If the heads become over magnetized, your tapes may start to erase themselves, starting with the very high frequency signals.
What causes a cassette player to eat tapes?
TL;DR: use quality tapes, keep the tape tensioned, and clean the player. When it comes down to it, “eating” a tape occurs when tape ends up getting drawn out of the cassette by the pinch roller/capstan mechanism in the player. The tape ends up wound around the capstan usually.
How do you demagnetize?
Demagnetization processes include heating past the Curie point, applying a strong magnetic field, applying alternating current, or hammering the metal. Demagnetization occurs naturally over time. The speed of the process depends on the material, the temperature, and other factors.
Can cassette tapes be repaired?
Rips, tangles, and tears happen and can cause terrible damage to audiotapes. The only way to repair a ripped audiotape is to use splicing tape to repair the tear. In these scenarios, it may be best to request help from a professional tape repair service instead of trying to fix your tape at home.
How do you clean magnetic tape?
Recommended methods for removing dust on tapes include using a small vacuum with a hose or wipe with 3M Tape Cleaning Fabric. Care must be used when using a vacuum if a hose attachment is available. If the motor of the vacuum is powerful enough, it can demagnetize the tape and the recording will be compromised.
How do you clean a reel to reel tape machine?
You can use an old toothbrush soaked in the isopropyl alcohol to loosen and clean up the dirt as well. Using a glass cleaner like Windex on the deck itself is fine, just don’t get any on the heads or the pinch roller….DO NOT use:
- Rubbing alcohol.
- Sandpaper.
- Soap and water.
- 150 overproof moonshine.
Do cassette tapes go bad?
Cassette tapes, reel-to-reel tapes, 8-track tapes, and VHS can all “go bad” because they are magnetic tape mediums. In perfect circumstances, cassette tapes will only last about 30 years if properly stored away from heat, humidity, and UV rays. Whereas a CD stored in the same conditions can last over 100 years.
What happens if you don’t demagnetize a tape machine?
Forgetting to do this could fry the electronics (or at least the meters) in the machine. The demagnetizer puts out way more energy than a tape machine is designed to see at the heads. Hold the demagnetizer away from the machine and turn it on.
What should I do if my tape head is damaged?
A tape head is very fragile and should never come into contact with anything other than air, tape, and cleaning solution. The procedure is as follows: Turn the tape machine off. This is a critical step. Forgetting to do this could fry the electronics (or at least the meters) in the machine.
When do you Demag Your Tape Project tapes?
When I do I get all my Tape Project tapes out of the room. It is most important to demag when your machine is off (duh)
What is the best tape head cleaner?
Several excellent solvents are sold for cleaning tape heads and guides. The “best” head cleaner is the one that quickly removes the most contamination with the least time required. Cheap off-brand tape head cleaners sold in budget stores and on eBay is usually dyed rubbing alcohol.