Head Cleaning Etc

[Cas]

How often should tape heads be cleaned and demagnetized ?

[Lodgesound]

Cleaning - every single time you load a new tape and use the machine.

Degaussing - every 10 hours use or so.

[topoxforddoc]

Cleaning heads should only take a minute or so with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol and wipe or cotton bud. Importantly clean the tape guides too, as you often get more oxide residue on the guides than on the heads themselves.

PS don't use alcohol on the pinch rollers

[Cas]

Thanks.

[Audio Al]

Cleaning heads should only take a minute or so with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol and wipe or cotton bud. Importantly clean the tape guides too, as you often get more oxide residue on the guides than on the heads themselves.

PS don't use alcohol on the pinch rollers

Its better to use lint free cloth ;)

[Cas]

Its better to use lint free cloth ;)

Yup I know that I was just wondering on time periods on cleaning and demagnetizing.

I have read that demagnetizing is a waste of time and really does not do very much at all in the scheme of things.

[Audio Al]

How often depends on the condition of the tapes , as its only a quick process do it every time , a quick wipe and off you go
De mag depending on usage, monthly , you do need to be CAREFUL when doing this

[Cas]

De mag depending on usage, monthly , you do need to be CAREFUL when doing this

I have read that demagnetizing is a waste of time and really does not do very much at all in the scheme of things.

[RothwellAudio]

I have read that demagnetizing is a waste of time and really does not do very much at all in the scheme of things.

These days you can read anything on the internet - knowing the difference between the good stuff and the rubbish is the hard bit. I'm no expert on tape machines but I doubt that demagnetising is a waste of time, though I have read that many demagnetisers are too weak to be effective.
Maybe a proper expert can chip in with some better advice.

[Audio Al]

I have read that demagnetizing is a waste of time and really does not do very much at all in the scheme of things.



Dont do it then ;)

[Cas]

Dont do it then ;)

That is a very commonsense reply, I like it :)

[Audio Al]

:)

[337alant]

It's a waist of time when it doesn't need doing :eyebrows: but it can make a significant difference when it does need doing ;)
A magnetized tape path can also destroy your prized pre recorded tape masters and can roll off the treble on your recorded tapes.

Alan

[Cas]

It's a waist of time when it doesn't need doing :eyebrows: but it can make a significant difference when it does need doing ;)
A magnetized tape path can also destroy your prized pre recorded tape masters and can roll off the treble on your recorded tapes.

Alan

I have a couple of questions.

How do you know when it needs doing and how often ?

Any recommendations on the best way to use a demagnetizer, I have seen several methods on Youtube but not sure which would be the
best more correct method ?

Two methods on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvviozXIfW8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrEFrZy6JQo

[337alant]

I posted a thread on this already

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?50957-demagnetize-your-Tape-Heads

Alan

[Cas]

I posted a thread on this already

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?50957-demagnetize-your-Tape-Heads

Alan

Thank you.