Re: Restoration of Reel-to-Reel Tapes

Paul Stamler <pstamlerhell@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Ivan Katz" <ivan.katz42@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:fgdtep$j61$2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The tape, when it's squealing, is vibrating like a violin string being
pulled by a bow. This causes both amplitude (as it's bouncing off the
head) and frequency (as it jerks along rather than moving smoothly)
modulation of the induced electrical current as the magnetic field
(recorded on the tape) moves across the head gap.

Gotcha!!
I figured it was something like that, but was never really sure.
FWIW squeeky cassette tapes (usually crap Supertape stuff left in the car
etc) were the worst for that!

Bad cassettes can also have bad slip-sheets, the flat doohickeys in the
cassette shell that the tape spools ride against. And they can have pad
pressure pads as well, or idlers that squeal.

Also, a lot of them wind up with slightly deformed shells, especially if
they have been left in the car. I found the SHAPE high precision shells
were actually the worst for that... they were very accurate when new, but
they got instantly damaged when left in a hot car. I got lots of returns.
The cheap generic white shells from Tape Warehouse actually seemed to
survive abuse better.

If you encounter squealing cassettes today, the FIRST thing to do is take
the tape out and transplant it into a SHAPE shell with new slip sheets
and rollers. In most cases, the squealing turns out to be an issue with
the cassette and not the tape.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
.

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