Preparing the tape machine: 'Demagnetizing' and 'Cleaning'
The first thing you must do when using an alignment tape is to make sure the tape machine is free of any magnetism that might have accumulated on the heads (and other metallic parts) from previous operation, and to make sure the tape path is free of grease and dirt. You can get rid of magnetism by using a large electromagnet to randomize the magnetic domains that may be on the metallic parts. The dirt and grease are cleaned off the machine by applying an alcohol solvent to the tape path.
1) Make sure the power is turned off.
This is very important. The demagnetizer's magnetic fields are hundreds of times more powerful than the magnetic fields the electonics are designed to handle. The initial circuits will most definitely be damaged if you apply a demagnetizer to the heads while the electonics are on. So if the power is on, turn off the tape machine power now!! You will find the power switch on the lower right hand corner of the tape transport.
2) Demagnetize the heads of the tape machine (and any other parts that have magnetic properties and come into contact with tape).
Once more, be sure that the tape machine if off before demagnetizing and that all tapes are located a safe distance away from the demagnetizer.
To do this, plug the demagnetizer into an AC outlet. Slowly move the tip of the unit toward the part to be demagnetized in a spiral motion. Care should be taken to not damage the heads by making physical contact with the head. After 10-15 seconds of slowly rotating the demagnetizer in front of each head, slowly begin to move the unit away from the part in a spiral fashion as before. Go on to the next metal part (head) in this fashion until all parts that come in contact with the tape are demagnetized.
3) Clean the heads and all other parts of the machine that come into contact with tape.
Use the 90 - 99% isopropyl alcohol in the tape caddie to clean the parts. To do this, wet a cotton swab with alcohol and clean the parts of the tape path. When cleaning the heads, be careful to use a horizontal motion. When a swab is dirty, throw it away. Do not re-wet the swab.
*Note: Using 'Special Rubber and Head Cleaners'
There are special rubber cleaners that you can use to clean the pinch roller and/or any other rubber idlers in the tape path. Some of them claim to help restore the elasticity of the rubber. If rubber cleaner is not available, 90 - 99% isopropyl alcohol may be used as the universal solvent. There are special head cleaners (made of xylene solutions) that are better solvents than alcohol. They do a better job of dissolving the oxide and adhesive binder residues that can get lodged in the guides and head stack. Head cleaners like these are good, but dangerous. They will destroy rubber and dissolve plastics! Be safe and use alcohol for all the parts.
< Copyright ⓒ The Music Telegraph :: Prohibit reprinting and redistribution >
1BITDRAGON is a music creation software super easy to use, simple, instant and fun. Create a basic melody in a few steps, compose a great song in a few minutes. Developed in France.
Amsterdam-based indie brand dedicated to developing the next generation of vocal plugins for modern metal screamers and metal producers, founded by metal vocalist Jochem de Jong
Canadian professional calibration service provider and audio software developer offering digital room correction calibration services and stereo & multichannel convolver software
Brand-new American software instrument developer providing composers and music producers with innovative tools that simplify and enhance the music creation process
Mexican developer of audio plug-ins known for its innovative tools that expand creative possibilities, offering products based on AI and music production research
Austrian sound design company founded in 2022 and Tranzwave is its debut product featuring advanced wavetable synthesis based on legendary Ensoniq Fizmo
American audio sample creator, founded by composer and multi-instrumentalist Nick Torreta, specializing in the Extended Techniques series of classical instruments to create otherworldly sounds
American audio software development company founded by a former software architect at Avid offering sophisticated media tools to enhance workflows and customized softwares based on individual client's needs
New Zealand-based audio software developer offering softwares that effectively calibrate audio playback for loudspeakers and room acoustics resulting in higher fidelity
Israeli audio software development company offering software-based live audio mixer and control room based on GroundControl technology of powerful routing and monitoring capabilities
The Amsterdam-based composer and software developer Josep Garcés owned audio software company offering a professional looping software for live music performance
German music publishing company offering innovative music softwares such as 'Forte' notation software and 'ScanScore' sheet music scanning software for musicians, students, and teachers.
Dutch company developing software instruments and effects based on its state-of-the-art circuit modeling process known as ACE (Advanced Circuitry Emulation) technology
Online educational platform founded in 2021 by Austrian composer Nikolaus Daim offering high quality online courses covering any imaginable topics about media music production
Canadian brand-new sound design company offering ultimate hybrid-style Kontakt sample libraries founded by ASCAP award-winning music composer Benjamin Pinkerton
Italian boutique sound design company creating evoking, vivid, unmistakable sound design for the wide community of composers, filmmakers, game developers and editors
Finnish sample instruments developer offering versatile, high-quality tools for composing and arranging vocal music with lyrics based on human voice digitalization research
Software company specialized in Indian music and virtual Indian instruments offering the most realistic virtual Indian instruments based in Switzerland
American world music specialized audio software developer offering world music synthesizers, world music libraries, world music community, and world music learning resources.
German virtual instruments developer founded by a professional film composer Tobias Hang, offering sounds that are unheard of, deeply emotional, and intuitively playable
American audio plug-in developer offering groundbreaking audio plug-ins based on AI voice transformation technology designed specifically for audio creatives
