551rcg@hound.UUCP (R.GANNS) (06/21/84)
I have a problem with a tape cassette. I recorded some music on it, and it played back fine for many playings. I make a point of keeping my heads clean and demagnetized, and keep my cassettes away from heat, magnetic fields, etc. Suddenly, the tape sounds lousy: it sounds like it is being played at an uneven speed, but none of my other tapes have this problem. Any exlanations? I am afraid that whatever caused the problem may attack my other tapes, many of which are irreplaceable, so naturally I want to find out the cause. Rich Ganns hound!551rcg (201) 949-0315
hartwig@ihuxo.UUCP (Max Hartwig) (06/23/84)
I am posting this rather than sending direct mail because this may be helpful to more than one person. Before recording, I rewind and fast-forward my new tape. It is not proven, but I believe that doing this will not only stretch the tape a little, but also equalize static that may be hiding on the tape, thus reducing the 'wows' and dropouts later on in life. I have recorded over some of these tapes quite a few times and have had little problems with sound quality(maybe just lucky). Perhaps, at one time, the tape jammed and stretched a little, but it is hard to say.
simard@loral.UUCP (Ray Simard) (06/24/84)
Winding a new tape from end to end before use is an excellent practice. It is also a good idea to do the same thing for tapes which have not been used for six months or more. -- Ray Simard Loral Instrumentation, San Diego {ucbvax, ittvax!dcdwest}!sdcsvax!sdccsu3!loral!simard