cc_s425@ux.kingston.ac.uk (Syngen Brown) (11/01/90)
> From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) > > You can get silicon impregnated cloths at any hardware store that sells > firearms. The cloths work - but you might want to remove some of the > silicon first, the new cloths have too much in them. Otherwise, they > seem to work fine on my tapes when needed. I have not noticed any > buildup on the head or in the gap. > Well I never visit firearms dealers :-) but I have always avoided using silicone based cleaners and lubricants on electronic equipment. These compounds are highly motile and contain insulating crystals which significantly degrade any contacts that they may ingress. Note that the amount required to cause problems is much less than that which would be detectable through buildup. > > From: Steve_Graham@ub.cc.umich.edu > > RE: reel cutouts affecting tape pack: This happens in fast-winding modes > (and will someone please explain to me *how* the Germans get away with > flange-less operation???) because of static attraction. My experience ran > counter to my untested expectations in this regard. Metal reels tend to > produce more of a scattered wind than plastic, and reels with large cutout > areas tend to produce less-scattered wind than more solid types. I've noticed differences between stock on regularity of pack -- Ampex 407 seems to pack more regularly than Ampex 456 (the latter is on thicker base) and Agfa stock tends to be generally better in this respect. I prefer reels with more open flanges for machine spools, as it makes the threading/attachment operation much easier in any case. Also, defective NAB hubs which no longer clamp the reels securely seem to be a common source of problems. To ensure good packing regularity in storage, the best solution is to use tape tails-out, ie. so that the m/c spool is mounted on the LHS of the transport and tape is fully wound onto that spool before recording or playback. When a tape so used is stored, it has been spooled on to the storage reel at normal operating speed rather than fast wind speed. This is common practice in professional usage. It has the further advantage of ensuring that any print-through results in post echo rather than pre echo; this tends to be less intrusive with most recorded material. The effect of print-through is also reduced by even packing. If you're not already doing this (and I expect that many of you already are) you only have yourself to blame! -Syngen ======================================================================== Vox: +44 81 549 1366 x2066 Because our poor boy believes in chance Internet: syngen@ux.king.ac.uk He'll never get the modern dance! ========================================================================