How to Repair a Reel To Reel Tape Recorder
- Identify the problem. Before you take any kind of action, you should determine where the malfunction is coming from.
- Unplug the machine and take it to a place where you have plenty of room to work on it. ...
- Clean the reel heads. Depending on your problem, the solution may just be simple cleaning maintenance.
- Disassemble the reel to reel player and check for any loose components. If cleaning your reel heads did not work then your problem will be internal.
- Replace the parts that are not working properly. Once you have identified the non-working part, replace it.
- Identify the problem. ...
- Unplug the machine and take it to a place where you have plenty of room to work on it. ...
- Clean the reel heads. ...
- Disassemble the reel to reel player and check for any loose components. ...
- Replace the parts that are not working properly.
How to recycle old reel to reel tapes?
These are the different ways that you can get rid of VHS tapes for money:
- If you can’t recycle VCR tapes, you could sell them online to the highest bidder. ...
- You can also get rid of them by bringing the buyers to you via a yard sale or a Craigslist ad.
- While the stores that used to sell and rent VHS tapes are mostly out of business, you can still find music stores that might be interested in trading a VHS ...
Where to buy reel to reel tape?
Where can I buy a reel to reel tape recorder? There are many ways to find one locally or on the Internet. In North America, there are many classified sites like Craigslist where often you will get un-serviced tape recorders for lowest prices and then there are more audio focused sites like US audio Mart or Canuck audio Mart.
How do you transfer reel to reel tapes to computer?
When converting the tapes to modern formats (sometimes a challenge because of the difficulty of finding well-functioning tape players) it is common to bake the reels in an oven at about 200 degrees F for a bit to “reset” the adhesive. If you are lucky you will get one usable pass.
How does one buy reel to reel tapes?
Gary Word has a good idea based on hundreds of sales – buyers who had reel-to-reel equipment at their peak of popularity in the 60s, 70s and 80s. They have, in many cases, boxes of tapes stashed in closets or the basement. If they kept their reel-to-reel deck, it probably doesn’t work, after years of disuse.
Are reel-to-reel recorders still made?
Studer, Stellavox, Tascam, and Denon produced reel-to-reel tape recorders into the 1990s, but as of 2017, only Mechlabor continues to manufacture analog reel-to-reel recorders.
Does reel-to-reel tape deteriorate?
Reel-to-reel was the first form of audio magnetic tape recordings and even though they are still considered to have the best sound quality of all audio forms, reel-to-reel tapes do adhere to a limited lifespan. Just like cassette tapes and VHS tapes, reel-to-reel recordings will slowly degrade over time.
How do you clean a reel-to-reel tape recorder?
0:252:49Cleaning Heads of Reel-to-Reel Recorder - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe head cleaner at this point swab it down just a little bit and then we're gonna swipe it acrossMoreThe head cleaner at this point swab it down just a little bit and then we're gonna swipe it across the head there are some good rules to follow in terms of cleaning.
How do reel-to-reel machines and tape recorders work?
Motion of the tape is controlled by the capstan. This is a steel shaft which is always turning at a constant speed. When the PLAY button is pushed, the rubber pinch roller squeezes the tape against the capstan and the tape is pulled past the heads. The TAKEUP MOTOR winds the tape onto the takeup reel as this goes on.
Does reel-to-reel sound better than digital?
The digital files sounded lighter, but also with more detail and precision. The digital files had a more airier treble and mid range. They also had more precision in the bass. The tapes had a smaller dynamic range than the digital files, but the background hiss was never a problem, not even in the quietest passages.
What causes tape dropouts?
Most often dropouts occur when tape has been mangled in a deck and is creased, because the mechanism can no longer ensure the tape is flat against the head during the creased portion.
Can you clean tape heads with alcohol?
0:071:18How to Clean a Cassette Player - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep 2 dip the tip of a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. Also known as isopropyl alcohol. Step 3MoreStep 2 dip the tip of a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. Also known as isopropyl alcohol. Step 3 clean the metal tape head with the tip of a cotton swab rubbing. It both horizontally.
How do you Demag a tape head?
7:109:50How To Clean And Demagnetize Your Tape Recorder - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOff move the de magnetizer toward the playback head very slowly touch the playback head dead centerMoreOff move the de magnetizer toward the playback head very slowly touch the playback head dead center with the de magnetizer. Hold it there for about 10 seconds very carefully pull it away.
How often should you clean tape heads?
Probably every 5-10 hours play and before every recording.
Is reel-to-reel better than vinyl?
But to take this audio debate even further, reel-to-reel is often considered an even better audio alternative than vinyl when played at 7½ inches per second versus vinyl at 45 rpm.
Are tape recorders still used today?
While they are primarily used for sound recording, tape machines were also important for data storage before the advent of floppy disks and CDs, and are still used today, although primarily to provide backup.
Which chemical is used to coat the tape of tape recorder?
The tape is coated with fine particles of a magnetic substance, usually an oxide of iron, cobalt, or chromium.
How does a tape recorder work?
Tape recorders record a fluctuating signal by moving the tape across a tape head that magnetically polarizes the tape in proportion to the audio signal. Tape recorders include a reel-to-reel tape deck and a cassette deck, which uses a cassette for storing the tape. Using magnetic tape for sound recording was developed in Germany around 1930 as ...
What is a tape player?
A device with built-in speakers and audio amplification capabilities is generally referred to as a “ tape recorder” and if it has no recording functionality, it is referred to as a “tape player.”. A device that requires external amplification for playback is generally called a “tape deck” regardless of whether or not it has recording capabilities.
When was magnetic tape invented?
Using magnetic tape for sound recording was developed in Germany around 1930 as a paper tape with an oxide lacquer. Before the development of magnetic tape, magnetic wire recorders were used to demonstrate the concept of magnetic recording but generally had poor audio quality.
