Tape head cleaning and transferring archives from tape

[ChamomileShark]

Hi, I'm about to attempt to transfer some of my recordings made in the 80s to CubaseSX3 audio. I think I've got everything set up as I've been able to record audio from a synth into Cubase ok, the Revox A77 tape machine is up and running after being in storage for a while. Two questions..

1. Is there anything else I need to have beforehand? I'm hoping the tapes are still ok but they may be only be for a single play. I assume I just record straight from the Revox and then start messing with the audio post recording.

2. I'll probably need to do some work as originally the tapes were just recorded with very primitive equipment and no outboard. I have Ozone3 to help. Is there anything available free for noise reduction? Is there anything else other than Ozone3 and noise reduction I'm likely to need to clean up/enhance the recordings?

Thanks!

[C00kie]

Clean the heads & pullys with alcohol. Maybe first do a fast-forward and rewind of the tape to ensure it's not sticky, but I'm not terribly experienced with tape stored that long. Also depends on the conditions (humid air is wrecking!)

Cubase is not really up for this task. I prefer CoolEditPro (or Adobe Audition nowadays) for that, since it has a killing noise removal feature. There is a free & fully functional demo available of CoolEditPro somewhere on an old Syntrillium site. You may get by with Cubase and some plugins, but it's not designed for this task while an audio editor is.

Apart from some noise removal & cleaning up in general, what are your plans? Just do a transfer to CD, or reuse some bits in new work?

[ross g]

i would also demag the entire tape path including the heads and metal tape guides...if you don't have access to a head demagnetizer, i'm sure any decent studio or repair shop would do it cheap if you brought it in....after the heads have been cleaned, i would play some of the tape at the head or tail, a blank section in other words, and see if any of the oxide is coming off...if it is, the more you play it, the worse the tape will get and the more the heads will acumulate the oxide (obviously)...if that's the case, you can actually bake the tapes in an oven at a fairly low temperature, i've read about this before... here's one crazy article:

http://www.tangible-technology.com/tape/baking1.html

and another...they say not to use a regular kitchen oven, it won't maintain a low enogh temp, but i've read different before and our oven DOES maintain a controlled temp... anyway

http://www.tiguersound.com/Studio_Infor ... eBake.html

here's a few posts....( someone claims it's a "no brainer", several thoughts in this one....)

http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index. ... #msg_89202

and a poor man's guide:

http://www.diskemporium.com.au/baking.html

basically i've found out:130 deg F is the magic number, even slow heat, and i can google stuff....

EDIT EDIT EDIT: after i read the baking info, i recommend to NOT test the tapes first, but BAKE the tapes before playing as descibed...i have lots of old analog tapes and when i get around to transfering them to digital, i plan to do the same!


good luck,
rg