How To Clean/Demagnetize Cassette Tape Deck Heads Part 2

The conclusion, with a focus on cleaning the actual playback, recording (if equipped) and erasure heads. Note that you must not attempt to demagnetize an erase head that is of the permanent magnet type. If your cassette transport has an erase head that "swivels" out of the way when not in recording mode, it's probably a cheap permanent magnet type.

Although I don't think there was a huge (if any) difference, I threw in a "before" and "after" demonstration at the end.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• clean
• demagnetize
• cassette
• tape
• deck
• heads
• uxwbill

[DarkoAqua]

I didn't hear any difference. Unfortunately 360p videos on YouTube have lower sound quality in high frequency due compression so that might be the case. I recorded clips with 16b/96kHz which is enough for this video and splited clips in two for A/B tests with markers on different parts. My hearing doesn't register beyond 15-16kHz and my Sennheiser HD201 headphones are limmiting factors. Head characteristics & electronics, tape and source are dominant IMHO.

[uxwbill]

@DarkoAqua At the time this video was made, I shot everything with a Panasonic Lumix point-n-shoot digital still camera. It "just so happened" to have a video mode. While picture quality was very good, the camera could not refocus or zoom while recording. Audio quality was definitely an afterthought, with the high end being very severely rolled off.

The point of the video is to show how this is done, so that those who believe there is a problem can fix it.

[DarkoAqua]

@uxwbill If you happen to still keep original recordings ( highly unlikely :) from your Mac before and after, could you upload them somewhere? Also, what is your opinion on demagnetisers? Are they really essential or isopropyl should be enough? I plan to transfer some old tapes, one time job, so I wish to do it best I can. Thanks.

[uxwbill]

@DarkoAqua I've kept the source files for pretty much everything that I have ever recorded. Why do you want me to upload them somewhere? (There is no significant quality difference in the video or audio.)

If you are going to do a "one shot" conversion of your tapes, I'd put the odds in your favor as much as possible. To me, that would mean doing things even if they weren't strictly necessary--and using a cassette deck that is known to be in good working condition.

[jlewis184]

I can't see the erasure head you are referring too. I'm looking for it on my old panasonic single-head tape recorder, and can't seem to find it either.  What am I overlooking??

[uxwbill]

@jlewis184 Maybe it's not there. I've seen a very few cassette decks without erase heads in place, typically low quality ones. If the machine really claims to have only a "single head", it definitely might not have an erase head. Machines with erase heads are called "two head" machines.

A few decks also place the erase head next to the playback/recording head, with little or no space between the two. Check for this possibility.

[1961vampire]

Good video. Nice work. At 8:16 to 9:23 wonderful music: Angie - Rolling Stones.

[bigkingsha]

I'd say for the overall "health" of the deck, then yes, clean and demagnetize...but to get that crisp dynamic range sound back, I simply do a line-in record straight to Adobe Audition/Soundbooth and tweak the 10 band graphic equalizer accordingly. Does the trick everytime. Very good video.

[Paspiedreamcast]

the cleaned head sounds ever so slightly cleaner and less distorted. But, sound quality is not really a huge priority with this task, it's just to keep the deck working and in good shape.

[shoprat17]

If you're careful (easier to do with 8 track and some reel to reel) you can demagnetize with a soldering gun (not iron)

[DarkoAqua]

@uxwbill I think original recordings do not suffer from additional YouTube compression, so I wish to hear the difference. Thanks!

[DarkoAqua]

But thanks for the video anyway, it was very helpful!