Is there any advantage in erasing tapes whith an external tape eraser? Would it improve the tape for recording or would it make it worse?
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Bulk erasure is needed when going from 1/4" quarter track to half track or the other way. It ensures that you don't have any signal in the guard band between tracks to pick up.
This is not entirely true. Some decks (including the Otari MX5050 I have) have an erase head in which there are no gaps between the two channels, ensuring erasure on the full width of the tape.
This is not entirely true. Some decks (including the Otari MX5050 I have) have an erase head in which there are no gaps between the two channels, ensuring erasure on the full width of the tape.
Thanks, I did not know that for the Otari. I imagine that thhat applies to the 2 track and not to a 4 track (typically).
--Ethan
what about the "swishing" and "hum" sound from using a bulk eraser such as the Tandy type? Could the magnetic effectiveness of the tape be reduced by repeated bulk erasing?
But make sure it is the 233A and not just the 233. The one with the ‘A’ suffix has more power.
Bulk erasure is the way to go just to save one more cycle of tape wear by not feeding it through the heads.