Definitive Answer:computers and demagnetizers!!

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solisrock

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Here's a question: I'm one of the crusty old timers who STILL uses analog tape with digital audio for the hybrid sound w/modern convenience. So I usually track basics ito analog 8 track first and as you know analog machines require frequent demagnetization by a not-so-small demagnetizer! AND I think hard drives also record data using a magnetic head? I also think I have fried a HD demagnetizing with my 1st studio computer in the room. So now for the studio computer it's all removable hard drive bays, shut down PC, pull hard drives, take them into next room, demagnetize reel to reel ,etc-that's the drill, but it works. Now I also need to have the office computer in the studio about 10 feet from where the analog machine is-doesn't have removable bays. Do I need to remove this whole computer from the room when demagnetizing?

DOES anybody out there know the definitive answer as to the effects (if any)of tape demagnetizers on hard drives???? What are the safe working distances??

THANKS
 
solisrock said:
Here's a question: I'm one of the crusty old timers who STILL uses analog tape with digital audio for the hybrid sound w/modern convenience. So I usually track basics ito analog 8 track first and as you know analog machines require frequent demagnetization by a not-so-small demagnetizer! AND I think hard drives also record data using a magnetic head? I also think I have fried a HD demagnetizing with my 1st studio computer in the room. So now for the studio computer it's all removable hard drive bays, shut down PC, pull hard drives, take them into next room, demagnetize reel to reel ,etc-that's the drill, but it works. Now I also need to have the office computer in the studio about 10 feet from where the analog machine is-doesn't have removable bays. Do I need to remove this whole computer from the room when demagnetizing?

DOES anybody out there know the definitive answer as to the effects (if any)of tape demagnetizers on hard drives???? What are the safe working distances??

THANKS
Click to expand...


I can relate to having to use demags...aaahhh...pro's and con's!!!
10 feet away?....should not be a problem at all!

(I guess you use this method... 'switch on demag at a distance, then slowly bring it close to the heads, demag....then slowly take it away again??)
Then take into consideration your approach to the tape deck, your not passing by any hard drives!

But, if you're really concerned still, place a small colour TV next to your computer that is 10 feet away. (leave puter off and turn telly on, the TV is going to be used as a 'safety' monitor).
If there are any strange effects/artifacts/colour blotching/bleeding appearing on the TV screen while you are 10 feet away demagging your heads, then you may be in trouble.
But I'm seriously thinking that you'll see Jack shit!!

Also, a demag for a tape deck/reel doesn't necessarily have to be 'that big'.
I use to use a little AC powered 'wand', with a scratch proof probe on the end of it....worked a treat and only worked within very close proximity of the tape heads.

Regards,
Spit.
 
I wouldn't take any chances. It only takes me a couple of minutes to remove my pc tower from the room.
 
TravisinFlorida said:
I wouldn't take any chances. It only takes me a couple of minutes to remove my pc tower from the room.
Click to expand...

meh.......maybe a little over-kill? :eek:
Anyways, what ever makes people feel safe!
Regards,
Spit.
 
superspit said:
meh.......maybe a little over-kill? :eek:
Anyways, what ever makes people feel safe!
Regards,
Spit.
Click to expand...

seems like a reasonable precaution to me. possibly hundreds of hours of work down the drain because i got comfortable with the procedure and reached for a ringing phone one day in the middle of it. i would be very paranoid until i knew the safe working distance.
 
superspit said:
I can relate to having to use demags...aaahhh...pro's and con's!!!
10 feet away?....should not be a problem at all!

(I guess you use this method... 'switch on demag at a distance, then slowly bring it close to the heads, demag....then slowly take it away again??)
Then take into consideration your approach to the tape deck, your not passing by any hard drives!

But, if you're really concerned still, place a small colour TV next to your computer that is 10 feet away. (leave puter off and turn telly on, the TV is going to be used as a 'safety' monitor).
If there are any strange effects/artifacts/colour blotching/bleeding appearing on the TV screen while you are 10 feet away demagging your heads, then you may be in trouble.
But I'm seriously thinking that you'll see Jack shit!!

Also, a demag for a tape deck/reel doesn't necessarily have to be 'that big'.
I use to use a little AC powered 'wand', with a scratch proof probe on the end of it....worked a treat and only worked within very close proximity of the tape heads.

Regards,
Spit.
Click to expand...
I agree with this post all the way down the line. Of course it never hurts to be too safe, except for the extra time, but at the same time we're not exactly talking abut the handling of nuclear fuel rods next to a baby nursery here.

Many of us have used setups where we have had a PC or external drive set up right next to one or more CRT-based video monitors, often to the point where there is discoloration on one screen or another from the interacting magnetic fields caused by the high-voltage CRT yokes. No problems.

I'd also ask just how close most uf us keep our PCs to our audio monitors. I use a standard DAW setup with a Mid0Atlantic desk w/overbirdge. I have 500 watts of nearfield amplifier and magnets and voice coils pumping at up to 85dBSPL on the overbridge, sitting no more than two feet on a direct line directly above my PCs, both standing durectly underneath the table.

I am also an old codger who started the IT side of my career as cn old-fashoned computer operator in a large controlled-environment computer room, complete with seperate floor-standing hard drives and a row of 6-ft tall tape drives. We never had to move a damn thing to demag the heads on those tape drives. Even more so, we used to use bulk tape erasers to blank our scratch tapes - much larger and (I believe) more powerful than your average head demag wand - right in the same area, within about 15ft. of the nearest hard drive and tape drive.

So be careful, obviously, and take precautions; but at the same time one can go overboard with the precautions. And, as always, the very best protection is a safe and current backup.

G.
 
Thankssssssssss

Guys- Thanks for all the answers RE: demagging. Here is an email I received from Eddie Ciletti, the tech guy from Mix Mag that clarifies further:

David,

thanks for writing...

Here's a question: I'm one of the crusty old timers who STILL uses analog tape with digital audio for the hybrid sound w/modern convenience. So I usually track basics ito analog 8 track first and as you know analog machines require frequent demagnetization by a not-so-small demagnetizer!

A: This is not at all true! You could easily get away with doing this but once a year UNLESS you found it necessary to make mechanical adjustments to the head assembly.

AND I think hard drives also record data using a magnetic head?

A: Yes, but hard drives use saturation recording, which is quite different.

I also think I have fried a HD demagnetizing with my 1st studio computer in the room.

A: Not possible

So now for the studio computer it's all removable hard drive bays, shut down PC, pull hard drives, take them into next room, demagnetize reel to reel ,etc-that's the drill, but it works.

A: Absolutely unnecessary.

Now I also need to have the office computer in the studio about 10 feet from where the analog machine is-doesn't have removable bays. Do I need to remove this whole computer from the room when demagnetizing?

A: NO!

DOES anybody out there know the definitive answer as to the effects (if any)of tape demagnetizers on hard drives???? What are the safe working distances??

Dave, magnetism, light and sound conform to the rules of the Inverse Square Law. All this time you've been working too hard. Now you should have some free time to be more creative, or even rest (at ease).

eddie

SO ANYWAY LOOKS LIKE I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE UNECESSARILY PARANOID FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS OR SO!!!!!

My 8 track is a Tascam 38, and it sounds real nice if you hit the front end just right.... I just run Quantegy 456 and bury those little vu's a bit....... analog heaven for the bass and drums and then you can just submix 'em into the daw for the best of both worlds. I also think it's real ironic that even though I am a lifelong guitarist and learned recording in an all analog studioI ALWAYS have been really satisfied with guitar recorded straight to the workstation. (have always had 24 bit though) But the drumkit..... I just gotta track 'em analog even though it can be a real pain with smpte, etc and keeping all that working. And I do hear WONDERFUL recordings of kits today that I can hear were tracked to digital................ but it's weird and especially for rock I think it's a TEXTURE I'm wanting to hear from the tape machine. Another really sweet trick for nowadays is to have a nice analog 2 track machine and if a multitrack or stereo master needs it record the mix through the analog deck on record monitor and just route the outputs back into your DAW and record the mix at 24 bit 96 K........... You can really give a problem mix a kick in the ass this way.

Thanks for all-
Solisrock
 
solisrock said:
Guys- Thanks for all the answers RE: demagging. Here is an email I received from Eddie Ciletti, the tech guy from Mix Mag that clarifies further:

David,

thanks for writing...

Here's a question: I'm one of the crusty old timers who STILL uses analog tape with digital audio for the hybrid sound w/modern convenience. So I usually track basics ito analog 8 track first and as you know analog machines require frequent demagnetization by a not-so-small demagnetizer!

A: This is not at all true! You could easily get away with doing this but once a year UNLESS you found it necessary to make mechanical adjustments to the head assembly.

AND I think hard drives also record data using a magnetic head?

A: Yes, but hard drives use saturation recording, which is quite different.

I also think I have fried a HD demagnetizing with my 1st studio computer in the room.

A: Not possible

So now for the studio computer it's all removable hard drive bays, shut down PC, pull hard drives, take them into next room, demagnetize reel to reel ,etc-that's the drill, but it works.

A: Absolutely unnecessary.

Now I also need to have the office computer in the studio about 10 feet from where the analog machine is-doesn't have removable bays. Do I need to remove this whole computer from the room when demagnetizing?

A: NO!

DOES anybody out there know the definitive answer as to the effects (if any)of tape demagnetizers on hard drives???? What are the safe working distances??

Dave, magnetism, light and sound conform to the rules of the Inverse Square Law. All this time you've been working too hard. Now you should have some free time to be more creative, or even rest (at ease).

eddie

SO ANYWAY LOOKS LIKE I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE UNECESSARILY PARANOID FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS OR SO!!!!!

Thanks for all-
Solisrock
Click to expand...

*********************************
Glen (SSG) and Mark (Spit) take a bow!!!.....hehehehe!:)
*********************************
 
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