Today's Tech Tip, from inSync reader Bryan I, takes us back a few years to the analog days.

"I know I'm going to have to demagnetize my TASCAM TSR8 reel to reel, but I'm afraid to put the demagnetizing wand up to the tape heads for too long. Should I count while doing it or just tap the heads quickly and move on to the rollers etc?"

There are several things to be aware of when demagnetizing a tape machine. One is that you really shouldn't touch the demagnetizer to any of the tape machine components. A tape head is very fragile and should never come into contact with anything other than air, tape, and cleaning solution. The procedure is as follows: Turn the tape machine off. This is a critical step. Forgetting to do this could fry the electronics (or at least the meters) in the machine. The demagnetizer puts out way more energy than a tape machine is designed to see at the heads. Hold the demagnetizer away from the machine and turn it on. Bring it in slowly and move it near the various metal components in the tape path holding it near each one for a few seconds (maybe three or four seconds). It is best to keep it moving all the time, even if the motion is small. Remember that demagnetizing is really just randomizing the polarities of the ferrous material in the components that have become polarized from working with the magnetized (recorded) tape. Once complete move the demagnetizer away from the machine and turn it off.

It is very important not to turn the demagnetizer off or on in close proximity to the machine. The sudden burst of energy that occurs at that time can actually serve to magnetize the machine beyond where the demagnetizer can demagnetize it. This operation is best done when you can work undisturbed and can focus on the task. It's not hard, but great care is called for here.