MT50 Maintenance
The MT50 requires regular maintenance to remain in top operating condi-
tion. If you perform the following simple maintenance procedures at regu-
lar intervals, your MT50 will be a faithful musical companion for many
years.
•
Clean the recording head, capstans, and rollers. (See the "Precautions"
at the start of this user's guide.)
•
Demagnetize the recording head at regular intervals.
Cleaning the Recording Head and Components
The recording heads are the delicate components that touch the recording
tape. Over time they tend to become coated with an oxide residue and need
to be cleaned. (Otherwise, you'll soon notice a lack of high frequencies in
your recordings.)
The surrounding components--called capstans and rollers--also tend to
become coated with residue and dust particles. (This increases the wow and
flutter of your recordings.)
To clean the recording head and capstan, use a head-cleaning kit. These kits
generally include specially-made cotton swabs and an isopropyl alcohol-
based cleaning solution, and are.available at audio and electronics shops.
Follow the directions on the kit, carefully wiping the recording head and the
capstan with a swab soaked in cleaning solution.
It is best to clean the rollers with a non-alcohol based rubber cleaning solu-
tion, which is often included in the cleaning kits. Alcohol tends to dry out
and corrode the rubber part of the roller.
Clean these components often, after no more than ten hours of recording
use. If the head becomes dirty, the MT50 may sound distorted or noisy. In
severe cases, the MT50 may not be able to playback or record at all. If you
expect optimal results from a recording session, it is best to clean the heads
before the session.
Capstan
Clean the Shaded Areas
MT50 Maintenance
Pinchroller
Record/playback head
Erase head
MT50 User's Guide
27