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Re: [ARSCLIST] Cassette obsolescence
Hi, Steve,
This is where the FACET Tool that Mike Casey is working on becomes
very, very important. It helps prioritize the collection.
I would agree with you on the lacquers-yes, save them pretty much
before all else from what we're seeing with peeling.
How to prioritize wires, reels, and cassettes is difficult in my opinion.
There are some reels I would do before most cassettes:
Those with loss of lubricant, incipient vinegar syndrome (though
we have not yet seen the
cataclysmic destruction of audio tapes that we've seen in mag
films), and probably
sticky shed syndrome.
But I would do cassettes with potential loss of lubricant (3M
outsourced dictation cassettes
and Sony cassettes). I wouldn't worry about Maxell and probably
wouldn't worry about
TDK or Fuji from what I've seen.
Wires are a difficult choice solely from the perspective of player
obsolescence. I don't think the media is deteriorating unless it's
rusting, is it?
Ignoring wires, when asked, and subject to the above caveats, I often
recommend transferring the cassettes before the reels, especially the
older cassettes.
Anyway, Mike's tool helps us answer these questions by assigning
points to each asset or collection. The more points, the sooner it
should be digitized.
Good discussion.
Cheers,
Richard
At 01:29 PM 2/18/2006, Steven Smolian wrote:
In repose, cassettes have proven among the more stable formats.
Cassette decks are around- hock shops, etc. There of plenty of
people with the skills to repair them and a considerable avalability
of parts. Sure, address them on a non-panic basis but unless they
are 120s or you have a huge amount of money, save the reels,
lacquers, wires, etc.. first.
Steve Smolian
Audio Restoration Seminar: MAY 9-12, 2006; details at Web site.
Richard L. Hess email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Vignettes Media web: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/
Aurora, Ontario, Canada (905) 713 6733 1-877-TAPE-FIX
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm