Re: [ARSCLIST] Splice repair

[Marie OConnell <Marie.OConnell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I received it yesterday thank you.

Cheers
Marie

>>> charlesarichardson@xxxxxxxxxxx 6/05/2008 4:11 a.m. >>>
Hi Marie:  You said it better than I did.  I am often frustrated in  
saying things that  either may be somehow unclear or not properly  
understood as I intended.  Others point out that my suggested new  
splicing routine is overly complex, burdensome, and bothersome.   
However, it has substantial  new benefits for those who want to take  
the pains to use it.  It may not be very practical on tapes with a  
large number of splices as that would take a lot of time to do all the 

work  involved.  Like you, its correct, best, and good to remove the  
old splices and clean up the glue on a tape segment's surfaces before 

baking as baking heat is bad for splice adhesives whether new or old, 

just like it is negative for the other tape chemicals.  So one first  
removes and cleans up the glue and goo of the old splices.  Then one  
bakes the limited shorter tape segment(s) only if it needed.  One  
waits until after baking to apply the new splices after the tape has  
cooled down to room temperature.  This way the new splices avoid the  
baking heat and the new splices will last 2 to 4 times longer if it is 

done this way. Replacing splices in the future over again and again is 

a time consuming labor intensive nuisance activity that can be greatly 

reduced or avoided if this  new method is followed. Also in the case  
being discussed, some segments of the tape were fine and did not need 

baking applied to them.  Accordingly, if these good segments do not  
need baking, do not bake them, simply set these good segments aside.  
Then  bake only those segments of tape that need baking.  Now apply  
new splices and reassemble the tape as it was, or alternatively one  
can use two reels and put selections that do not need baking on one  
reel while those to be baked or rebaked in the future on another  
reel.  Thus there is significant chemical benefit and valid sound  
reasons for doing the splicing methods as suggested.

In brief, the suggested re-splicing method is:

1.  Don't bake the splices at all, whether new or old, on a tape that 

has to have its splices redone anyway.   There is a better way to  
avoid baking
      any splices as per above when the tape splices have to be done  
over.
2.   Clean up and remove the old splices and remove the gooey material 

before baking, do not apply new splices yet.
3.  Separate and segregate tape sections that are good, do not have  
problems, and do not bake them.
4.  Separate and segregate tape sections that are squealing and have  
to be baked and bake them if you must.
5.  Apply new splices after baking and after the tape has cooled down.
6.  Reassemble the final tape as it was and play it or, use two reels 

with the good non baked selections on one reel and the
      selections that have to be baked or rebaked on a 2nd separate  
reel.

As pointed out, it is certainly a bother to do this, but it pays major 

dividends in greatly extending  both splicing and tape life span along 

with better performance with far fewer future playback and storage  
headaches along with greatly reduced splicing repairs.

I have developed other major improvements in splicing technique.   All 

the splices that I have redone on my own tapes are still fine without 

problems after many decades have passed.  When the new splicing  
techniques are also combined with the new tape restoration methods, it 

is likely one can do or redo a splice once, do it correctly, and never 

again have problems with that splice going bad.  This is a further  
good outcome of my new research work of many years of tape study and  
testing. Its too involved to adequately discuss in this short note,  
but maybe its a topic for another paper on splicing issues.

Yours truly,  Charlie Richardson

PS.  I did send the requested copies of my 3 papers which should  
arrive soon.



On May 4, 2008, at 5:55 PM, Marie OConnell wrote:

> Try here perhaps - http://www.burlington-av.com/ 
>
> I would be replacing the old splices and cleaning off the old glue
> before baking the tape.  Chances are the old splices will just let  
> go as
> you get to them and be very brittle.  But, if you bake them with the 

> old
> glue on some may turn to gooey stuff.  Put  pellon secured over the
> heads for protection of your valuable heads whilst fixing the
splices.
> This is assuming that the sticky shed is not too advanced :-)
>
> Good luck
> Marie
>
> Marie O'Connell
> Analogue Tape Preservation Archivist
> Sound Archives/Nga Taonga Korero
> PO Box 1531
> Radio New Zealand House
> Level 1, 51 Chester Street West
> Christchurch
> Phone  +64 3 374 8443
> Fax  + 64 3 374 8448
> www.soundarchives.co.nz 
>
>>>> wmfisher@xxxxxxxx 3/05/2008 3:24:56 a.m. >>>
> Just a musing I'd like some opinions on.
>
> We have several 1/4 inch tape reels that are the "production
masters"
> for a
> series of LPs that were produced in the 70s that we want to digitize
> for
> archiving and possible reissue.  Most are made up of segments cut
> directly
> from the original 1st generation master recordings and spliced  
> together
> with
> paper leader.  The tape stocks vary from cut to cut and several
> segments
> have developed sticky shed and require baking to get a proper
> reproduction.
> Almost all of the splices are badly joined, are failing and will all
> need to
> be redone to get a smooth ride through the transport without hanging 

> up
> or
> mistracking.
>
> That said, I'd like to know what thoughts there are on eliminating
the
>
> leader tape that seperates the individual cuts.  Smooth transitions 

> can
> be
> made and silence added in software.  What are the pros and cons of
> joining
> the segments of different tape stock directly as opposed to
inserting
> paper
> leader for long time storage conditions??
>
> Also still looking for a supplier of good quality 1/4 inch splicing
> tape.
>
> Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
>
> Martin Fisher
> Center for Popular Music