--- Forwarded Message from "Steve & Laura Spinella" <[log in to unmask]> --- >From: "Steve & Laura Spinella" <[log in to unmask]> >To: "LLTI-Editor" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: #7745.1 How to fix ripped audio tape?(!) >Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 14:54:25 +0800 I believe "Scotch" tape is the correct kind. 3m magic tape, which has a matte finish, for instance, is durable, compatible, and quite thin. The "special tape" available commercially is generally colored rather than clear (to make it easier to see what you are doing), and most importantly if you're making a lot of splices, available in a width slightly smaller than the tape you are splicing (so you don't have to trim it by hand). -It is better for the tape to be slightly narrow at the splice, but definitely not wider, so that it will wind smoothly. -It is important that the stickly side of the adhesive splicing tape be totally adhered to the mylar (recording tape) so that none sticks out when you're done. -If you are doing it by hand, first overlap the two ends, make a diagonal cut (for speech, perhaps vertical/cross-wise cut for music or video: diagonal cuts are more durable, vertical cuts provide less noise for music or video, but are less durable) through both pieces of tape. Later throw away the waste. -Next, join the two ends butting against each other with the "scotch" tape on the non-playing side of the tape (away from the recording heads). One way to do this without a splicing block is to expose a piece of scotch tape sticky side up. Lay one end of tape on it, non playing side down. Then match the other end (to be joined in the splice) to it. Finally use a razor or scissors to trim away all exposed scotch tape (and perhaps the very edge of the recording tape to be sure you are not wide.) If you're doing more than a couple repairs, you can purchase a small machined block with a channel that will hold the tape in place while you splice it and lay down the "scotch tape". You need one for each width tape if you do this. There are two grooves in it to run a straight edge razor for your cuts, either diagonal or vertical. Good luck! Dr. Steve Spinella Ta Yi Street, Lane 29, #18, 2F-1, Taichung 404, TAIWAN 011 886 4 2236-6145, of 2236-1901, fx 2236-2109, cell 9 2894-0514 USA: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, 719.528.1702, cell 719.640.1261 TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189, 800 343-3144 <www.team.org.tw/spinella>, <www.team.org.tw/ccg> <[log in to unmask]> <[log in to unmask]> ----- Original Message ----- From: "LLTI-Editor" <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 12:43 AM Subject: Re: #7745.1 How to fix ripped audio tape?(!) > We have been using Scotch Tape (This might be called TESA in Europe). Depending > on how clean a splice you need, you can arrange the two ends of the tape with > their back side on the scotch tape and trim off the remaining scotch tape. A > diagonal cut is best. The alignment is a little tricky, but it gives you a > splice that will work for a while.... We even fixed broken VHS tapes this > way..... > > In the past we had a rig and some special tape..... long gone.... > > Otmar > *********************************************** LLTI is a service of IALLT, the International Association for Language Learning, and The Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning (http://consortium.dartmouth.edu). Join IALLT at http://iallt.org. Otmar Foelsche, LLTI-Editor ([log in to unmask]) ***********************************************