Commodore CASSIOPEI, User Manual

Page: 54 / 76

9.3 Condition of source tapes
If you want to make a backup of a tape, you must make sure that the tape you want to preserve is
able to be read. In other words, don't expect miracles from a wrinkled-up tape.
Make sure that the tape winds and unwinds properly and is that the tape guides and pressure pad in
the cassettes (the square of foam on a spring that holds the tape against the head) is still in good
condition. Because if it isn't, then the tape drifts across or away from the head during playback and
it will be very hard to get a good signal that way. In some cases you can replace the presure pad by
using one from another tape, borrowing it or repairing it using similar materials. Sometimes it's
even easier to just swap the reels of the tape into a cassette that has no problems.
It may be a good idea, to break out the write-protect notch of the tape you want to backup. Because
this way you can't accidentally record onto the tape and destroy it BEFORE you were able to make
a backup of it.
2019-10-27 Page 54 of 76 CASSIOPEI v2.0