45
Appendix
User’s Guide
Maintenance
The MT4X requires regular maintenance to remain in top operating condition. If you observe the following
problems, you should clean and possibly demagnetize the unit:
• A drop in level at high frequencies.
• An increase in wow and flutter.
• Fluctuating sound or signal dropout.
• Excessive noise.
Cleaning the recording head and
components
The record/playback head is in constant contact with
the recording tape. Over time it will become coated
with an oxide residue and need to be cleaned. The
other components — the capstan and pinchroller —
also tend to become coated with residue and dust
particles.
Pinchroller
Record/playback head
Erase head
Capstan
Clean the Shaded Areas
To clean the record/playback 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 record/playback head and the
capstan with a swab soaked in cleaning solution. It is best to clean the pinchroller with a non-alcohol based
rubber cleaning solution, which is often included in the cleaning kits. Alcohol tends to dry out and corrode
the rubber part of the roller.
You should clean the record/playback head and capstan after every 10 hours of use.
Demagnetizing the recording head
As the recording tape passes over the record/playback head, it tends to impart a tiny amount of
magnetism to the head. The head collects this magnetism over a period of time, slowly becoming
magnetized. You need to demagnetize the head using a commercially-available head demagnetizer. These
are also available at most audio and electronics shops.
You should demagnetize the record/playback head after every 20 to 30 hours of use.
Note:
Read the directions on the demagnetizer carefully. If you do not use the demagnetizer correctly, you could
seriously damage the record/playback head. Also, keep recorded tapes away from the demagnetizer when it is in use;
the demagnetizer can accidentally erase your tapes.
