Fostex X-28 - Routine Maintenance

• If possible, use two pair of speakers for monitoring.
Get a pair of accurate mixdown speakers for refer¬
ence. In addition, listen to your mix with a pair of
speakers that are similar to the ones on which the
music will normally be heard. Pro engineers call this
monitor/reai-life comparison mixing. Switch back
and forth between the two sets of speakers as you
rehearse your mixdown. This will help eliminate
“dead" spots in the frequency response of your final
mix.
• How are your cables, guitar strings, amplifier,
speakers, etc.? Are they new and/or in top shape?
If any of your equipment uses batteries, make sure
they are fresh. Also, if your equipment is not at its
best, can you borrow or rent better equipment? It’s
really worth it.
• Keep track of all your equipment and settings by
marking them. This is especially important for your
cables. Fold stickers around the ends of your cables
so that you know what they are and where they go.
Be sure to use tape that doesn't leave a sticky mess,
such as drafting tape; avoid masking tape and duct
tape.
• If you have a lot of other equipment, such as synthe¬
sizers and signal processors, you would do well to
invest in a patch bay or two. Patch bays are like
telephone switchboards — they provide a control
center that lets you easily connect the inputs and
outputs of all your equipment. They are especially
convenient if you’re constantly reaching in back of
bulky equipment to unplug and plug cords.
• Beware of rheostats — the electric switches that let
you gradually dim or brighten your lights. They may
look pleasant enough, but they can add a horrible
hum to your recording. Never, under any circum¬
stances, plug your recorderorother related electronic
equipment into an AC circuit controlled by artieostat.
• By the same token, beware of air conditioners,
refrigerators, and fluorescent and neon lights; these
also are sources of electronic noise and hum.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
In addition to the normal care required of all electronic
equipment —- namely, keeping it dry, clean and free of
dust, and avoiding temperature/humidity extremes —
the recorder section of your X-26 requires regular
cleaning and demagnetizing to keep it in top operating
condition.
As the tape passes over the heads and guides, and
between the pinch roller/capstan mechanism, a small
amount of oxide residue is left behind. This happens
with all tapes and all tape recorders. After a short time,
you can see the tape residue accumulating on the
heads, but you cannot see the magnetism. Each re¬
quires its own cleaning procedure.
For cleaning tape residue, always keep an ample
supply of cotton swabs and proper cleaning solutions.
The heads,guidesandcapstan shaft should be cleaned
only with regular isopropyl alcohol solutions; the pinch
roller, with special rubber cleaning solutions. Be very
careful not to get any of the alcohol cleaner on the pinch
roller, since it eats away at the rubber. These cleaning
agents are available at most audio equipment and
musical instrument stores. You should only use cotton
swabs designed for cleaning audio equipment; swabs
with too little cotton can scratch the heads, while swabs
that are packed too loosely can leave damaging cotton
fibers in the mechanism.
Note: No organic solvents (such as laoquer thtnners)
should ever be used on the heads, capstan
shaft and guides. Do not use silicone lubricants
on the pinch roller! This will increase wow and
flutter.
If you get lazy or forgetful and allow the oxide deposits
to build-up, performance will suffer noticeably—espe¬
cially high-end response and wow & flutter. If you have
total disregard for these routine maintenance proce¬
dures. the heads could become magnetized and ruin
every tape you try to play. The simplest rule to follow is:
Clean and demagnetize before every session. If you
regularly conduct marathon recording sessions, do it
every 8 hours.
Note: For demagnetizing, use either a hand demag-
netizer to demagnetize the heads of the X-28.
Demagnetizing is vital to preserving the quality
of the recording heads, yet it is also a potentially
dangerous operation that can destroy circuits
and ruin the heads if used improperly. Follow
the instructions included with your device — to
the letter! Also, keep your recorded tapes away
from the demagnetizer when it is in use. since
they can be erased by it.
Also avoid cassette tapes with built-in or applied
cleaners as they often contain abrasives that will wear
out the heads of your X-28 prematurely.
- Final caution:- -
Don't smoke! Large studios forbid smoking in the
control room, and for a very good reason: the
particles of dust produced by cigarettes, cigars and
pipes may be invisible to you, but are like rocks and
boulders to your sensitive electronic equipment.
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