Fostex XR-7 User Manual

Maintenance
1. Cleaning the exterior
• For normal cleaning, use a soft dry cloth.
For stubborn dirt, moisten a cloth in diluted detergent, wring it out firmly, and wipe the dift
off. Then polish with a dry cloth.
Never use solvents such as alcohol, thinner or benzene, since these will damage the printing
and finish of the exterior.
2 . Cleaning the head, roller and capstan
• Record/playback head
As the XR-7 is used, the record/playback head will become coated with oxide residue from
the tapes. If this residue is allowed to build up, recordings will contain more noise, and
dropouts may occur during playback. To prevent this, regular cleaning is important. Use a
commercially available cleaning kit etc. to clean the head. If cleaning the head does not
restore the sound quality, it is possible that the head is worn. Contact an authorized service
station for repair.
• Capstan and pinch roller
The capstan and pinch roller are important parts that hold the tape and move it along at the
correct speed. As with the head, these parts can also become dirty with oxide residue and
dust, which will cause increased wow or flutter, or even damage the tape by pulling it out
of the cassette.
Since cassette tape is very thin, it is especially dangerous to use a cassette deck with dirty
pinch rollers. As with the head, it is important to always keep these parts clean. Clean them
using a cotton swab or gauze soaked in cleaning solution or isopropyl alcohol. Never use
organic solvents such as lacquer thinner, since this will severely damage the pinch rollers.
3. Demagnetizing the head
After long periods of use, the head begins to develop a magnetic field in addition to the oxide
residue described above. This can also occur if a magnet or a magnetized object {scissors,
etc.) is allowed to come near the head or touch it. If the head or capstans become
magnetized, frequency response will be degraded and noise will increase. In extreme cases,
noise can be created on previously recorded tapes that you playback, rendering them
useless.
Once a month or so, you shou Id use a demagnetizer {head eraser) to demagnetize the head.
Carefully read and follow the instructions included with your demagnetizer, and do not
allow it to come near recorded tapes.

Fostex XR-7 Specifications

General

Brand	Fostex
Model	XR-7
Category	Recording Equipment
Language	English