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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Recording Media => Topic started by: ellaguru on November 17, 2010, 03:31:51 PM

Title: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: ellaguru on November 17, 2010, 03:31:51 PM
had my 1 st DAT tape break on a misload today on the D8...tape was problematic (a couple digi zaps) on the da-45hr, so i figured id throw it in the original deck for a wav conversion.  something told me as i shut the lid on the D8 that i was about to kiss this tape goodbye...and sure as shit...misload/lunched tape..the break is at the start of the hub.

i would be willing to compensate someone if they could get it back together for me.  i have 'zero' skills when it comes to splicing tape. 

i was the only taper at the gig

thanks for your time..
chris


Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: aosone on November 17, 2010, 03:40:58 PM

I've done it, but am not willing to do another.
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: live2496 on November 17, 2010, 03:44:18 PM
I will repair it for you.

Gordon
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: ellaguru on November 17, 2010, 04:52:48 PM
I will repair it for you.

Gordon

pm sent...thanks a ton
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: it-goes-to-eleven on November 17, 2010, 04:53:16 PM
It sounds like you're in luck...  Though I did find this but of advice that seemed worth passing on.  If I was around, I'd offer to help.  Don't forget to wear gloves.
--



You need to be very careful splicing DAT tape -- or video tape for that matter.

The heads on the spinning drum sit slightly proud of the surface and a tape splice running through can chop the head off in an instant. I've been in the room when that has happened (twice, in fact)! Result, one dead DAT machine and you still can't play the tape!

You can physically splice the tape, if you have some splicing tape and the appropriate talent, but make sure that the splice is placed a turn or two onto the take-up spool and be really, really careful not to play that region over the heads.

If you don't have the resources to splice the tape, then you might be able to clip the end of the good bit of tape into the take up spool hub directly in place of the original leader, although that's much easier with some cassette shell designs than others...

At least you'll be able to extract the rest of the tape that way, which is better than nothing.
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: live2496 on December 15, 2010, 10:12:41 PM
Ellaguru's tape got fixed. The break was close to the beginning, so I was able to cut of a small garbled section of tape and reattach the tape to the leader. The splice was out of reach of the heads so there should not be any risk of damage to the heads. Afterwards I was able to play the tape with my DAT player.

I have some pics of the procedure and can post them if anyone is interested.
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: andromedanwarmachine on December 23, 2010, 06:18:56 AM
I would be interested actually!

Did you have the proper tape?? (adhesive, so to speak)

JimP
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: live2496 on December 23, 2010, 09:06:30 AM
Cassette splicing tape works for this. I bought mine at Radio Shack probably over 10 years ago now. I wonder if they still stock it??? The splicing tape is a bit wider and once the splice is made I trim the excess with sharp scissors.

One trick is opening the protective cover (that protects the tape) and then keeping that propped open with something. So far I have never had to take a tape out of a shell. I think it's good to avoid that. With a worst possible case I think I would use a good tape to fix a bad tape. (take all of the blank tape out of one shell and load the recorded tape into it)

Most breaks occur at the leader, maybe from a misload.
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: live2496 on December 23, 2010, 11:14:10 AM
pictures:

(http://live2496.com/jpeg/tape-splice-1.jpg)

(http://live2496.com/jpeg/tape-splice-2.jpg)

(http://live2496.com/jpeg/tape-splice-3.jpg)

The bottom cover needs to be slid back which is exactly what is done when a tape is loaded by a recorder. There are two tabs that need to be depressed simultaneously to slide the cover back. This also releases the nylon clutches which keep the tape from turning when the tape is not loaded.

Once the bottom cover is moved it locks into position. You have to move the protective (hinged) tape cover out of the way. I use some interdental cleaners for this as in the picture. I also use them to hold the tape in place within the splicing block.

Very importantly the splice should be applied to the backside away from contacting the head when the tape is playing. This doesn't really apply in this example because the splice is at the leader but you will want to do that for sure if the tape breaks somewhere in the middle of the recording.

Cut and apply a section of splicing tape. And then use something to press down on the splice to ensure that there is a good contact. Trim the excess with scissors.

It's entirely possible to make a mistake of course. You might have flipped the tape over the wrong way. If that happens to you, then you won't hear any recording. Redo the procedure and flip it the right way. Hey, it's an opportunity to practice your tape splicing skills!

With a steady hand and a bit of patience, you might just get that prized recording back!

Happy splicing!!!


Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: OakBloodThree on December 23, 2010, 07:14:02 PM
The heads on the spinning drum sit slightly proud of the surface and a tape splice running through can chop the head off in an instant. I've been in the room when that has happened (twice, in fact)! Result, one dead DAT machine and you still can't play the tape!
Anybody have an idea what symptoms/physical evidence would be left behind if the head was "chopped off"?

I spliced a DAT today with a break near the leader like in the photos on this thread and it started to play, but the audio broke up so I ejected it.  I couldn't see anything physically wrong with the tape.  I tried playing another tape and I get nothing (no timecode is read).
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: andromedanwarmachine on January 01, 2011, 03:22:43 PM
amazing footage actually!- well done for documenting it.

I've got to tell you I am totally unfamiliar with the concept of heads being 'chopped off', myself...

can someone expand on this??

Happy New Year!

JimP
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: morst on January 05, 2011, 09:34:33 PM
I spliced a DAT tape a few months ago that had broken, and then the ends had gotten wound back into the DAT. It was pretty easy to get the DAT apart, and in fact, may have been easier than having to fight the springs with toothpicks. Great idea to use the old RatShack cassette splicing tape, and trim the edges. I bet most everyone who bought their splice kits used half an inch of tape and still has the rest. I bet I do!!
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: shmurg on November 29, 2020, 02:06:09 PM
Well, after 20 years I started the transfer of my DATs.  One snapped at the wheel.  Anyone know who can fix that?  I am not new to the board as indicated on the avatar, lol.  I remember buying tapersection.com tshirts 20 years ago!  Anyway, any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: live2496 on November 30, 2020, 12:15:59 AM
I can still do this if you want to send it. PM me. It's much like repairing a VCR tape.
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: morst on December 28, 2020, 03:52:20 AM
Spamazon has splicing tape for about $11 and I can help if others are not available.
I re-shelled a DAT about a year ago and it was simple enough.
My buddy had one where the plastic "flap" had broken off, and he supplied me with a brand new tape to move the reels into.
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: jeenash on December 28, 2020, 06:29:12 AM
I was successful a few times with scotch tape.  I didn't let the splice run over the heads at all. Lost a minute or so but not the whole thing.
Title: Re: ever repair a broken DAT tape?
Post by: morst on December 29, 2020, 12:59:12 PM
I was successful a few times with scotch tape.  I didn't let the splice run over the heads at all. Lost a minute or so but not the whole thing.
If you can be *totally* sure that it won't contact the head, I don't see why this would be a problem for a one-time transfer. But don't put it back into the collection without a VERY OBVIOUS mark on it!