Analog tape should be kept away from magnetic fields and heat sources at all times. For long term storage, metal reels with an un-slotted hub should be used. They should also be stored with the end of the program or “tail” of the tape on the out side of the reel. This practice is referred to as “tails out” and is done to reduce audio degradation known as print through. Print through causes a delayed or echo sound in the program and as a result the magnetic tape prints through onto the next layer of tape spooled beneath it. Additional practices that aid in reducing print through distortion are the use of low print tape and playing of the tape one full pass once a year.

Reel-to-reel tapes should also be stored tightly or evenly packed in a sturdy, dust-proof tape care box. A tightly packed tape is a tape that is spooled snugly and evenly around the hub. This reduces damage to the edges of the tape. Tape care boxes containing reels should be stored vertically so the stress caused by the weight of the tape rests on the hub or on the center of the reel. The room chosen to store reels in should be at a constant temperature of 50? F to 70? F and a relative humidity of 40% to 60%.

For optimum program playback, the tape machine used should be properly maintained. The magnetic heads and tape path of the machine should be cleaned prior to playback using 91% or higher isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs. This prevents distortion caused from dust, dirt and oxide shed from the tape. The machine’s tape path should be cleaned after every pass for reels exhibiting sticky shed syndrome. For more severe reels playback should be stopped at breaks in program and cleaned during the pass. The playback and record heads of the tape machine should also be regularly degaussed, or demagnetized after approximately 10 to 12 hours of use.