Why we bulk erase tape before using again

Why tape needs to be bulk erased, duh!

[@THOMMGB]

It was good of you to show how to use one of these bulk tape erasers. Most people probably don't have a clue how to bulk erase tape. I've got the identical bulk tape eraser that I purchased new and on sale at Radio Shack back on 9/25/90 for $21.95 + tax. That's USA dollars. It's still in the original box with all the paperwork. I don't use mine near as much as you do. The instructions say that regular tape takes about 10 to 20 seconds to erase while metal tape needs at least 20 seconds per side, for what that's worth. Regards, Tom Regards, Tom

[@Brown_Sound]

Back in my early post USAF days, I worked as a contractor at the off-site software testing facility for Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs. Our facility was also the off-site tape storage and servicing for the Mountain. Most of the tapes were of the 'Secret' variety (OS, diags or system stuff), but about once a week, a courier would bring in a container(s) of 'Top Secret' tapes or disks for wiping. Our degaussing unit was the size of a refrigerator with a door like a microwave on the top half. We would put a few tapes in the unit, push the button, stand back and prepare to be startled, lol. Sound was very random, metallic and LOUD. The bottom of the chamber had thick rubber insert and we were told whatever was in there would briefly levitate, so it cushioned the fall. If a hard disk drive was done (rarely), every transistor or diode would be blown on it's PCB (that really pissed off the software vendors, or should I say new HDD buyers, lol.) What a crazy machine that was, but I bet a salvage yard magnet, reversed, would do major damage also. Thoughts?

[@NikoNoxious]

I heard of these dudes in New Meixco who tried that. It worked even through reinforced police station walls. Wiped this whole laptop of all the data. Apparently they were making high grade narcotics in an underground lab but had been filmed.

[@Solitaire001]

Very good video. I also found bulk erasing essential when using Digital Conpact Cassette (DCC) tapes. Once, I recorded over a DCC tape and while playing the tape it suddenly fast forwarded to the next track on its own. With DCC tapes you can add various electronic marks to the tape that causes the player to automatically take an action. One of those marks is the Skip Mark, which causes the player to fast forward to the next track (useful for skipping over parts of a recording you don't want to hear). I realized that the I had put a Skip Mark in the previous recording and it hadn't been erased. Bulk erasing the tape before recording solved the problem.

[@organfairy]

I don't know about America but in Europe full track was often used by reporters. They could record in the field with a Nagra or Uher Report and then edit on a half track stereo console when they returned to the station.

[@zx8401ztv]

That bulk eraser is ideal, i could have done with one of those years ago, when i re-used video tapes. I have a small device called a Han-de-mag, 220v palm sized demag, it has a red horn probe for doing tape heads, on the rear the metal of the transformer is visable for other uses. I have to limit how long it's on too, gets dam hot lol. I've used it to demag a mates tv crt, very good.

[@neilforbes416]

I worked at 2NUR-FM, Newcastle(on the campus of Newcastle University) in Australia as a volunteer from 1988 to 1992. They had a bulk eraser that was an electromagnet under a belt/pulley arrangement. You turn on the eraser, place the tapes on at one end and take them off as the reach the other end, passing over the electromagnet as they go. Cassettes, open-reel, videotape, whatever format. pass one side of the tape then the other, job done! Failing that, pass the tape from one reel to the next past a permanent magnet, or, for an audio cassette, if you have a hand-winder, hold a permanent magnet to the opening where the tape would engage the head and crank the handle of the hand-winder, that's how I used to do it.

[@CoolDudeClem]

I've always wondered about this. I have a reel to reel recorder that dosn't appear to erase tapes properly, so when I play it back after recording something, there's still the faintest hint of the previous recording still on there, even on tapes that have NEVER been used in any other recorder. I wonder if the erase head is mis-aligned. I know the head works and is getting a signal because I probed the erase head with a coil while it was in record mode and I could see a high frequency AC sine wave on my scope.

[@12voltvids]

Yes if the tapes were only used on that recorder and are not erasing completely then it could very well be the erase head is out of alignment, or the bias is low.

[@darinb.3273]

It may also be a weak signal going to the erase head.... those machines are very old and unless its been serviced electronically as well as mechanically those types of results will happen

[@RoughJustice2k18]

This is a very useful "guide" and could also apply to good working hard drives pulled out of laptops or desktops prior to disposal, re-use, or re-sale - if you wish to protect privacy and security.

[@jeffreyhickman3871]

I just saw Tecmoan’s bulk tape eraser video that he just made yesterday. It sounds like 👍 this is a security device for office use, and the like 👍. Some bulk tape erasers ✏️ are electric, and the tapes are erased by an internal electromagnet. Other bulk tape erasers are non electric, so they must have an internal permanent magnet 🧲. This also thoroughly erases cassettes. Your friend, Jeff.

[@MVVblog]

I was made my bulk eraser with one very big transformer that i had lying around in my lab for years. It works perfectly with all of my tapes, even videotapes, but not so good with the metal one, i mean Metal Compact Cassette.

[@12voltvids]

MVVblog Metal video taped 8mm and DV are also harder to erase with a bulk eraser.

[@zafarkhan7783]

Lovely, explained in detail. Double magnet bulk erasures were also useful which did not require power. Lots of regards

[@12voltvids]

Any big magnet will do, but many of them will leave that swish sound when you pull the magnet away because they polarize the tape. An AC eraser neutralizes the tape completely. This is why you keep moving, and pull the eraser away slowly. Permanant magnet types leave the same result as when I turned it off when on the tape.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

More great stuff. Never had a bulk eraser, just a tape head eraser. I may see about a bulk eraser for the heck of it. I don't really use open reel, but I do have VHS tapes, compact and micro cassettes.The head demagnetiser (sp?) works similarly.Short time on, longer time off, and moving it away slowly while still on.

[@govorit]

can I use this tool for chrome audio cassettes?

[@n9ntm1992]

Yes works on chrome and metal tapes as well. At least the high powered model that he was using, sold at Radio Shack. There were two different models sold and one that was high powered was made for also erasing video tape along with chrome and metal audio cassettes.

[@Musicradio77Network]

Interesting stuff. I have my Concord 220T which is a full track mono reel tape recorder which was a popular model for its time. It’s a 2-track only unit. You can record OTR shows at 1 7/8 IPS for longer recording. My Akai 1721W is 4-track stereo with two for each track which was split into 2 programs left and right when you switch to 1/4 and 2/3 and stereo in the middle. And also my Grundig TK 247 which was a German import reel tape recorder and it has a DC motor and it runs a tad slow. Otherwise works perfectly.

[@TehSmokeyMan]

Soo, that heavy high-power hum you hear in sci-fi movies etc. can be made with an AC magnet and a tapedeck? Sweet... Also, good tip on de-magging tape (and that one on building a degausser for your tapeheads)... BTW; will degaussing work with a magnet driven by a function generator (it only has ~7Vrms, but can produce any ol' frequency)?

[@MetalGreggNY75]

I used bulk erasers at the community college when I was earning my associates degree in Radio-TV Production from 93-95. I also I had to remember that when using the bulk eraser to make sure your wallets & analog watches were away be cause if you had debit/credit cards in your wallet it could demagnetize the strip.

[@benlopez4788]

Thanks for the video. I just purchased a bulk eraser after watching this

[@dimitridekoning]

Hey man, i like your video's, keep it up! :)

[@harrystevens3885]

Seeing the drawings was enough to know why...........Like your videos by the way...:)

[@12voltvids]

Yes sometimes it is easier to understand if it is shown on paper, and then demonstrated.

[@hakonsoreide]

Nice video. My reel-to-reel recorder seems to erase so well any audio residue is below hiss level, and since I am using it for its lo-fi qualities rather than hi-fi, I would be quite happy to retain some noise from previous recordings. At some point I might find use for a bulk eraser, though, and now I know how to use one.

[@12voltvids]

Bulk erasing will reduce to below the hiss. It will actually lower the hiss too.

[@hakonsoreide]

If it lowers the hiss, I probably shouldn’t use one. It might sound too good. Also, bizarrely, it seems all tape erasers for sale are in America and none in Europe.

[@waterbuddy92]

good stuff! thx for taking the time to educate dummies like me!

[@smvwees]

10:23 i can feel a Hainbach installation coming.😄

[@ObsessionoftheMonth]

any interaction with your channel, thumbs up, down, watching a video, commenting actually helps a channel, youtube doesn't use thumbs down against you.

[@12voltvids]

I know that, it is the comments he makes about reporting me to youtube. There is nothing to report as I am following their guidelines, and then he makes personal attacks, like commenting on my bench, calling me a slob, hoarder ect. Those comments are personal attacks, and I could report those to youtube, and have his account terminated.

[@SDsailor7]

Does it matter if you remove the tape fast from the bulk eraser or do you have to remove it slowly?very informative videoThank you

[@SDsailor7]

I was just using the bulk eraser that I have and I think I did not do It properly now is see how its done. I hope I did not burn it up because it stopped working hopefully it just stopped due to being on for more than one minute I will know tomorrow.

[@charliehustle5529]

maybe you could do a vid on win and why to use the right safety cap on a power cord win restoring a old tube radio like y2 or x2 it would help me . thanks to you i stopped throwing stuff in the trash like TV,s and radios . i try to fix them now . and i do use a isolation transformer for safety thanks

excellent presentation.

[@davidschwartz9636]

I could really do with a bulk tape eraser. Unfortunately, they go for a lot of money in the UK. Someone told me that I could make one using an old transformer. How about doing a video on that, just like you say, a bulk eraser is a necessary bit of kit to have.

[@12voltvids]

Well you have to cut the transformer apart and remove the secondary coil. It would have to be a pretty beefy transformer. My bulk eraser draws about 8 amps and can only run for 30 seconds at a time before a 20 minute cool down cycle.

[@jpdesroc]

I have the same Bulk eraser you have (Realistic 44-233A) that I just bought nearly in mint condition. It draws a correct 8.5amps while holding the top button and shuts of after around 1 min of use. Then go back for use after a while.. OK. Now here is my probem with it.. This is the first time I use it trying to erase small video cassettes '8' format. I do the correct erasing procedure (slow circular movements all over the cassettes) but when I test back theses cassettes there are stil video informations on the tape but with intermittent blank screens.. I take my time doing circles on both sides of the cassettes for the 1 minute allowed, but it won't completely erase them.. I begin to suspect the type of tape used in these cassettes. It looks like they are METAL types. For examples these cassettes: TDK HS120 metal particle tape, or Fujifilm P6-120. Every cassette that I've tried to erase I did it more than 3 times each ! 1 minute on every passes.. But still visible scrambled video left.. Are these cassettes too hard to erase for such a bulk eraser like the 44-233A ?

[@12voltvids]

I erased 8mm and hi8 tapes as well as digital 8 and dv tapes with it. It does take longer and you have to spend more time with the center of the eraser positioned over the tape pack. I go back and forth over the tape pack in both directions a few times and then turn the tape over and do it again on the other side. They are metal and are harder to bulk erase but they will erase completely.

[@jpdesroc]

Thanks for your fast reply.. So it seems this 44-233A is behaving normally ? iI'll try with more passes on both sides and see what comes out.. JP

[@jpdesroc]

I've finally been able to faster erase these anoying metal cassettes.. I just leave the bulk eraser on the center of the cassette' full reel side and stay almost still (or moving very slowly). This helps the eraser magnetism go deeper inside the tape. And my Bulk allow around 90sec. for each shot so.. Enough in one shot to get rid of any recorded leftover. Thank you anyway !

[@n9ntm1992]

And remember don't release the trigger when pulling the tape away from the bulk eraser. You'll get a cleaner erasure as he showed us I the video. Learned something myself on how to properly erase tapes with that particular bulk tape eraser of which I own myself.

[@tvtech2582]

I just now read all the comments from your new friend J.S. wow. Now I understand what a troll you were talking about.

[@bones007able]

I was hoping you were going to make a DIY bulk eraser

[@vk3hau]

Its amazing what some ppl complain about, seems there will all ways be a hater who has subscribe, its like they love to hate.

[@12voltvids]

Just go and read his comments on other videos. The guy is a looser. Lets hope he gets the message that I really don't care if he watches or not. I have enough views now that I am making money. I don't know if you saw his rant where he suggested I shouldn't be relying on youtube and how he tried to come off as "better" and I fired right back. This is a part time gig for me that makes me a few bucks. Enough to keep me interested, and allow me to buy new things. I am picking up another old vintage radio from the early 30's tomorrow.

[@tvtech2582]

I never realized that an audio tape deck did not have a full erase head like a VCR.So that is one reason why bulk erase units exist.Keep that away from your credit cards with a magnetic strip. Of course as you know the same applies when degaussing coil ,pull it away slow or leave a nice spot.

[@12voltvids]

Our credit cards here all have a chip on them.

[@neilforbes416]

What? No fish?(Fish & Chips! LOL)

[@hakonsoreide]

A full erase head would only make sense if the entire width of the tape needs to be erased in one go, like it does on a VHS tape. When you record, you may want to record over just one of the four tracks, keeping the other three, hence the erase head needs to cover just a single track on a mono 4-track, or two tracks on a stereo 4-track. It would sometimes have been nice to have an extra erase-all head that could be engaged to clear everything in one go, of course, but since the method shown in this video is faster and easier, I don't think any reel-to-reel recorders ever had such a feature.

[@ruthlesscutthroat4030]

my eraser head is erasing about 80% of audio, it still can be heard. what could be the issue, not good enough contact since its paired right next to another head side by side. or needs more voltage?

[@12voltvids]

Well that totally depends on what type of tape you're trying to record. Different tape types need different amounts of erase signal to erase it. For example if you put a metal tape in a deck that does not have a metal setting it will only partially erase the tape the same goes for if you put a chrome tape in a deck that is only designed for standard tape. Most mini systems for example only recorded correctly on standard tape not high bias or metal. Most old vintage decks only recorded on standard or chrome tape. Now hi bias tape uses the chrome setting on most tape decks and that has to deal more with the equalization but high quality high buys tapes actually take a stronger signal to wipe them than the original chrome tapes did back in the 70s. If you have a tape deck that has a switch for normal and chrome it should work fine on real chrome tapes but may not completely erase a high bias tape. To avoid confusion tape type was replaced with type 1 type 2 type 3 and type 4. If your tape deck does have the required settings and it's not erasing correctly then it's because the bias is too low. The race head could be damaged misaligned or even dirty.

[@ruthlesscutthroat4030]

@@12voltvids thanks for the info. its probably the bias (not that I know what it means) I'm only saying that is cause its an old 8 track echo machine. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooKndYuZatx6f8k

[@MikinessAnalog]

You're the LAST person I thought would have a troll following them LOL. Some people seem to think they have a right to not be offended. Place no value on the opinions of haters because it can be super entertaining to see how they react when you do not LOL

[@12voltvids]

Trolls? Fuck I have stalkers.

[@MikinessAnalog]

@@12voltvids I believe you, but it is illogical. You are a technician performing your work on video, in essence teaching. Why anyone would be "jealous" makes no sense. I have had people not believe I make the remixes I create, but I took that as a compliment. Big hugz from Fukuoka Kyushu

[@antraciet]

Thanks for this tip.

[@FeCr3]

VERY useful to know! I have some "thumbs down troll" on my channel too. Best way: Don't care and don't waste oxygen or any other energy for it .

[@Musicradio77Network]

And speaking of trolls and thumbs down, I blocked “TBONE2004” yesterday and keeps harassing me on the comments that he/she says “No one like you (100 times) and now move the f### away!” That’s not a great idea. This is why I followed the rules. No trolling, spamming, or cursing. I’ve seen these comments on one of my videos and keeps harassing me. I remember when people disrespect the loss of Emer Prevost, because I was a fan of his series. That was old news. And some people kept called me a GoFag, but I’m not a GoFag, but I’m a good user, and I can do whatever I want to do. I write children’s books and I made illustrations for it, and I’m still busy with my personal life and also focus on my “MTN Gang” which is my own web series based on one of my fanboys. I’m trying to get myself busy and never have to worry again.

[@alcameron6071]

MTN Productions blocking people works. Why would anybody tolerate some jerk off harassing them on their own channel, when they have the capability of blocking them?

[@CLS2086]

Not all the tape ! Tape for Datastorage and some Digital video format got some timecode that must not be erased.

[@12voltvids]

Data tape has formatting sectors. Video tape is also bulk erased. If the tape is used for insert editing new time code is laid down. If it is a new assembled recording it is not as the time code is laid down during initial recording and then insert editing will use the new time code for the insert shots.

[@mitch19636]

Increased signal to noise ratio?

[@12voltvids]

Mitchell McCreath Yes a wider track gives a higher signal output over the background noise.

[@cormachobrien7714]

well done. thanks.

[@Mikexception]

Recording to tape on half track results in better signal to noise. But I wouldn't overestimate gains. Noise is produced by two sources - tape noise and amplifier's noise. For tape noise no gain can be obtained . I see another reason of bulk earse for 4 track recordings - obviously some residuum od track after ersing may be left, with vertical movement ot tape it may be heard in silence moments. It affects in bad cases also tapes recorded on other RtoR. If one likes to listen at very high level it is adviced to earse all.

[@12voltvids]

I believe that is exactly what I said. Half and full track tape increased the signal to noise ratio. We are not talking huge increases, but it does improve the signal to noise, and also reduces the effect of drop outs as more oxide would have to be lost before complete signal loss.

[@waptek2]

8.5 amps times 120 volts = 1020 watts

[@bones007able]

Isn't a bulk eraser just a transformer ? should be easy to make one ....

[@MrElectrowhiz]

It is a form of a transformer. All that needs to be done is to change the direction of the plates of the transformer to face the same direction., and remove the secondary windings.

[@truthfinder4973]

that tape was crying it was in ;pain when it was jumping lol dang mind wipe

[@shadowshop1]

hi there's about 3 top youtube guys that are having a bad time with them fools leaving bad remarks the one computer man who doe's live computer makes is having a had time it's all the tec video are getting hit all the time by fools it's got bad this year i i please you know what you are talking about i deal with pro audio reel to reel myself i know about them carts i buy used nab cart take all the tape out put zapped 8 track tape inside them. the 8 tape case is wearing out where the pinch roller is wearing down. i am using a top end otari units 100% the full track head will kill all the sound on the tape. all way best to buy the best recorder you can get the sony units are not all that good. had some in the past i please you telling them all the right info

[@tvtech2582]

While brushing my teeth before bed I realized why audio tape decks do not have a full erase head, because if they did you would never have a side B to listen to,WOW.

[@12voltvids]

Right

[@tvtech2582]

PS, do not spam me now! I has to reply .I could not believe what I heard you say.Some people are just nuts,Steve.

[@12voltvids]

Nuts they are. Notice that he hasn't commented yet.

[@alcameron6071]

So here’s a thought. If somebody keeps harassing you, don’t you have the capability of blocking them like you’re on a Facebook page? Nobody wants to hear you crying when we’re trying to learn about a bulk eraser. Just block him from your channel, and get on with it dude.