What is tape baking?

Some tapes from the mid to late seventies need to be baked before they can be played or transferred. This applies to tapes with "sticky shed syndrome". Tapes that suffer from this become sticky and the oxide smears off of the tape ruining the recording. Baking a tape in a convection oven at a low temperature (130°) for 4 hours can repair the tape long enough to be transferred. This is a temporary fix. If the tape was to be played again in the future it would have to be baked again.

If you have tried playing a tape from this time period and it makes a screeching noise on the machine (not through speakers) it may suffer from this and need baking. Also, if a tape machine stops while playing back the tape it could be because the tape has sticky shed and is halting the machine. If you have tried playing a tape with sticky shed the machine will need to be cleaned before being used again. Any place the tape touched, heads, rollers etc. will need cleaned. Playing a tape with sticky shed ruins the tape. If you have any doubt have the tape professionally baked and transferred.

If we have to bake a tape we would notify you first and get your approval. This is not something we would surprise you with later.

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