This remnant will be replaced soon. The FAQ is back, with a new design! What makes a good tape deck Making copies (single-well three-heads): When copying tapes, it's best to have two single-well decks (rather than one dual-well "dubbing" deck), and to record using a three-head deck in order to make the most faithful duplication. Even better would be to use a three-head for play and record, but if you only have one three-head then use it to record. Three heads are better than two: Decks which can only play tapes have a single head. Decks that can both play and record have two heads: a record/playback head and an erase head, which prepares the tape to be recorded on by aligning the ferrite particles to "pre-erase" it. A three-head deck separates the record/playback head into two heads, and optimizes each for its specific job. Metal: Q: Why does my tape player say that my XLIIS tape is metal What it is "sensing" is a very simple code built into the tape shell. Look on the tape, at the opposite end of where it's open any you can see the tape, and there are the two little square "safety" tabs at the ends, right If those tabs are the only holes on top of the tape, it's position normal. If, right next to those holes, there are other holes the same size, or more frequently just the "safety hole" doubled in size without the breakaway tabs in half of it, that's a position II, chrome tape. If, almost at the middle of the tape, there are two additional holes, then it's a metal or position IV. These holes are what automatic sensors sense. (Andrew Croke 4/30/96) See also Michael Leone's Guide to Decks & Taping. Thanks to Nicholas J. Enright <njenrigh@mtu.edu>, Daniel W. Mielcarz <Daniel.W.Mielcarz@Dartmouth.EDU>, Paul England <ettsn@mindspring.com>, Seth H Crothers <scrothers@baxglobal.com>, and Eric Burns <ericb@NOSPAM.softaware.com>. "I'll do free love, I'll do free drugs, but I won't do free jazz." -- K.H. This page last updated January 24, 2007. All contents © 1992-2007 Ellis Godard. All rights reserved.