This remnant will be replaced soon. The FAQ is back, with a new design! How do I "unpack" tapes? What does that mean? What it is: "Unpacking" (also called "stacking" or "flexing") tapes means, as soon as open it from the plastic wrapper, and before you tape onto it, forward the tape to the very end, and then rewind all the way. This is purported to (a) take up any slack in the tape from settling during shipping, and/or (b) relieve tension from the tape having been wound too tight when manufactured, since otherwise what's taped the first time won't sound the same once the tape settles into normal tension (<jennm@itsa.ucsf.edu>), and/or (c) distribute some mysterious fluid across the entire tape (Jordan <PhiShow@aol.com>). (According to the rec.audio.* FAQ, "Almost all tapes are in some way lubricated, and these lubricants minimize wear and squeaking") This reportedly prevents sound fluctuations from recording source to future playbacks, particularly at the beginning of each side; and/or better preserves some sounds (e.g. Fishman's cymbals) and/or more generally reduces wow and flutter). Needless for analog? "People out there seem to have this idea that you have to always ff/rw blanks before dubbing onto them. ... The tape tells you that it needs to be unpacked, usually (it stops dead after about 30 revolutions into the dubbing process!!).". (Charlie Dirksen <dirkch00@dons.ac.usfca.edu> 2/21/98) It may in fact be necessary (or at least good practice) for DATs, particularly later on the tape (e.g. the third hour of a 90m tape) (Bill Hance <bill_hance@premier-research.com>, "but that doesn't mean shit for analogs." (Marc Olson <molson@ucla.edu> Thanks also to Dan Mielcarz <Daniel.W.Mielcarz@dartmouth.edu>. "My idea is to write music that has the rhythmic qualities of African music, like King Sunny Ade, with those cross-rhythms and rhythmic textures of African music, with the sonic textures of bluegrass and stringed-oriented music."" -- Trey, quoted in SonicNet 7/3/00" This page last updated February 03, 2007. All contents © 1992-2007 Ellis Godard. All rights reserved.