When to Demagnetize Tape Heads?

The frequency of demagnetizing will depend on the amount of work your tape recorder receives. When used on a regular basis in a professional recording studio, heads should be “demagged” once a week. The recommended demagnetizer is the “Han-D-Mag” by R.B. Annis Instruments, Inc.

Why do you demagnetize tape heads?

The wand's advantage lies in its demagnetizing other metal parts of the tape path, not just the heads. Used carelessly, it can increase the magnetization of the heads; if used too close to tapes, it can erase them.

Do you have to demagnetize a cassette player?

It is best to keep it moving all the time, even if the motion is small. Remember that demagnetizing is really just randomizing the polarities of the ferrous material in the components that have become polarized from working with the magnetized (recorded) tape.