Its playing but the tape sounds weird. Why?
• The tape is not properly threaded. In Play mode, the correct side of the tape must be in contact with the Playback Head! • The tape was wound onto the reel ‘backwards’. This is sometimes done in an effort to mitigate an effect called imprinting. To play the tape, place it on the right table, rewind it onto an empty reel and play it back onto the original reel. • The tape was wound onto the reel ‘inside out’. The shiny side of the tape should usually face away from the center of the reel (and from the heads). NOTE: Thanks to Roger Winter for pointing out that there are a variety of tape types, some of which do not follow this convention. ‘Back-coated’ tapes have a lubricant on the side facing the heads, giving it a shiny appearance. • The tape may have gathered moisture and oxidation over time. References regarding baking ‘sticky’ or ‘shrieking’ tapes: http://www.tangible-technology.com/tape/baking1.html http://www.reeltoreel.de/worldwide/Tips.htm This link has some interesting backgr
