When record and play back performance degrades a likely source of the problem is dirty or clogged heads. The environment in which the equipment is utilized is often less than desirable. It is critical for optimum performance that the heads are cleaned regularly.

Dirty and/or clogged heads and tape path can result in irregular and excessive head wear, low RF levels, S/N degradation, poor RF envelope shape, bearding, fast edge transitions and sporadic dropouts.

Recommendations:
1. Use isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth or chamois stick.
2. Clean thoroughly each of the head tips.
3. Clean the entire tape path as well as the entire drum surface itself. Be sure to check the machined helical tape guide along the lower edge of the lower drum.
4. Clean the pinch roller.
5. Remember, the cleaner the better. Continue cleaning until no contamination is visible.
6. Utilize a cleaning cassette to eliminate head clogs. Head clogs can be extremely difficult to clear using solvent.
7. Use SONY cleaning cassette BCT-5CLN for Betacam and Betacam SP VTRs
8. Use SONY cleaning cassette BCT-5CLN or BCT-D12CL for Digital Betacam.
9. Limit use of cleaning cassettes to 5-second intervals. Do not re-wind / re-use.

Notes:
The use of a cleaning cassette can also re-establish the proper contour, which may have been made irregular due to debris and contamination in the tape path.
For more information on the use of cleaning cassettes, refer to the Sony Broadcast & Communications Bulletin No. E-BVW-077. Feel free to contact us for a copy.