Mute erase head of a Casette-deck so there is no gap when recording tape loops
last update: 31 January 2023
About:
These are instructions for modding a casette decks erase head to be manually disabled.
This is done for when you want to record tape loops. There is a distance between the erase head and the record head, becase of this distance
there is a gap in the recording when recording tape loops.
With this mod you can record a tape loop, and thenjust before you you press the stop button you can press the "mute erase head" button so the tape wont be erase for a verry short time
and the loop wil be fully recorded.
I have a Scherwood dd-2135C casette deck, but it should be a similar mod for another deck.
Important:
- Test if the casette deck works :).
- Unplug the power of the casette-deck, you dont want mains power to shock you.
- Try to mod it so you can still easily repair it if you make a mistake.
- This mod will not completely smoothly make a tape loop, there will still be clicks and such from when the button make contact and disconnects and such.
Looking for the erase head:
- Usually the record head is from metal, and the erase head from plastic.
- The erase head should be on the left of the record head.
- Open the casette decks door and press play, if the left and the richt head both move up then the erase head is probably electronically controlled,
and not a passive magnet, but a electromagnet that can be disabled.
- Look for the wires that come from the left head (when facing the casette player), if there are wires coming from it, it must be a electromagnet.
- Google the numbers on the Part to see what you can find out about it (in this case i googled "le15a cassette").
Modding the Erase Head:
- Follow the wires coming from it to the back, cut one of them and solder a (NC) Normally Closed pusch button to it (with extraction wires (so you can mount it to the front pannel).
Mount the push button:
- I mounted the push button on the left top corner, because it was the only place where i could put a button. (the left tape player is broken.)