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| Action | Reason | How to Implement | |--------|--------|-------------------| | | Reduces tension on the splice | Place the reel on a shelf, not stacked horizontally | | Maintain climate control | Prevents further backing brittleness | 16–18 °C, 40–50 % RH, low UV | | Use a “dummy” reel for playback | Avoids wear on the original master | Copy the repaired master to a safety copy (digital or analog) before any further use | | Periodic inspection | Detect early signs of re‑cracking | Every 6–12 months, visually inspect the splice and listen to a short segment | | Create a high‑resolution digital backup | Guarantees the audio survives even if the tape fails | 24‑bit/96 kHz (or higher) WAV files, stored on at least two separate media (e.g., LTO tape + cloud) | waves kramer master tape crack patched