How to Flip Reels on a Tape Machine

Two track reel-to-reel tape machines have songs on both sides of the tape so you have to flip the reels over in order to listen to the other side. Although flipping the reels over is simple, you have to take care when doing so in order to ensure that you don't damage the music on either side of the tape.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Switch the tape machine off. It takes time to flip reels on a tape machine, so it's best just to turn the machine off.

2. Turn the reels. You need to loosen the tape before you flip the reels. Begin doing so by manually turning the tape on the right hand side (as you are looking at it) clockwise and turning the tape on the left hand side counter clockwise about a half a turn.

3. Loosen the tape reels from the machine. To do this, simply pull up on the pegs in the center of the reel.

4. Remove the reels from the machine. Hold the reels by the plastic or metal casing to avoid touching the tape.

5. Flip the tapes over. Holding the tapes by the plastic or metal casings, you need to flip them over so the opposite sides of the tape are facing up, toward you.

6. Put the tape back on the machine. Once the tapes are flipped, go ahead and place them back on the machine, making sure that the tape that was originally on the right hand side of the machine (as you're looking at it) is now on the left hand side and vice versa.

Tips & Warnings

• Mark the plastic or metal casings of the tape. Putting numbers or letters on each side of the tape helps to make sure you are flipping the tape to the correct side.
• Don't forget to lock the tape reels back down. The tapes will go flying off the machine if you don't lock the pegs back down to hold the tape in place.

Resources

• Learn more about reel-to-reel tape at audiotools.com.
• Find reel-to-reel troubleshooting tips at fixya.com.