GENERAL HANDLING GUIDELINES

All tapes and CDs must be handled with care. Careless practices, such as leaving CDS on a table without protecting them, result in scratches or chips. A tape left in the production studio unmarked and out of the box is an invitation for someone to erase it. Therefore, tapes and CDs must be cared for according to standard industry techniques and practices.

Cleanliness is paramount. Areas where tapes and CDs are used and stored should be free of dust, high humidity and excessive heat. Keep your hands clean and avoid touching the surfaces of tapes and CDs with your fingers.

Store tapes in their original boxes. The boxes should be clearly labeled and stored in the appropriate location. You should store tapes vertically to keep the reels from bending and to prevent packing them tightly. The ends of the tapes should be secured to the reels with masking tape before storing them. Do not use transparent adhesive tape because the adhesive can damage recording tape.

Handle CDs so the surfaces are not exposed to fingerprints, dirt, and so forth. As mentioned earlier, you should always store CDs in their protective jewel boxes.