Buckingham Nicks - "Preserving the Goods"...

[SpyNote]

Originally Posted by Steviegirl

What does "baked" mean, please?

It's literally baking the tape in an oven... I wasn't aware that it's a one time deal. Here's more on the baking process:

http://www.terranovamastering.com/ma...ry.html#baking
BAKING TAPES:
Most analog tapes recorded prior to 1990, probably need to be "baked", before transfer. The fee to bake is charged PER TAPE. A diagnostic check of the materials by our engineers is required before we accept the project. The baking process is time consuming and precise, and the process is attended by the engineer. The client must be aware that this process is not guaranteed by our company. It is a last resort to salvaging a tape that has not been taken care of. Over a number of years, the iron oxide peels or flakes off of the tape itself, and baking the tape in a specifically designated oven, usually forces the iron oxide back onto the tape. After the baking is complete, there is a two week window for the tapes to be transferred to another format. After the tapes are baked once, and they have been transferred, they will start to flake again, and cannot be salvaged any further. One baking session, one transfer, and the life of the tape is over.