Maybe Andy hasn't seen this one, but CaiLube MCL has saved my ass in recent years. It's a Moving Contact Lubricant for potentiometers, meaning faders, volume knobs and such. I picked it up hoping that the noisy faders on my used console would stop crackling during mixes, and a few shots of this foamy liquid into the slots and a little working it in and the problems were solved. It has also been perfect for crackly guitar volume/tone knobs, the controls for an old EQ unit, and other parts on my console. Every studio should have a can around. (www.caig.com)

Tape Op is a bi-monthly magazine devoted to the art of record making.

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