Blanking used tapes before reusing

[gamve]

Might seem like a dumb question but is there any advantage to wiping used tapes with a no signal record phase before re using them? Does this return the tape to virgin state, do you need to use a bulk tape eraser, or am I missing something? The reason I ask is that my Aiwa has the ability to turn of the erase head for use with new virgin tape. Aiwa state better recordings are made with the erase head in Off position.

[braxus]

That was Aiwa's claim on the 9000 deck, but in tests done by others the difference was negligable. It would make me wonder if the erase head in these decks is as strong as a bulk eraser if they claim turning off the erase head gives better results. It doesn't hurt to try it, but I've never had issues using the normal record mode on the 9000.

[Scorpion8]

There was an active post regarding bulk erasers here (http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=769&highlight=bulk+eraser). I don't think an absolute answer or concensus was reached.