5.5.8 Replay Optimisation

5.5.8.1 Precise identification of the format and detailed characteristics of the source material is essential to ensure optimum reproduction, and is complicated by the variety of formats with outwardly similar physical characteristics but different recording standards. Machines should be cleaned and regularly aligned for best signal reproduction. Any operator-controlled parameters such as de-emphasis must be set to match the original recording. For VCR based formats the video tracking may need to be adjusted for best signal, and any dropout compensation on the video signal must be switched off.