Back It Up

In any restoration process, probably the single most important step after you've set up the best playback environment and taken steps to give your playback medium (tape, record, etc.) the best chance to perform is to back it up.  Play it and record it and save it.  Even with the best of intentions, you get no guarantee of a second play...record that first run-through so you at least have something in the event of a bad thing happening.