Got the old reel-to-reel running after three years

Dragged the Otari out of storage tonight and it actually held tension first try. No magic — just cleaned the tape path, replaced one capstan belt, and sat with the hum until it felt like a room again instead of a machine. Maybe I didn't need it running. But there's something about hearing the tape hiss at 1:30am that makes my shoulders drop in a way plug-ins never will.