If the deck’s head can read tape, the firmware probably lives in the motor or the winding. Old boutique units hid tiny flash in the commutator or on the magnetic drum shell, disguised as a stray coil. Check the gear train for copper traces, the motor’s bearings for embedded memory, and any spare connectors—sometimes the firmware’s tucked in a dead port or a miswired relay. Remember, every part that moves can be a data bus if someone was clever enough.