The reason no one will do that is exactly because tape does introduce its own signature. Usually even the first copy is already distinguishable from the original.
If tape is so good why does it record so poorly?
- Thread starter Kingrex
- Start date
I have been making copies with my current set up of Nagra TA via my DIY balanced tube tape head preamp to my Nagra IV-S. An interesting observation is that off tape monitoring from the IV-S playback electronics while doing the transfer never sounds as good as playing the copy on the TA afterwards. Quite a huge difference really. The copy sounds pretty much indistinguishable from the source when played back on the TA. That means the IV-S has much better record than playback electronics. I suspect this is the case with many studio machines. The native playback electronics on the TA is not much better, in fact. It flattens the soundstage and has a harder edge to the sound.
A 96/24 copy should be excellent. I hope that it is kept safe. What quality are your tapes, 7.5 or 15 ips, 1/4" or 1/2"? Or something else?
My Solti Ring tapes are 15ips 2 track, 1/4" tape. I also have many safety masters, about 200 reels, mostly jazz and some rock/pop and a few classical. About a third are 1/2", all are 15ips 2 track.
Adrian, you touched on something I have been swirling around. I have a few copies of great tapes. I don't want to wear them out. I startes looking into cassette. Like a Nakamici ZX7. People use to say its as close to a record as you can get. That is a 1/8" tape moving at 1.75ips. And here at home I have 7.5 ips tapes that are only ok. So how much of tape performance is the tape machine vs the tape.
Also, is there a really great record machine I can make mix tapes of my favorite songs too. And not a massive machine like an A90. Are there any Akai or other such decks that run at say 7.5 ips that will record fantastic, and then I can play it back on my Otari.
FWIW, Im hearing it might be about 3 or 4 months and some double speed Nakamici BX300 will be available. Its suppose to perform well. I don't know how well. But its twice the speed.
Also, is there a really great record machine I can make mix tapes of my favorite songs too. And not a massive machine like an A90. Are there any Akai or other such decks that run at say 7.5 ips that will record fantastic, and then I can play it back on my Otari.
FWIW, Im hearing it might be about 3 or 4 months and some double speed Nakamici BX300 will be available. Its suppose to perform well. I don't know how well. But its twice the speed.
Hi, I am not familiar with cassette decks. I have a Walkman Pro WM-D6C that records very well. I used it for live recordings when I was a teenager. It is still working now ! Nice and small. If you are seriously looking into using R2R for recordings, consider getting a Nagra IV-S. The base machine is cheap since there are a lot of them around, but the 10.5" adapter (QGB) is expensive since it is quite rare. However, there are 3rd party accessories now available that are much cheaper and achieve similar results.
I am unfamiliar with the Nakamichi ZX7 but it appears to be a predecessor to my CR-7A. It was reported when I purchased it in the 90s that it was 2nd only to the Dragon. It makes great recordings and sounds great. I did prefer the Tandberg and Technics R2Rs but now I simplified my life using a Tascam 2 mike digital recorder for chamber and choral recordings. Really nice sound and very inexpensive/no maintenance.
It does look a little more elaborate in its functions. I preferred R2R and now digital recording. However, DAT was great while it lasted. Fabulous sound.
If I have a tape, I want to listen to a tape. Not a digital copy. I have read the ZX9 is better than the ZX7. Its small. But both are going to loose sound stage and extension.
The Niagra IV-S looks interestimg. It appears it take 7" tapes. That could work. How many minutes do you get on a 7" at 15ips.
The only Niagra for sale today is $7000 and the heads look to need lapping. Who works on the Niagra decks.
Rex
The Niagra IV-S looks interestimg. It appears it take 7" tapes. That could work. How many minutes do you get on a 7" at 15ips.
The only Niagra for sale today is $7000 and the heads look to need lapping. Who works on the Niagra decks.
Rex
I didn't realise they cost so much nowadays. Nagra in Switzerland usually have some refurbished ones in stock. They put in new heads and change the belts, as well as regulating the machine before sale. I don't know how much they charge nowadays, but they used to be pretty reasonable. Make sure you get the non time code version with the 2.75mm track width heads. If you want to record in 15ips, it is better to get a large reel adapter. The original one is now very expensive, but there are aftermarket adapters that are inexpensive. If you use 7" reels, you can get a bit less than 17 minutes on 1.5mil tape, and 24 minutes on 1.0mil tape.
The play time varies depending on how thick the tape is. So you might only get 15 Minutes or it could go 1/2 hour.
FWIW cassettes get their bandwidth by having really narrow track width; this allows up to 20KHz performance at 1 7/8"/sec. Noise is the tradeoff. I suspect a 3 3/4" machine will have trouble making bass although with modern opamps it could be done.
Interesting. I asked if I could have a ZX7 double speed and told it could not be done. There must be something about the BX300 that allows the electronics to be altered to handle the higher tape speed. I was told there are alterations to the electronics that needs to happen.
If a Niagara shows up for a reasonable price I may get on. I contacted the us distributor. Otherwise I will wait for the cassette and see what is sounds like. Cassette is kind of cool. So easy to use. I hope a good way to dub down some of my favorite songs from my Reel to Reel tape library. I'm just a little suspect. I tried the BX300 when I got it. cassette is not as good as I remember as a kid. My digital is way beyond it. And the vinyl is better than the digital. I just don't want to wear out my fine tapes.
Well, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, we did an number of comparisons by recording vinyl and digital onto top metal tapes (which ones I don't remember now) on three different NAK tape decks (the ZX-9, CR-7a and the third a more budget model that I can't remember now) and a semi-pro R2R (Teac X1000R). The ZX-9 made recordings so good that they were not easy to distinguish from the original source. THe others had easily heard changes to the sound. For me, that would be the sole function of a recorder and it seems it does it very well.
I remember Morricab. That is part of why I have considered the ZX7. Its close to the ZX9. But I can not find metal tape. Its not out there.
The Maxell High Bias CR02 I have are not metal. But it gives me hope the double speed machine modded by one of the best in the indusrty can get there or better with the media I have. He knows what I'm using and can bias it for my tapes.
The Maxell High Bias CR02 I have are not metal. But it gives me hope the double speed machine modded by one of the best in the indusrty can get there or better with the media I have. He knows what I'm using and can bias it for my tapes.
$7000 for one with worn heads is way too much, you should be able to do much better.
7" reels holds about 16-17 minutes of music. You can get reel extenders for it - the aftermarket ones go for about $1,200, so you could use 10.5" reels. These are not bad.
Nagra IV-S actually has very, very nice voice.
Its NAGRA not Niagra
Kingrex those things are nice to look at , but very small and not practical for easy use .
They dont take big reels ( i know some of those small nagras have a extender with pulleys so you can put a large reel ( like foxbat mentioned already ) but non the less.)
Why dont you get a well restored Telefunken M15 A , as far as i know there is one for sale at Sepea audio for 4800 euro .( Disclaimer , i have personally never done business with them )
Or contact Eternal arts in hannover he might have a well restored M15 A for sale .
If you want to get into R2R do it good , so you can play the commercially high quality available tapes like Acoustic sounds , Tape project , Hemiolia , Open reel records ...
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Not everyone can comfortably accommodate the M15A in his room/system - it is large and heavy.
There are many other, smaller and lighter options, plus Nagra would not be my first pick in the convenience department - I would look for something like a PR-99 instead for my first high end deck... It is convenient, not huge, works like a charm, and has REAL Rewind and FF.
There are many other, smaller and lighter options, plus Nagra would not be my first pick in the convenience department - I would look for something like a PR-99 instead for my first high end deck... It is convenient, not huge, works like a charm, and has REAL Rewind and FF.
Not everyone can comfortably accommodate the M15A in his room/system - it is large and heavy.
There are many other, smaller and lighter options, plus Nagra would not be my first pick in the convenience department - I would look for something like a PR-99 instead for my first high end deck... It is convenient, not huge, works like a charm, and has REAL Rewind and FF.
52 KG .
I have no expirience with the PR -99 , but i ll take your word for it
You re the specialist as i think you ve owned all what s available on the market already , lol
And for anyone searching for tape recorders once in a while here is a dutch site with tapedecks for sale .
Currently there is a M 15 A for sale asking price 3 K , it says its recapped , but i have no info on the seller
Currently there is a M 15 A for sale asking price 3 K , it says its recapped , but i have no info on the seller
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