Tape Pancakes, Oh No!

[microstrip]

But then I would face the Herculean task of figuring out whether I prefer MSB or Lampi.

No Marc, no computer will ever be connected to my system. I am quite sure I’m going to have enough trouble with tape.

Your future VTL Siegfried II's are embedded systems with several digital microprocessors, ADCs and DACs ....

 

[Ron Resnick]

But not in the signal path.

 

[microstrip]

But not in the signal path.

IMHO anything connected to the grids of the power tubes is in the signal path ...

 

[Ron Resnick]

I don’t agree, but I also don’t love all of the complex circuits in them. On the other hand I do appreciate the auto bias and the other control functions which minimize the likelihood of blow up.

 

[astrotoy]

Yes. Just do it in library rewind so it goes slowly in case there is an issue.

I second David. Need to use library wind. Gives a nice smooth pack also.

Larry

 

[microstrip]

I don’t agree, but I also don’t love all of the complex circuits in them. On the other hand I do appreciate the auto bias and the other control functions which minimize the likelihood of blow up.

IMHO what matters is the result, not the audiophile old dogmas. Probably after your years find that some digital induced noise can sound good you will start considering digital!

BTW, the Studer A80 is an all analog system - the logical command systems is static during operation - but the A820 is filled with very active microprocessors. The VTLs will find themselves in very good company ...

 

[Bruce B]

I don’t agree, but I also don’t love all of the complex circuits in them. .

Complex circuits?? Don't EVEN get me started with the A820.......

 

[Skylab]

I’ve transferred pancake to metal reel dozens of times. It does require some care but it’s not really hard.

If you’re a visual learner, this video covers it.

https://www.analogaudiodesign.fr/

 

[Ron Resnick]

I’ve transferred pancake to metal reel dozens of times. It does require some care but it’s not really hard.

If you’re a visual learner, this video covers it.

Thank you, Skylab. But doesn’t this video show it the hard way (Disassembling each reel, putting the tape on the reel, and reassembling each reel)?

I prefer the idea of disassembling only one reel (a plate?), putting the pancake on the open reel half, spooling the pancake tape onto a complete reel, and then rewinding it back on to a complete reel.

 

[Skylab]

Thank you, Skylab. But doesn’t this video show it the hard way (Disassembling each reel, putting the tape on the reel, and reassembling each reel)?

I prefer the idea of disassembling only one reel (a plate?), putting the pancake on the open reel half, spooling the pancake tape onto a complete reel, and then rewinding it back on to a complete reel.

Yes, you’re 100% right - with your console-style deck you can use the platter method if you prefer. I have only upright decks so that’s not a safe option for me

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

Hi Ron,

I guess that you have pancake plates for your A820. I always buy my tapes in pancakes and transfer them on 12 inch reels I purchase from Feinwerktechnik (www.tonbandspule.de). These are the best reels I know. I believe that they have a US distributor (Soren if I am not mistaken) and they also have an Ebay store.

Just put the pancake on the plate and spool it into a reel. Once done, replace the the plate by a reel and you are done.

Kind regards,

dcc

exactly like I do

 

[15IPS]

Plastic. -- Why --?

1. They don't warp.
2. Assembling hubs and flanges is nearly impossible to get right. The hardware usually supplied with them cant develop the torque to get the reel to stay aligned.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Operation Pancake is a success!

Larry, I did not do it your easy way. I decided to do it the time consuming, safe way -- by sandwiching the pancake between two flanges and screwing it all together.

From where do you purchase reel boxes?

 

[Foxbat]

I avoid reels as much as possible, nearly anything I record is on AEG DIN hubs, and not just for the cost reason. Yes, the cost is close to zero, as opposed to $40-60 for a decent reel, but the main reason is convenience.

 

[astrotoy]

10" Audio Tape Reel BOXES for magnetic audio tape Reels.

10" Audio Tape Reel BOXES. White paperboard box. 11 x 11 x 3/4". White paperboard box with glossy white paper overwrap. Glued lip hinge. Comes with a 3" post. Listed dimensions are outside dimensions.

www.bagsunlimited.com

Bags Unlimited. I usually buy large quantities (25 or 50 at a time). Larry

 

[Lee]

These are the only pancakes I don’t like.

I strongly recommend the carbon fiber reels from RX Reels. Best I have tried so far.

 

[Bruce B]

These are the only pancakes I don’t like.

I strongly recommend the carbon fiber reels from RX Reels. Best I have tried so far.

I love mine as well... bought one for each machine.... but too pricey if you're using to mount pancakes.

 

[Foxbat]

If we consider the subject of tape reels seriously, then we find that the only truly good kind is the one with centering hub. That is the only type that keeps the flanges perfectly centered. All other kinds let the flanges slide with respect to the hub, resulting in annoying eccentricity. Simply put there is nothing in their design that assures the precision, regardless of the material they use.

That good kind is extremely rare - I have only a few of them, but as soon as you put it on the machine you know you are dealing with something special. The ones I have are mostly made by Scotch, and there are also the very rare ones made by Mechlabor.

In wider sizes Ampex also made exceptionally good reels. Here are the pictures of reels with the centering hub.

The key feature is the hub protruding through a larger hole in the flanges, and usually there is very precise fit there. All screws are male, and they screw into the hub.

The top picture is of a Mechlabor reel... your chances of encountering it are slim. It exudes the feeling of high precision. Its hub, however, is plastic. The second one is by Scotch.

 

[Lee]

If we consider the subject of tape reels seriously, then we find that the only truly good kind is the one with centering hub. That is the only type that keeps the flanges perfectly centered. All other kinds let the flanges slide with respect to the hub, resulting in annoying eccentricity. Simply put there is nothing in their design that assures the precision, regardless of the material they use.

That good kind is extremely rare - I have only a few of them, but as soon as you put it on the machine you know you are dealing with something special. The ones I have are mostly made by Scotch, and there are also the very rare ones made by Mechlabor.

In wider sizes Ampex also made exceptionally good reels. Here are the pictures of reels with the centering hub.

The key feature is the hub protruding through a larger hole in the flanges, and usually there is very precise fit there. All screws are male, and they screw into the hub.

The top picture is of a Mechlabor reel... your chances of encountering it are slim. It exudes the feeling of high precision. Its hub, however, is plastic. The second one is by Scotch.


View attachment 107055


View attachment 107054

The hubs on the RX Reels are very high precision as well. CNC machined aluminum I believe.

And the stiffness of the carbon fiber keeps the flanges perfectly straight. One of the things I hate about R2R is the variability of the flanges even on better reels like ATR, etc.

 

[Foxbat]

Yes, these too have centering hubs.

The reels, used by ATR are, in my experience, notoriously wobbly.