Fabulous all analog Fink recording from Guy at Low Swing Records in Berlin! So natural sounding!
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What's Up On Your Tape Machine?
- Thread starter MylesBAstor
- Start date
One Jonathan's earliest IPI recordings and stands the test of time! Perry’s silky smooth voice will make you melt!
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Got this Hans Theesink by mistake (it's a long story) but in retrospect am glad for the error.
Waiting on Theesink's Delta Blues with Terry Evans! FWIW the original LP of Delta Blues is a must-have!
Waiting on Theesink's Delta Blues with Terry Evans! FWIW the original LP of Delta Blues is a must-have!
This review had a Bakers Dozen of my favorite tapes at the time.
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Reel-To-Reel Tape - Positive Feedback
The Reel Deal: A Quartet of the Finest in Reel-To-Reel Tape Releases
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Along with another sensational recent release from Horch House. HH has released several more all analog Yello recordings in the interim too!
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Horch House Yello Tape - Positive Feedback
Horch House Yello TapeHit Play! Loving Horch House's Latest Yello Release on Tape!
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Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
@MylesBAstorAlong with another sensational recent release from Horch House. HH has released several more all analog Yello recordings in the interim too!
Horch House Yello Tape - Positive Feedback
Horch House Yello TapeHit Play! Loving Horch House's Latest Yello Release on Tape!
do you have the one tape or two tape reels of this album...I see the difference is tape material and recording level
two reel
- Tape Material: RTM SM900
- Rec. Level (mag flux): 510 nWb/m
- Tape Material: RTM LPR90
- Rec. Level (mag flux): 320 nWb/m
SM900 is 1.5 mil tape so a 2500' reel only holds 34 minutes.
LPR90 is 1.0 mil tape so a 3600' reel can hold 48 minutes.
Thus, if you want the thicker tape you need 2 reels. In addition, the specs of the 2 tapes is different and that's why they record onto the tape at different levels.
LPR90 is 1.0 mil tape so a 3600' reel can hold 48 minutes.
Thus, if you want the thicker tape you need 2 reels. In addition, the specs of the 2 tapes is different and that's why they record onto the tape at different levels.
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
is there an audible difference in SQ between the two versions
I wouldn't get the 2 reel version unless it was an essential album for me. There could be a small difference and people feel that there is a bigger potential for audio bleed through with the thinner tape.
The standard for 15ips 2 track prerecorded tapes has been 1.5mil base tape, so the numbers from David apply. Tape Project which began the 15ips 2 track movement (with Acoustic Sounds copying them) started with 1.5mil tape and have done all of their releases in nice two reel album boxes. This means that for most albums, 2 reels are needed, up to about 60-65 minutes (depending on the length of a side.) Horch House, by using 1 mil tape, getting up to 48 minutes, can save substantially on tape cost, the cost of a second metal reel, and packaging cost, resulting in better prices.
One can argue that the 1.5mil tapes have better sound quality, with less print through, generally higher recording levels (not always the case). I don't hear that difference in my experience, although I have never bought both versions from Horch House (to answer Steve's question). Most of the dealers that sell 15ips 2 track prerecorded tapes record at lower than 510, typically 320. SM900 does record at 510 and with the discontinuation of SM468, I am seeing more using SM900, although there are quite a few that are using SM911.
I cheat a little. Because my ATR-102's can play 12" reels (actually up to 14" reels), I can fit a 48 minute album recorded on 1.5mil tape on one reel. One of my main dealer sources can provide me with his albums (between 33 and 48 minutes) on one 12" reel. That also saves shelf space. He also sells his albums on either 1/4" and 1/2" inch tape, so most of the time I buy his albums on 1/2" tape, which the ATR-102's can also play. With a full 1/2" tape 12" metal reel, as a side benefit get my weight lifting practice at the same time I am changing reels.
Larry
One can argue that the 1.5mil tapes have better sound quality, with less print through, generally higher recording levels (not always the case). I don't hear that difference in my experience, although I have never bought both versions from Horch House (to answer Steve's question). Most of the dealers that sell 15ips 2 track prerecorded tapes record at lower than 510, typically 320. SM900 does record at 510 and with the discontinuation of SM468, I am seeing more using SM900, although there are quite a few that are using SM911.
I cheat a little. Because my ATR-102's can play 12" reels (actually up to 14" reels), I can fit a 48 minute album recorded on 1.5mil tape on one reel. One of my main dealer sources can provide me with his albums (between 33 and 48 minutes) on one 12" reel. That also saves shelf space. He also sells his albums on either 1/4" and 1/2" inch tape, so most of the time I buy his albums on 1/2" tape, which the ATR-102's can also play. With a full 1/2" tape 12" metal reel, as a side benefit get my weight lifting practice at the same time I am changing reels.
Larry
I always get if possible the two reel version for the reason Larry stated above. Paul and The Tape Project decided to go with the 1.5 mil tape and so did I. It might be a little better and it’s the fractions of percent that add up especially with such a high quality source. Not to mention many of the Horch House releases are second Gen tapes because they can do 1:16 dupes and thus save on wear and tear on the masters. And generation is everything with tape.
As far as number of reels. That’s mainly about cost as shown on the attached screenshots.
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Price and convenience, just that. The same reason only a few audiophile LPs are issued in 45 rpm, a much better standard than 33 rpm.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
I would be more focused on the brand/model of the tape.
I was able to participate several months ago in an experiment courtesy of Jerome Sabbagh of Analog Tone Records. Over two weekends, we listened to eight different types of tape in my system including old and new 468, 900, 911, ATR, a new Chinese tape, etc. Each was a direct copy off his Heart master tape (Jerome’s best sonically and musically to date) and the duping machine was meticulously calibrated for each brand.
I was simply stunned by the sonic differences among the different tape brands. Some were better in the mids, some in the bass yet others in the treble. Some were more transparent, others less grainy. And so on. Overall the older 468 was the best sounding followed by the newer 468. Unfortunately, RTM in their inimitable wisdom has phased 468 out (I and others have talked to RTM but it’s like talking to a wall; all they say is 900/911 are the same formula but unfortunately they don’t sound the same!). ATR was a close second; I felt that the Chinese tape has promise but it was a distant finisher.
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
I didn't post my notes in my forum but the 468 was more 3D, transparent and had more low level resolution. I don't remember liking the highs on the 900 series tapes nor was it as linear as the 468.
Mind you that my tape machine with the very low inductance Flux heads and Nick's tapestage goes out to 23 kHz. In large part because Nick's tapestage has gobs of gain as well as being super quiet.
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The high output tapes have lower distortion at high recording level, which is not really relevant for archiving or copying, since the peak level is known ahead of time. If one stays within the limits, 468 sounds the best to my ears.
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