Re: [ARSCLIST] Magnetic tape shortage...

[Rod Stephens <savecal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, there are still many studios that prefer analogue.  This article
is available at this link from MIX magazines web site:
http://mixonline.com/mixline/atr-blackbird-studios/
It features a studio in Nashville, Blackbird, that has two custom 1-INCH
2-track ATR-102 analog recorders, one for in-house use and the other for
rental.  To quote:

> Blackbird purchased all necessary transport options and headblocks
> needed to allow operation with ¼-inch and ½-inch tapes, as well as the
> new 1-inch "wide-track" format. "We wanted the ¼-inch for some
> customers who regularly do transfers and remastering of archival
> tapes," notes Zwiep.
>
> Demand for analog recorder rentals has held steady in Nashville in
> recent years, according to Zwiep. "A lot of people here still love the
> sound of tape," he says.
Wow, there's got to be a great signal to noise ratio if not excellent
wide band sound.  I bet they'd like to have Peter Brothers (see below)
to recondition 1" tapes as well as 2".

Rod Stephens
Family Theater Productions


Peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> As a restoration specialist, I don't encourage people to erase and reuse
> their masters.  With the threat of no more 2" tape being available, however,
> I have noticed that people on a number of lists have been contemplating
> doing just that.  If this does become necessary, and enough people are
> interested, I have the ability to put together machinery to clean and test
> 2" audio tapes.
>
> We have equipment that was originally designed to clean and test 2" data
> tape for reuse by the aerospace industry.  This machinery has been
> re-engineered to process 2" audio and video tape for master restoration and
> disaster recovery at our laboratory.
>
> Since we have a number of these machines, it would be possible for us to
> retro-engineer one of the machines to clean and test 2" audio tape for reuse
> similar to its original application for data tape).  This would involve
> installing read/write heads and erase heads in one of the machines as well
> as the diagnostic circuits to analyze the magnetic test signal laid down on
> the tape.
>
> The retro-engineering might take a little time so this option is not
> available immediately (We can clean 2" audio tape at this point but not lay
> down the magnetic test signal).  I thought I'd just float the idea out there
> to see if enough people are interested to make it worth while our doing the
> engineering work.  If anyone is interested, E-mail me directly at:
> peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx .
>
> Peter Brothers
> President
> SPECS BROS., LLC
> (201) 440-6589
> www.specsbros.com
>
> Restoration and Disaster Recovery Service Since 1983
>
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> > [mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx]On Behalf Of davidgarland
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 4:02 PM
> > To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Magnetic tape shortage...
> >
> >
> > In reference to the shortage of magnetic recording tape...
> >
> > I have seen on eBay for sale new 1/4" tape of Russian manufacture.
> >
> > Anyone have any details on this product.
> >
> > Dave Garland
> > garland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx