Re: [ARSCLIST] Risk assessment tool--off brands

[David Lennick <dlennick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Scott D. Smith" wrote:

> Don,
>
> I have heard that Newark used Audio Devices (Audiotape) stock for their
> house brand, but no one has ever confirmed that for me, so I wouldn't
> give it much merit.
>
> I have only seen a few rolls of  Newark over the years (seems to have
> been used mostly by home hobbyists). I haven't had an opportunity to try
> and match it to any known stocks, so I really don't have a clue-would be
> interesting to find out.
>
> I haven't seen any mention of Memorex, BASF, Pyral, Maxell or any
> Russion stocks? Comments anyone?
>
> Scott D. Smith
> Chicago Audio Works, Inc.

Back-coated BASF and AGFA 1.5 mil as used by the European broadcasters has held up fine, in
my experience..an exception is an unknown 1-mil back-coated type used by Deutsche Welle
which would turn sticky before I got it home. I had some blue Pyral in the 70s which went
sticky pretty quickly and I avoided trying it again. The stuff the Russian broadcasters used
in the 80s and 90s seems fine..packs very loosely, for some reason (and their 7" reels are
even flimsier than the white box tapes used, or those slotted reels Zonal had). Haven't had
any problems with black oxide Zonal either, although the leader the BBC added to it is
always sticky!

No comment on Memorex. Maxell seemed to be the only tape available to consumers for a number
of years..seems okay.

What really takes the cake is getting tape used by a studio which puts it in their own
boxes, so you never know what it was. In the early 90s I had a bunch of what I thought was
fabulous back-coated tape, which had been used for TV soundtrack sync tracks by Manta Sound
in Toronto. It was NOT 456 or 226..had a more polished oxide. Turned sticky within the year.

dl