Re: [ARSCLIST] Taiyo-Yuden out of business??

[Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I would argue somewhat differently. I think that 20 years out, anything of value on reel tape will 
be so deteriorated as to be severely compromised. The older tapes -- which have proven heartier 
because they don't get sticky and need baking -- do eventually get brittle, flake oxide, lose signal 
level, etc. The newer tapes get sticky and more than one baking has been shown to deteriorate the 
sound quality. The newest tapes, well, there weren't THAT many valuable things done with the newest 
tape types -- and I'm not convinced they won't eventually go sticky or show some other problem down 
the line.

I think we're lucky to live in an age where pretty darn good digital transfer tools can be had for a 
reasonable price. If I were the owner of valuable material on reel tape, I'd be in a race to 
transfer it at high resolution and to then invest most if not all of my money in a great managed 
storage system for the digital files.

One man's opinion, etc.

-- Tom Fine

PS -- were I such an owner of an archive of valuable tapes, I'd also make darn sure to get a 
fantastic transfer now, outsourcing where necessary. Just like we're lucky to live in an age of more 
affordable digital devices, we also live in the last dying twilight of the analog age, where there 
are still machines, and people expert in those machines, working in top form. That age will quickly 
be gone.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Olhsson" <olh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Taiyo-Yuden out of business??


> -----Original Message-----
> From John Ross: "... How many high-quality
> working 1/4-inch tape playback machines will still be in working
> condition fifty years from now? How many cassette machines? ..."
>
> The monetary value of material in the 1/4 inch format will make it worth
> keeping a few machines running. Most pro machines were designed for long
> life and anything from the '60s or earlier remains pretty easily repairable.
> Semi-pro machines and cassettes are well on their way to extinction.
>
> Bob Olhsson Audio Mastery, Nashville TN
> Mastering, Audio for Picture, Mix Evaluation and Quality Control
> Over 40 years making people sound better than they ever imagined!
> 615.385.8051 http://www.hyperback.com