Re: [ARSCLIST] Scotch Reel to Reel tape

[Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a slightly different take on this.

Richard talks from a professional archival view. If that's what Sammy is doing, then everything 
Richard says is true. I'm sure a Technics 1520 will bias up for RMGI tape, given the bias and 
record-eq trimmers on the front. By the way, keep in mind recommended operating levels. I believe 
you'll want to stick to 185-200 nWb for old Scotch 176/211 types, even for 206, without Dolby NR. 
For something like 911, and Richard will correct me if I'm wrong, I think it's safe to operate at 
250 nWb.

But, if Sammy is doing hobby/personal-enjoyment recording, especially if it's from source material 
he owns in other media or has regular on-going access to, nothing wrong with playing with some NOS 
Scotch tape. I have found 176 to be incredibly stable, and cockroach-like in the conditions it will 
survive. In fact, I just transferred a bunch of mold-covered reels that were boxes half eaten away 
by mold. A simple pass over a Pelon wipe on my windoff transport and replacement of the reels and 
boxes did the trick and I was shocked by the audio quality. Even more shocked that splices survived 
intact! Scotch 211 is similar tape (black oxide/no backcoat) and similarly cockroach-like. Scotch 
206 is by far my favorite tape of all time, and it too will survive extreme storage conditions. 
David Lennick's point about splices is true with 206, and another annoyance is that the kind of 
slicing tape that works best for backcoated tape will often de-glue from paper leader tape years 
down the road. I'm not sure if more modern blue splicing tape will bind backcoat to paper leader 
longer-term.

Now, Sammy, here's the central question -- what sort of quality are you expecting from your audio? 
I'd venture you won't get the best from decades-old tape, but I could be wrong, especially at faster 
speeds (15IPS might be fast enough, and 2-track wide enough that you overcome any 
time/environment-caused bumps and dropouts and other imperfections). If you were given the tape, I 
say try it out. If it sounds good to you, then you've had a jackpot day and you should buy lunch for 
whomever gave it to you. I wouldn't pay for tape that old even if it's NOS. It's penny wise and 
pound foolish. Also beware the pancakes of old Quantegy/Ampex tape being peddled on eBay. I've seen 
manufacture dates from the mid-90's on some of the box photos in the auctions.

Also note that, as far as I know, there is no history of 911 ever exhibiting sticky-shed or other 
problems.

So, bottom line, if it's for your own enjoyment and entertainment, and you were given the Scotch 
tape, try it out and see if it's to your liking. But for professional, archival purposes, take 
Richard's advise.

-- Tom Fine


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard L. Hess" <arclists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 8:20 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Scotch Reel to Reel tape


> At 10:44 PM 2007-11-13, Sammy Jones wrote:
>
> > Can anybody recommend particular audio tapes that are still manufactured or
> > ones that aren't, but are still available in good quantity?
> >
> > I will be recording on a Technics 1520 reel to reel deck in half-track
> > stereo that is in excellent condition.
>
> Hello, Sammy,
>
> The only analog audio tape that I have used for recording in a very long time is BASF/EMTEC 911. 
> That went away and is now back as RMGI 911. In fact, I had a client come to me the last year that 
> EMTEC was selling the stuff (2001-2002?) and I bought 200 7-inch reels to make sure I'd have 
> enough for their project. In fact, I only needed 120. Wouldn't you know, the client came back to 
> me and now wanted 16 more, so even the boxes on their shelves will match.
>
> It is gorgeous tape and at least the last of the EMTEC was still made with European precision. I 
> am pretty sure that your Technics will bias up to that. Tom Fine knows more about that machine 
> than I do. I'm recording full-track mono on two Studer A810s at the moment.
>
> You can obtain RMGI from U.S. Recording, among other places.
> http://www.usrecordingmedia.com/1oprereta1.html
>
> I would stay away from any tapes that are more than 10 years old, and any of the Quantegy/Ampex 
> tapes. I don't think that 176/177 has been made for 20 years. While I have recorded on 55=year-old 
> Magnetophonband Typ L with good results (at the time I did it, about five years ago, it's now 60 
> years old). I would not recommend it other than for a demonstration project.
>
> While I have no guarantee any of the tapes will last, I _think_ your best bet is with the RMGI.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
>
> Richard L. Hess                   email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Aurora, Ontario, Canada       (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
> Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.