Re: [ARSCLIST] And more on Scotch tape

[Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Sammy:

Scott Phillips and Richard Hess did good work on your question. If you don't have an MRL calibration 
tape, you need one, in order to make the tape machine adhere to established standards and to allow 
your tapes to be played elsewhere. Use the MRL tape, per the detailed instructions, to align 
playback on your machine (the EQ trimmers are on the bottom circuit board, although I wouldn't go 
there without a service manual in hand). Then align record to match playback as closely as possible. 
And use the MRL tape to get your azimuth uniform (Allen screws on the heads, outlined in the service 
manual).

I agree with Richard that almost any CD recorder will produce better audio than almost any tape 
recording running 7.5IPS and using decades-old Scotch 176 tape. And I also stand by my original 
statement: that sort of tape is not worth any money but it's OK to get between it and a dumpster if 
you want to play or experiment. In any case, what you say you're planning to do certainly won't hurt 
anything, I just doubt you'll get very nice-sounding results. Then again, if the source material is 
low-fi to begin with, sonic quality of the tape machine and medium matters less.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sammy Jones" <sjones69@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 9:54 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] And more on Scotch tape


> Tom,
>
> Thanks for your input, too.
>
> I would like the best quality I can get, however, as tape a lot more
> expensive per minute than CDRs, I'll probably do most recording on 7 1/2
> ips.  Maybe some 15 ips just for tests.
>
> I don't have any noise reduction equipment for the Technics, so I'll just be
> relying on the good electronics and (hopefully) good tape.
>
> The tape isn't free, but I feel like the price is pretty good, especially
> for the quantity offered.
>
> When you say, "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," are you referring to audio levels?  I've
> been making sound recordings all my life, but I've just started messing
> around with the Technics deck.  I feel a little foolish, but what does "nWb"
> mean and the numbers 185, 200, and 250 mean?  My VU meters only have
> negative and positive decibels on them.
>
> Thanks for your help,
> Sammy