Re: [ARSCLIST] Reel-to-reel tapes: storage conditions and potential content retrieval

[David Lennick <dlennick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The point is that AudioTape claimed that its Mylar tapes would withstand the 
heat and humidity of the jungle. If so, they did better than Guiomar Novaes' 
lacquer discs from a Town Hall concert which I attempted to transfer some years 
ago..they were so deteriorated (humidity plus storage in an acidy record album) 
that only about half of each side was playable.

If you want to hear about a tape that shouldn't have played well at all even 
when it was new, let alone 47 years later, I found a reel of Brand Five 1-mil 
acetate when I cleaned out my parents' basement last year. On it were two 
airchecks of concert broadcasts in Toronto by Sir Thomas Beecham, recorded by 
yours truly. 3 3/4 ips, quarter track mono, these two concerts on the outer 
tracks. No twists, no curl, and they played beautifully. And that was a brand 
we were told AT THE TIME was garbage.

dl

Bob Olhsson wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
> > From Tom Fine: "...I just played a Mylar AudioTape today! 1.5mil 1/4-inch
> full-track. Sounded like the day it was 
> recorded, which was 1961. So, 47 years and still kicking..."
>
> I visited the tape storage room at Sun Records here in Nashville last year.
> Everything was on Audiotape that I was told still plays back absolutely
> perfectly.
>
> 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    http://thewombforums.com