Tape Choice for Mastering
I have been looking around at new 1/4” tape choices for mastering my own music on my new (to me!) B77mk2 HS here in UK, but I thought I would ask you all what you would choose?
RTM SM900, Capture 914 seem to be highly regarded… I’m going to get the machine looked over and then biased to work optimally with a tape, of which I’ll probably buy a few of reels. Any thoughts / recommendations / experiences gratefully received! |
Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
Out of interest, what are the choices these days? Are there many choices?
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Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
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I’m keen to get a high dynamic range tape, the SM900 seeming to offer a very low noise floor. |
Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
All my old Scotch 206 tapes have totally fallen apart, the oxide falls off in strips- so avoid that stuff. It is really dark in colour from memory.
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Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
Be careful of the tape you buy. With later "+9" tapes your B77 may run out of puff. I think the B77 was designed for no higher than +6 formulations.
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Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
You only need to bias the tape properly - peak record level is up to you.
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Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
RTM is made in France. There is also ATR tape made in the USA, but it's not as easy to find in the UK.
If you can't get good results on RTM, then your machine needs servicing. Nowt wrong with it! |
Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
Thanks Ted, I was thinking about the B77 record amps possibly clipping before saturating a +9 tape.
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Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
I have used RTM900 tape with very good results also I have found that second hand Maxell UD, LX and XLI all perform well and don't show signs of age. TDK GX and Memorex tapes also produce good results and don't appear to shed their oxide even when 40 years plus old.
I mentioned in an earlier post about my Ferrograph SP7, the bias on this machine can be adjusted from the front panel with a small screwdriver which the Revox's can't which is helpful when using whatever tape you can get hold of but both of my Revox's are biased for Maxell UD. |
Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
I have used RTM SM911 successfully with a B77.
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Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
RTM SM911 is advertised as +6.
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Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
Another recommendation for the Japanese formulations if you're buying secondhand/NOS. Although not considered professional stock, they have aged very well and can be tremendous performers with correctly calibrated kit.
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https://datastores.co.uk/product-cat...dio/open-reel/ |
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Maxell hasn't had any issues with sticky shed. |
Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
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http://richardhess.com/notes/formats...grading-tapes/ Apparently Sony tapes are a bit mixed although I don't see many of those here. UK made 3M tapes are often good but I wouldn't use US made 3M tapes - in fact I wouldn't use any US made tapes at all because just about all of them seem to give problems unless baked. |
Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
Scotch doesn't often go sticky, but I've had matt backed stuff strip its oxide off.
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Re: Tape Choice for Mastering
It depends on the formulation Ted. Some Scotch tape used the same DuPont binder which was responsible for the Ampex problems. The domestic tapes seem to be OK though.
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