Tape Trail

RE: Recording on chromes with normal type 1 bias

83.88.69.55

In Reply to: RE: Recording on chromes with normal type 1 bias posted by Braxus on July 12, 2007 at 11:59:54

The point of being able to select tape types is to make it possible to record on that type of tape using a generic settting set by the factory to usually one of the standards to which all tapes in each category must match or more often to a tape that is sold all over the world.
TDK SA and Maxell XLII come to mind for Type II.

The idea of using a bias setting is not just to control the high so youget more of it, but to control the recording in such as way that the source and the recorded copy sounds the same.

Now to be able to spot on for a certain tape type you setup the deck for that tape type in order to receive the least deviation from the source when you play back a recording. So if you cannot get TDK SA or Maxell XLII wher you live or you want to use another brand you can recalibrate the standard settings to use another tape in each category.
Some deck require that you work the BIAS knob and wind bak and play again. Others are more sophisticated ad have a third head for playback that you can monitor while recording. This makes calibration a snap.
Some have no options for this but will require that you open the deck up and fiddle with the trimpots on the PCBs for recording and playback.
Generally I would recommend any deck that is of good build, offers HX Pro, Dolby B, perhaps C too. And which has a BIAS knob on the front.
You my have other requirements to ad, such as remote, rackears, illumination of the tape in the middle of th cassette to see the tape moving when the room is dark, you may require a headphone socket, you may require a seprerate volume knob for that headphone socket, and so on.

Decks that have sat for years will require new belts. I am amazed at how many buyers on eBay simply cannot understand that a decjk will need anything from just a belt to belts, new capacitors and perhaps recalibration to arrive at anything resembling factory specs.

Just because it is menat for consumers doesn't mean that the maintenance can be skipped 10 years and a flawless performance expected upon openeing a box.
If this is what you expect you should contact a studio looking to off some analog equipment and have theirs, chances are it will be perforiming werll and have been looked after for all the years it was in service. You can ask them when it was last used.
Or you can buy a new el- cheapo deck made in china. Chances are it will fail quite quickly but you might recalibrate it right off and enjoy some tapes on it. Tape decks are still made just not for a very good quality vs price point. You get what you pay for even if there is a warrenty.

Mikkel

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.