Tape Trail

Reel to reel, cassette and other analogue tape formats.

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RE: Newbie looking for a r2r tape machine. Any recommendations?

Posted by mcgjohn@yahoo.com on February 17, 2012 at 11:06:34:

Thanks WOStanton for making the re-direction.

Getting back to the poster jeromelang's original post, it appears the basic questions were never answered, so one has to wonder what level of interest was there, vs. was there an interest in stirring up the pot to stage alternative opinions from other posters.

A few side notes,

1. many of the pro machines offer 7.5, 15 and 30. Some even offer four speeds and include 3 3/4. The user can then try both higher speeds to form his/her own opinions, which may agree with some and and disagree with others.

2. regardless of the machine purchased, would strongly suggest re-resistoring the power supply when doing a recap with metal films at a minimum. Almost all machines used carbon film from the factory. Power supply noise on the rails will go down as can be seen on a scope. Would also suggest replacing the ceramic or metalized PS bypass caps with film and foil (if metalized were even used from factory). In many cases, there are none.

3. Very, very few folks (audiophiles or non-auduophiles) outside the studio world have heard a 15 ips master let alone a 30. Most of the safety dubs offered for sale are 15 ips, so that would likely be the target of any new open reel enthusiast, unless they plan on doing their own recording.

And we have not even touched the world of mics, mic pres, and effects boxes. All have a dramatic effect on the sound, some, much bigger than 15 vs. 30 debate.

Happy listening....and/or happy recording.

John