I'm Back - And I See ALOT of "Tape"
I'm Back - And I See ALOT of "Tape"
Hey all - I've kinda been away for a little while - limited time, etc...
Anyway, I signed on and see a LOT of different posts about "tape", machines, actual tape, tape techniques and the like.
So here's my question: Since I've been away, has tape made some progress in terms of popularity or a comeback?
Just today, I hooked up my old TEAC reel-to-reel tape machine to my stereo system.
There's just something about those "spinning wheels" - that is soothing and just plain cool.
Thoughts?
Anyway, I signed on and see a LOT of different posts about "tape", machines, actual tape, tape techniques and the like.
So here's my question: Since I've been away, has tape made some progress in terms of popularity or a comeback?
Just today, I hooked up my old TEAC reel-to-reel tape machine to my stereo system.
There's just something about those "spinning wheels" - that is soothing and just plain cool.
Thoughts?
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The classics never die and perhaps that's what makes them classics although in the whole scheme of things it's just another tool in the box. But that being said I"m rockin my 424III like crazy these days and it's been a year since I've broken out the PT rig. I'm even considering shipping my TSR 8 back to Tascam to be brought back up to spec unless I can find someone I trust to do it locally.
Of course I've had it in the ear before.....
I have one of these also, incredibly well built machine, an engineering masterpiece !!Marc Alan Goodman wrote:I'm in the middle of recapping a Studer A820 MCH. People still seem to like it for some reason
Tape A calibrated at +6/185 CCIR & Tape B +9/185 NAB (30 ips).
cleantone wrote:What is this case like? I've been thinking about getting one.Microphone Case, Black, Plastic N/A $30.00
Tape sales is up a little bit over the last few years. Of course its a total trickle of what it was in the 90's and before.
"Analog smells like thrift stores. Digital smells like tiny hands from far away." - O-it-hz
musicians are fuckers, but even worse are people who like musicians, they're total fuckers.
musicians are fuckers, but even worse are people who like musicians, they're total fuckers.
Tape sales would have rebounded more strongly if the current prices for professional audio tape weren't so high. There is nothing economical about 2" tape at $300/reel, or even 1.0 mil thick 1/4" 1800' reels (for Tascam 388's) for $30 list price.
Then again, professional audio recording tape is a super-small niche business. Tape users should feel fortunate to have the tape manufacturers that are left.
Then again, professional audio recording tape is a super-small niche business. Tape users should feel fortunate to have the tape manufacturers that are left.
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I've wanted a tape machine since I was 14. I bought a MCI JH-16 in January that was in shitty shit shitty shit condition. I'm 22 now. Most of my friends who are musicians are into tape and everybody who I've shown it to who is not a musician even seems to get it. Once people actually hear the beast is when they understand what it is all about.
I don't really think that tape for 388s is really that un-economical... When you think about it, its certainly more economical than working with film cameras (remember those?). These days by the time you buy film and get it developed by a competent independent film processor (someone who will actually process it in the analog realm and not do some shitty scanning of the negatives to produce prints) you really start to think about what you are taking pictures of... 1/4" is still pretty cheap that you can experiment...and if you screw up at least you can go over it... And hell, you can get a lot more entertainment time per $30 with a reel on a 388 than with a film camera (especially if you shoot medium format and only get 12 exposures to a roll!).eh91311 wrote:Tape sales would have rebounded more strongly if the current prices for professional audio tape weren't so high. There is nothing economical about 2" tape at $300/reel, or even 1.0 mil thick 1/4" 1800' reels (for Tascam 388's) for $30 list price.
Then again, professional audio recording tape is a super-small niche business. Tape users should feel fortunate to have the tape manufacturers that are left.
Now $300 for a reel of 2" is a little high up there. I bet a lot more studios are re-using reels than they used to...
Its kind of amazing to me to go to this old studio that I do a lot of work at...they're still all analog, and they have stacks of tapes, for small time projects (it never was a big studio or in a big town) from decades passed. I can only imagine what a big studio would be like for their tape vaults.
I have to agree that $30 list for 1/4" 1800' 7" tape isn't going to break the bank. I just remember when it was half that cost.
Current cost for 2" is ridiculous. Most people that I know do what I do; find gently used 2" stock and record on that. I've found that transferring the 2" to the computer with decent converters retains most of the analog vibe (but not all), and then you can reuse the tape.
Current cost for 2" is ridiculous. Most people that I know do what I do; find gently used 2" stock and record on that. I've found that transferring the 2" to the computer with decent converters retains most of the analog vibe (but not all), and then you can reuse the tape.
At the studio I work do a lot of work out of the owner is kind enough to let me use one of his reels (usually 1 pass) when the client doesn't have a reel of their own, and at the end of the session it all goes down to an Alesis HD24XR and he reuses the tape...eh91311 wrote:Most people that I know do what I do; find gently used 2" stock and record on that. I've found that transferring the 2" to the computer with decent converters retains most of the analog vibe (but not all), and then you can reuse the tape.
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Asking if tape is in fashion on Tape Op, love it.
Moreover tape machines are being dumped these days. The only problem for non-tapers like me is finding one close by -- because shipping costs have skyrocketed. I could have snared an Amped MM1200 in good shape last fall for $2K, but shipping it would have doubled the cost, so I'm still on the hunt. That particular machine ended up being parted out on EBay.
Johann
Those were the same tape reel prices 10 years ago, before a bunch of tape manufacturers stopped their lines, so that's actually not so bad, all things considered.eh91311 wrote:2" tape at $300/reel
Moreover tape machines are being dumped these days. The only problem for non-tapers like me is finding one close by -- because shipping costs have skyrocketed. I could have snared an Amped MM1200 in good shape last fall for $2K, but shipping it would have doubled the cost, so I'm still on the hunt. That particular machine ended up being parted out on EBay.
Johann
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