If I DON"T adjust the bias...and use " high output

[thereminman]

My machine is set for RMG 911....the retail place is out of it.
They are offering RMG900-----which is listed as 'high output'
I think the RMG911 is more like 456Ampex..as opposedto 'high output'
So, if I don't do *any*thing to my machine, and use the high-output 900...what sort of difference should be my result?
(i.e. in sound quality, noise floor, etc. etc.)....

[thereminman]

lot's of views, but no opinions or experiences to share?.....Will I be sad that I said "OK" to the higher bias tape?

[drumsound]

I believe you'll get a lot more saturation, and probably more smear.

[thereminman]

I understand saturation...but was would 'smear' be?
(and thank you!)

[drumsound]

I understand saturation...but was would 'smear' be?
(and thank you!)

Less clear and accurate, all the way to distorted and crunchy.

[Mane1234]

Maybe do a practice run and pay attention to your levels and see what you come up with. I had my TRS 8 set up for 499 tape and had to use some 456 and just kept the levels backed off and everything seemed ok. What tape machine are you using?

[Capt. Tripps Ballsington]

I see this was a month ago, so you've probably already done the recording, but I believe you're talking about using a +9 tape on a machine set up for +6. You won't notice any difference at all. It just means you're not taking advantage of the full level the RMG900 is capable of. You could hit the tape a bit harder than you normally do with no adverse affects if you like, but it might be hard to get an accurate idea of the actual tape levels if the meters are always peaking.
Using RMG911 on a machine set up for 900 - +6 tape on a +9 machine - would get you an overdose of saturation and tape compression.

[BradL8068]

You have two issues with these tapes. 1) What level your machine is aligned for. 2)Biasing setting for the tape.
As the last person mentioned level is not an issue. The 900 can take a higher level then the 911 ( always bothered me how rmg numbered these) BUT
The bias is different, so using the same alignment will most likely change two things. 1) the frequency response of the recording will be off, I don't know by how much. The only way to know is to run tone through the machine. I would guess within 1-2 db.
and because the bias is wrong the level will be affected as well. Again I don't think by a large margin, a guess off by a db. So it will work, but it will not sound as perfect as if you had the correct tape. You may like it you may not, but it will change the sound.
Brad

[Capt. Tripps Ballsington]

Good info, Brad.
Curious if you've noticed bias settings being much different between 900 and 911 tape? My bias settings seem to remain pretty constant when realigning for different tape. Modern tapes, while less reliably manufactured than older stock, have seemed fairly forgiving on bias levels.

[BradL8068]

I'll see if I have both 900 and 911 around to see the difference.
My thinking is 911 to 900 is like 499 to 456 such a different animal that the bias would be reasonably different, but you may be right I'll see if I can give it a test.
Brad

[wkrbee]

The 900 tape will be "underbiased" on your machine.This will give you an exaggerated,(brighter), top end with an increase in distortion-which you may like.I've had clients that use the higher output tapes that don't want their machine re-biased correctly because they like the way it sounds-and it's always all about the sound.

[tmoneygetpaid]

As I understand it, high-output tape (911 is "+6" to 900's "+9") would actually be harder to saturate. The higher output level means the tape can take more fluxivity (level) without pushing into the tape compression and saturation territories.

Here's RMGi's chart for overbias levels. If you're machine is operating at 30ips the overbias levels are actually the same. But tape varies from batch to batch even inside formulas, so if you want accurate frequency response, rebias.