Re: Reel to reel quality

[SoundFNR@aol.com]

>      1)  Is 456 really the way to go?  Or are there other high quality 
tapes 
> out there that would
>  serve me well?  Does it depend on the application?  I'm recording 
>mostly 
> electronic music along
>  with a fair amount of musique concrete.  By electronic music, I mean 
modern 
> day synths and analog
>  and digital processors.

Ampex (now Quantegy) seem to be the inventors of the "tape that degrades",
I have tapes from the 80's by Scotch(3M), Maxell, Agfa, BASF, they're all 
fine.
(only BASF are still producing). The Ampex stuff I have from the same 
period
has real problems :-( 

Quantegy claim to have  fixed the problem, and I tend to believe them, but 
I'd rather
stick with BASF. 

BASF is CHEAPER

Whatever tape you get, the bias and EQ on your deck need to be accurately
set to match that tape (so if you know what it's set up for.....) 

>  
>       2)  On eBay there are many auctions for used tape that has been 
>bulk 
> demagnitized as well as
>  "new" tape that is several years or decades old.  I am aware of the 
> difference in quality between
>  virgin and demagnitized tape,

"virgin" tape goes past the erase head before being recorded,
so that's demagnetised as well :-)

bulk erasing is good, problems are if the tape is worn, was
left on the machine to gather dust, or has been spliced. 


>  and I am also aware of 25 year old tape 
> starting to delaminate or
>  have the oxide coating come off as you play it.  The questions are: How 
old 
> can "new" tape be for
>  it to still be viable (assuming good storage conditions), 

it can degrade in 10 years, i've seen it, depends on storage conditions,
definately avoid old ampex stock 


> and Does used tape 
> degrade faster once
>  it's been run through the machine and then put into storage for many 
>years?

I'd guess so, as the winding won't be as even.

>       Any specific advice would be welcome and especially any links to 
> websites that contain more
>  info.

www.studiospares.com to see what the pro's use and see prices.

andy butler