R-T-R Tape source?
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EMTEC/RMGI. That's it for new tape.
Yard sales and thrift shops. Not nearly as common as records but if you're a serious crate digger you'll find some.
SaSi
Seriously Illogical
The problem with used tapes is you don't know the quality you are buying.
There are two separate issues I have identified with old tapes:
first, the tape might be of the batches that suffered from shedding. These tapes are practically useless and may cause problems to the decks requiring thorough cleaning after their use.
The second problem that I have seen with very old tapes that are otherwise working well is that they suffer from severe dropout. I have digitized some reels for a friend and the reels - being 25+ years old - appear to suffer from dropout, especially in the ends of the tape length.
On the other hand, new tape is not really very expensive and you get a much much better result.
I have bought a box of 20x 1200ft Quantegy 475 reels for about $50, and the audio quality is really excellent. Works well even on my low speed 1 7/8 Revox B77 with no dropout and excellent frequency response and low noise.
On the other hand, I tried a NOS BASF LPR35 tape and although it was not used and I unsealed the box, the recording quality is not at all comparable to new tape.
Same with a reel of new RMG tape that I bought for testing. Excellent audio quality and absolutely no issues with it.
I would only look into the thrift shops and ebay auctions for pre-recorded tapes with historical value, recordings that cannot be found anywhere else. Mainly a collectors excercise.
In the UK, I have found an online source at http://www.stanleysonline.co.uk/category-59.htm
The prices appear to be similar (or lower) than ebay prices I checked.
I am sure that there must be several online sources in the US for reel tapes.
There are two separate issues I have identified with old tapes:
first, the tape might be of the batches that suffered from shedding. These tapes are practically useless and may cause problems to the decks requiring thorough cleaning after their use.
The second problem that I have seen with very old tapes that are otherwise working well is that they suffer from severe dropout. I have digitized some reels for a friend and the reels - being 25+ years old - appear to suffer from dropout, especially in the ends of the tape length.
On the other hand, new tape is not really very expensive and you get a much much better result.
I have bought a box of 20x 1200ft Quantegy 475 reels for about $50, and the audio quality is really excellent. Works well even on my low speed 1 7/8 Revox B77 with no dropout and excellent frequency response and low noise.
On the other hand, I tried a NOS BASF LPR35 tape and although it was not used and I unsealed the box, the recording quality is not at all comparable to new tape.
Same with a reel of new RMG tape that I bought for testing. Excellent audio quality and absolutely no issues with it.
I would only look into the thrift shops and ebay auctions for pre-recorded tapes with historical value, recordings that cannot be found anywhere else. Mainly a collectors excercise.
In the UK, I have found an online source at http://www.stanleysonline.co.uk/category-59.htm
The prices appear to be similar (or lower) than ebay prices I checked.
I am sure that there must be several online sources in the US for reel tapes.
Ahhhhhhhhh, I was in your shoes not to long ago...
Ya know, the whole reason I went to R-t-R is for sound quality. You'll need to understand that tape today is $$$. I use RMGI SM900 in 7" plastic and 10.5" metal reels and it is just AWESOME. Its spendy, but I don't put stuff on tape that I don't intend to keep a while so... US RECORDING have a great selection of FRESH TAPE and they are GREAT to deal with.
As far as USED tape, if you are looking for some pre-recorded material, ebay is a GREAT source, just educate yourself. I have found that 3 3/4 ips stuff sucked when it was NEW and is even worse now after 25 - 35 years. Stick with the 7 1/2 ips stuff. I always go to sellers that will take a return if there are problems with the tape. The only tapes I have had any issues with were the 3 3/4 ips stuff. I even had some sealed stuff that was bad. 7 1/2 ips tape, all great stuff so far (knock on wood).
Blank Tape, stick to the NEW Production stuff and you can't go wrong. No doubt you can find GREAT deals on NOS tape on the web, but I know that after playing tapes that are 25 - 30 years old, my machine needs to have the guides and heads as well as the pinch roller cleaned of old tape shed... I fear the older blank tape.
Anyway, that's what I would recommend...Not the gospel or anything, just one point-of-view. More importantly, just have fun and enjoy your music.
Joey
Ya know, the whole reason I went to R-t-R is for sound quality. You'll need to understand that tape today is $$$. I use RMGI SM900 in 7" plastic and 10.5" metal reels and it is just AWESOME. Its spendy, but I don't put stuff on tape that I don't intend to keep a while so... US RECORDING have a great selection of FRESH TAPE and they are GREAT to deal with.
As far as USED tape, if you are looking for some pre-recorded material, ebay is a GREAT source, just educate yourself. I have found that 3 3/4 ips stuff sucked when it was NEW and is even worse now after 25 - 35 years. Stick with the 7 1/2 ips stuff. I always go to sellers that will take a return if there are problems with the tape. The only tapes I have had any issues with were the 3 3/4 ips stuff. I even had some sealed stuff that was bad. 7 1/2 ips tape, all great stuff so far (knock on wood).
Blank Tape, stick to the NEW Production stuff and you can't go wrong. No doubt you can find GREAT deals on NOS tape on the web, but I know that after playing tapes that are 25 - 30 years old, my machine needs to have the guides and heads as well as the pinch roller cleaned of old tape shed... I fear the older blank tape.
Anyway, that's what I would recommend...Not the gospel or anything, just one point-of-view. More importantly, just have fun and enjoy your music.
Joey
Brent71
Well-Known Member
dread31
Addicted Member
I managed to find Quantegy 499 Studio Gold 1/4" x 10.5" 2500' metal reels--$38 a piece. Shipping was free on orders over $100, so I bought three. You're right, tape is getting expensive.
Got it at www.musiciansfriend.com, I was told that "the supply is extremely limited."
But I considered this a lucky find,------ Quantegy no longer makes tape.
Got it at www.musiciansfriend.com, I was told that "the supply is extremely limited."
But I considered this a lucky find,------ Quantegy no longer makes tape.
Not to bad a deal! However, that is old stock tape...just keep that in mind.
Yes, tape is VERY expensive. However, CD's did not get popular because they sounded better than open reel tape or vinyl. The recored companies could make more money on them as the cost to make a CD is dirt cheep AND they can sell it for more. We were in a sense FORCED into the digital medium which is now responsable for hurting the industry that tried to capitolize on it. Gotta love Karma I guess.
Joey
dread31
Addicted Member
That I did not know. Well, hopefully not too old.
Yep, interesting how things have turned out for the industry.
Twenty years ago we though we be using our lps for placemats.
Thanks, Joey.
Dave
I bought some too and don't think it's old stock tape. As far as I can tell, it's from the end of the Quantegy production run from 2007 which is similar to the vintage of RMGI tape out there I think until more of it shows up sometime soon.
goldear
Certifiable Audio Junkie
You can still get RMGI tape for around that price on a plastic reel. I really wish that you had asked before buying the 499 though, as it is unfortunately very likely to have too high of a bias requirements for the revox, and so the performance is likely to not be at its best. :sigh:
dread31
Addicted Member
Well, hopefully, it'll still be good 'nough anyways. If not, it'll go up for sale.
Thanks for the tip, goldear. Better late than never. If you had never told me that, I may have assumed there was something wrong with the deck. So,
I thank you for the heads up!
So, what tape would you recommend?
Dave
goldear
Certifiable Audio Junkie
Quantegy 456 or 457 would be my first choice, but the new stock tape is getting seriously hard to find (I know of one source that still had a small supply a couple of weeks ago, PM me if you're interested).
But the RMGI 911 might be a reasonably close match too.
http://www.usrecordingmedia.com.
As noted, tape isn't cheap. But the folks at USR will take care of you.
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DL-Too bad you missed out on the free tape contests. Even worse that the next one planned was cancelled
As noted, tape isn't cheap. But the folks at USR will take care of you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DL-Too bad you missed out on the free tape contests. Even worse that the next one planned was cancelled
ShaneR2R
My Teac A2300S, (Avatar)
Yes this is correct, they are a new company, located here in Pennsylvania.
I find it funny someone would think this was a NOS tape. The tape is as new as it gets. Hopefully they continue to get a good response from buyer's and stick around.
ShaneR2R
My Teac A2300S, (Avatar)
Yes your right figman. I was thinking of this company, http://www.usrecordingmedia.com/ located here in Pa, when I think of Reel tape I think of us recording. Time for a nap, LOL.