Research Question about Tape Speed
- Thread starter porkyB
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- reel to reel uher 5000
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Hi PorkyB,
I think you are in error here!! 15/16 inches per minute would make a recording that would be so muffled due to lack of treble that they would be useless.
The standard speeds for tape recorders start at 15 IPS (30 IPS) and then get repeatedly divided by 2. Hence 15/2 - 7.5 IPS, 15/4 - 3 3/4 IPS, 15/8 - 1 7/8 IPS and 15/16 IPS. I think some Logging Machines go lower than this.
The speeds for a Uher would be 9.5 cm/s, 4.75 cm/s and 2.375 cm/s. 15/16 IPS *2.54 cm gives 2.38 cm/s.
So the Uher would do the job.
Some of the recordings from Watergate were reputedly done with a Nagra SN (Series Noire) in someones pocket. 15/16 IPS was on the slow speed version of this. It was 1/8" tape width though. Beautiful machines. The body was/is milled out of a brick of Aluminium (English!). This machine was commissioned by Nixon for the CIA. Look at the thread for which format are you listening to now. Go to page 19. My Nagra SN is there.
Hope this helps.
Cheers.
GPS16
I think you are in error here!! 15/16 inches per minute would make a recording that would be so muffled due to lack of treble that they would be useless.
The standard speeds for tape recorders start at 15 IPS (30 IPS) and then get repeatedly divided by 2. Hence 15/2 - 7.5 IPS, 15/4 - 3 3/4 IPS, 15/8 - 1 7/8 IPS and 15/16 IPS. I think some Logging Machines go lower than this.
The speeds for a Uher would be 9.5 cm/s, 4.75 cm/s and 2.375 cm/s. 15/16 IPS *2.54 cm gives 2.38 cm/s.
So the Uher would do the job.
Some of the recordings from Watergate were reputedly done with a Nagra SN (Series Noire) in someones pocket. 15/16 IPS was on the slow speed version of this. It was 1/8" tape width though. Beautiful machines. The body was/is milled out of a brick of Aluminium (English!). This machine was commissioned by Nixon for the CIA. Look at the thread for which format are you listening to now. Go to page 19. My Nagra SN is there.
Hope this helps.
Cheers.
GPS16
Last edited:
porkyB
New Member
GPS16 Wow! Thank you so much for such a detailed answer. I had gotten my info here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixon_White_House_tapes which references the Nixon Libray.