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Tape for Pioneer rt 909

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juniorgroove

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SM900 was not around when Pioneer sold the deck. As the note at the bottom stated: "If the desired quality of sound .......", so test with different settings, as you switch back and forth between source\tape to find what sounds best to you. Even with a listed brand of tape in use, bear in mind that these settings are always approximate and are a compromise.

For maximum fidelity to the source material, the deck would need to be aligned using reference tapes and test gear, using the specific tape formulation you wish to use.

In professional environments, back in the day, these alignments were performed on each batch of the same tape formulation, as small differences in manufacturing needed to be accounted for. In typical home use, this is not necessary. Engineers also would record a series of tones on each tape, prior to recording the desired audio. Another studio receiving the tape for further production work, would play back the tones and make small adjustments in the azimuth, bias and equalization, prior to use. Consistency was critical.

Keep in mind that what is technically correct, might not be the most pleasing to the ear. One person might choose a setting that was a bit brighter in sound, because they like it that way, while another might prefer stronger bass.

If you want the deck to be more technically correct, then you would need to align the deck, or have it aligned, with the SM900 tape.
 
Ok, thanks for the reply!
So you suggest to rec a song that i know very well and during the recording, to change the different setting.
Once I've choose the one i like, rewind and record all the tape with that setting of BIAS & EQ.
Right?
Thanks a lot!!!
 
For 7,5IPS set overbias between 5 & 6db and it will be OK for any tape. Of course "fine tune" in accordance with manufacturers recommendations is possible, but in real world those +-0,5db will affect nothing. I am not sure you can calibrate RT909 for SM900 what is high output tape, but you can try. The best tape for particular deck would be LPR35 what is long play version of SM911.

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radiokom said:
I am not sure you can calibrate RT909 for SM900 what is high output tape, but you can try. The best tape for particular deck would be LPR35 what is long play version of SM911.
Click to expand...
Yes, LPR35 would be a more suitable tape for the existing bias and eq settings for the RT909. If the SM900 sounds overly bright, then try LPR35. SM900 was designed for studio decks which can accommodate it's bias and eq parameters.
 
Hi guys, thanks a lot.
I'm doing some test and it seems it changes nothing pressing BIAS 1 / 2 & EQ 1 / 2. As probably you know the 909 doesn't have the ability to adjust the bias variably, but only normal or high.. as you can see from the attach files.
In every setting I have a lot of audio rustle.

If I play the blank tape it's perfect, without any rustle.

What you think about it?
 

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I have not heard of ‘rustle’ used before. Seems that you are hearing noise though.

All the pots and switches need to be cleaned.

You might try cycling each switch 25+ times, and the same for the pots. This might clean the contacts enough.

Otherwise, some good contact cleaner, followed up by Deoxit for switches and Faderlube for pots. The tricky part is getting the products into these devices

My experience mirrors yours-the low/high settings do surprisingly little.

If you are not comfortable doing these things yourself, then a good tech should be sought. I suggest standardizing on a tape formulation, and stick with that. LPR35 for new, or Maxell UD for example, for a used tape. Bring a NEW reel of your choice, to the tech, and ask for the deck to be set up for this tape.

If the tech does not do this alignment, find one who does.
 
juniorgroove said:
Hi guys, thanks a lot.
I'm doing some test and it seems it changes nothing pressing BIAS 1 / 2 & EQ 1 / 2. As probably you know the 909 doesn't have the ability to adjust the bias variably, but only normal or high.. as you can see from the attach files.
In every setting I have a lot of audio rustle.

If I play the blank tape it's perfect, without any rustle.

What you think about it?
Click to expand...

You should calibrate it in accordance with service manual first. Those bias and eq switches are for fine tuning for +- few decibels.
I hope it has trimmers for bias/eq/level inside for record calibration. Even AKAI has.
 
oldvinyldude said:
I have not heard of ‘rustle’ used before. Seems that you are hearing noise though.

All the pots and switches need to be cleaned.

You might try cycling each switch 25+ times, and the same for the pots. This might clean the contacts enough.

Otherwise, some good contact cleaner, followed up by Deoxit for switches and Faderlube for pots. The tricky part is getting the products into these devices

My experience mirrors yours-the low/high settings do surprisingly little.

If you are not comfortable doing these things yourself, then a good tech should be sought. I suggest standardizing on a tape formulation, and stick with that. LPR35 for new, or Maxell UD for example, for a used tape. Bring a NEW reel of your choice, to the tech, and ask for the deck to be set up for this tape.

If the tech does not do this alignment, find one who does.
Click to expand...
Yesss It's like with noise.. is it correct to call him "HISS"... sorry for the terms :)
It's like the same noise you have without dolby B in a normale cassette pleayer... but I don't have it if I play the blank tape. The SM900 is just arrived from Recording the master..
 
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juniorgroove said:
Thanks!
Whats about the hiss noise I listen during the recording?
It depends from the bias setting?
Click to expand...

It is impossible to say by distance. Your machine should be calibrated first - playback with test tape and then recording. And unwanted noise can be measured. But it should be done by technician who knows what he doing. Who knows what someone possibly did before with trimmers of your deck trying to adjust deck "by ear" for example.
 
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