Can you believe it? Tape Project is ten years old! Thanks to everyone who has supported us in introducing studio quality tape reproduction to the audiophile community!

Author Topic: Time for a progress report  (Read 13567 times)

Offline docb

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Time for a progress report
« on: June 04, 2007, 11:56:12 AM »
What the heck! Where are the tapes?

As we reach the halfway point of this first year of the Tape Project, It's time to clarify that we have not absconded your subscription funds and made our way to Argentina to start a girl-on-girl porn site. I think it's our obligation to give you all a breakdown of the various parts of the project we have pulled together and where the last few details stand-

We have acquired six album licenses and have four more in the works. These come through when they are ready to come through, so it's a little hard to say with exactitude when they will be announced. But it will be soon. We are working hard on this aspect and have several pretty exciting titles from several different labels in the works. I wish I could tell you which titles we are working on, but unfortunately the nature of the business is that we don't want other labels bidding for the same titles against us and therefore we need to keep the titles under wraps until we have a contract.

Our duplicating line is together and tested. This involved getting two Ampex ATR 100s resurrected from the dead and getting them slaved together with two other ATRs, which are all fed from a Ampex MM1200 converted to 1" two track. Some changes are happening at 1340 Mission, and one of those changes is that we have been able to establish a dedicated duplicating room right in the facility. This will allow us super tight quality control and easy access between the mastering room where the running masters are made and the duping room where they are being copied.

I have put together a high quality inkjet-on-art-paper printing setup for the cover art. The art we have licensed is all in the final stages of workup and we will begin printing as soon as the final changes are signed off. It will come in the form of a four page bookfold 10.5" square and will contain the original art plus additional information about the tape making process and any additional material we can acquire from the licensor. We are working with Brad Talbott on this aspect. Brad is the graphics talent behind our awesome logo.

We have purchased a large quantity of pancakes of RMGI SM468 tape for production of the tapes.

We have received many subscriptions from those who have put faith in us early on and we GREATLY appreciate the support. This project is an expensive undertaking which we have poured a lot of our own money into. Your subscription money goes to tape, reels, packaging and licenses for the music - the actual stuff you get for your subsciption. The duping facility, the shows, the website, this forum, Paul's personal trainer, Michael's hairdresser, the corporate jet - those are all things we pay for out of our pocket at this point.

OK so what's still to be done?

First and foremost we are hung up for a few more weeks awaiting our reels. These are going to be ultra cool. If you haven't noticed I will point out that the tape reel in our logo has a very unique set of holes in it, a circle, a square and a triangle. That is in fact our trademark and we are having custom tooling made to punch that pattern in your reel flanges. The tooling takes a couple of months to be manufactured and then it takes a little additional time to punch the flanges. It took us several months just to get a reply from the two places left that can do this, and as soon as we got the quote we got things started. It's all in process at this point and it looks like about five weeks to go.

The other hang up has been packaging. We want the packaging for these tapes to be worthy of the contents. This has required a trial and error process of coming up with a sturdy and at the same time elegant package. The first attempt made late last year - a book fold type box for two - literally fell apart under the weight of two 10" reels full of tape. At one point I went off looking for custom wood boxes. The pricing caused my heart to skip a few beats. Back to the drawing board and we came up with more traditional tape storage boxes and a slipcover to contain them, both done in very attractive finishes. The finished product is intended to look like a tooled leather book on your shelf, and we are hoping to see the final production complete just about the same time as the reels.

In the meantime we are going to make some alignment tapes for subscribers and ship them out, so that you can have your tape machine dialed in to as close a match as possible to our duplicating slaves when those first tapes show up. 

We will also be assigning serial numbers to charter subscribers. These will be assigned from lowest to highest in the order the subscriptions have been received starting at number 21. Watch for a certificate to come in the mail with your number in the next week or two.

Another topic of discussion amongst Paul, Michael and myself has been doing a little demo for subscribers at the studio in San Francisco. If enough subscribers and potential subscribers think they might be able to make it we would be happy to schedule a little taste of what is to come. My next trip south will be in early July. Perhaps if folks are interested we could schedule a little afternoon or evening demo around that time.

Once again thank you so much for your subscriptions and support. If you're feeling a little itchy about getting some tapes, know that we are too. Feel free to call me and kvetch, talk tech, offer title suggestions or whatever else might be necessary to burn off a little pent up energy when you're jonesing for those tapes. We are getting closer every day!

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President for Life, Bottlehead Corp.
Managing Director - retired, The Tape Project

Offline classicrecordings

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2007, 02:03:15 PM »
Thank you for all the updated information.

Is it possible to say how many of the remaining four titles for this year are classical?

TIA, David
David Stangret
HK Citation 1 Pre-amp, Thorens TD-124, Ortofon 309S arm, SPU cartridges, mono block tube amps, Ars Acoustica LaDiva speakers, and I'm still trying to decide what machine to go with.
http://www.classicrecordings.ca

Offline ironbut

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2007, 06:17:42 PM »
Thanks for the update Dan. It sounds like the timing will be great for me ( financially at least ). I'm glad to hear that the art work will be in line with the tapes. I'm a real sucker for that stuff. I hope you'll be making enough of the custom reels to sell some empties. I've just Got to have a matching pair!
And, any members who are remotely close to SF, Do Not miss a chance to visit 1340 Mission! Put off the wedding, get that liposuction done in June, just get your audio ass over there! It's like being invited to Wolfgang Puck's house for dinner for god's sake! Believe me,.. you'll never forget it.
steve koto
 Sony scd 777es(R. Kern mods)> Vpi Aires>Dynavector XX-2mkll>Bent mu>CAT ultimate>CJ premeir 140>Magnepan 1.6qr(Jensen xover)Headphone Eddie Current Zana Deux>AT ad2000,HD800 ,Metric Halo ULN-2 (battery powered),
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Offline xcortes

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2007, 08:12:00 PM »
I'll be in San Diego the second week of June. If the demo happens in that week I will be there!
Xavier Cortes

Offline xcortes

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2007, 06:08:18 AM »
I merant July
Xavier Cortes

Offline High and Outside

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2007, 07:22:22 PM »
Is it possible to say how many of the remaining four titles for this year are classical?

TIA, David

We don't expect there will be any more Classical titles this year, beyond the three already announced.

I invite all subscribers, and could-be-subscribers, to give us your thoughts on what mix of titles you would like to see, in the Suggestion Box. As we have stated before, we intend to do some classic Jazz, some Classical, some roots/blues/Americana. We are looking at a few select Pop titles, and some World music. What proportions of these genres would y'all like?
Paul Stubblebine
Managing Director, The TapeProject

Offline beefman

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #6 on: June 15, 2007, 09:54:35 AM »
San Francisco??? Name the day! An excuse to go to SFO, oh the pain, the horror!
Jeff Kane
Owner of many decks; in possession of few!

Offline ironbut

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #7 on: June 15, 2007, 06:04:37 PM »
Doc, I hope it'll be ok for me to visit 1340 Mission again if the demo happens.
steve koto
 Sony scd 777es(R. Kern mods)> Vpi Aires>Dynavector XX-2mkll>Bent mu>CAT ultimate>CJ premeir 140>Magnepan 1.6qr(Jensen xover)Headphone Eddie Current Zana Deux>AT ad2000,HD800 ,Metric Halo ULN-2 (battery powered),
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Offline Romo

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2007, 02:02:58 AM »
Of course Steve, you are welcome anytime.
... but it might be a good idea to call ahead first. Just in case we are working. : )

Michael
Managing Director
The Tape Project

Offline xcortes

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2007, 06:49:33 PM »
I'll be in SF the 26th to the 28th with my wife and I'd love to visit you guys. I know these might not be the best dates, however. Please let me know if possible.

Thanks
Xavier Cortes

Offline docb

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2007, 10:49:13 PM »
Wish I could be around because I would love to meet the two of you face to face. But I'll be head down in the solder fumes up here in Washington, getting ready for CES (Christmas Eliminated for Showpersons). Maybe Paul or Michael will be in the studio those days, But I'm not sure.
Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President for Life, Bottlehead Corp.
Managing Director - retired, The Tape Project

Offline ironbut

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2007, 11:15:30 PM »
But I'll be head down in the solder fumes up here in Washington, getting ready for CES (Christmas Eliminated for Showpersons).

Oh my god Doc,.. that's a good one! Sorry that it's so true. Now I get to find out if this keyboard is ale proof. I guess I'll have to remember to swallow before I read one of your post!
steve koto
 Sony scd 777es(R. Kern mods)> Vpi Aires>Dynavector XX-2mkll>Bent mu>CAT ultimate>CJ premeir 140>Magnepan 1.6qr(Jensen xover)Headphone Eddie Current Zana Deux>AT ad2000,HD800 ,Metric Halo ULN-2 (battery powered),
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Offline Romo

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Re: Time for a progress report
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2007, 11:41:19 PM »
Hey Xavier,
We would love to have you come by the studio. Unfortunately, as far as a visit goes, I will be in Nashville from the 26th through the 3rd. I'll check with Paul and see if he will around to show you the studio and maybe play you a few things as well.
I hope you have a great trip.
Michael
Managing Director
The Tape Project