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Prerecorded Tapes / Re: Poll: what format would you prefer for new tapes?
« on: June 11, 2013, 09:52:03 AM »
I find this to be kind of a strange thread. Tape is no longer going to be a mass medium...heck, LPs aren't either, although more of one than tape. The TP team made a quality decision - e.g., the only reason to do this is to ensure that the tapes are of the highest quality possible given a reasonable base of machines. Therefore,15 ips 2 track with the IEC equalization curve. I am certain there was never an expectation to move an enormous number of units, just enough to make the venture profitable. What's interesting is that new producers of tapes have popped up, and have adopted the same standards, and that the producers of new machines are now focused on the standards that Doc, Paul and Michael chose. RTR is now going to be an "elite" medium, not a mass one, and it makes sense to ensure that there is the best sound possible.
To my knowledge, the last prior commercial releases (well, except for the Shins) was in early 80s, from Barclay-Crocker. These were either Dolby-B or dbx encoded, which means they are likely incompatible (somewhat in the case of Dolby-B, completely in the case of dbx) with the new machines and even the bulk of older ones. I have tried several times, completely without success, to add a outboard Dolby unit to my ReVox A77....but I have also found that many of my 70s tapes are affected by sticky shed, and are useless. At this stage I believe that we should be focused on building the best future and not supporting the past.
To my knowledge, the last prior commercial releases (well, except for the Shins) was in early 80s, from Barclay-Crocker. These were either Dolby-B or dbx encoded, which means they are likely incompatible (somewhat in the case of Dolby-B, completely in the case of dbx) with the new machines and even the bulk of older ones. I have tried several times, completely without success, to add a outboard Dolby unit to my ReVox A77....but I have also found that many of my 70s tapes are affected by sticky shed, and are useless. At this stage I believe that we should be focused on building the best future and not supporting the past.