Topics

1

Suite Espanola / TP-005

« on: May 19, 2008, 09:08:44 PM »

Docb,

TP-005 is another great tape.  Jaw-dropping cowboy boggie-woogie.

Thanks

2

Arnold Overtures / TP-003 - Oh my!

« on: April 07, 2008, 10:43:05 PM »

Well, I finally got my homebrew preamp to a point where it's about listenable and hooked it up to my new Flux Magnetics head in my spare RS-1500 headblock.  TP-003 (Arnold Overtures) has been on hand for a while, but I didn't want to listen until I had the IEC eq working, and that meant getting the preamp up and running.  Wow.... I finally understand what everybody's talking about.  Everything about the recording is just so right.  There's just this orchestra out there in space, well not exactly in space, it's an orchestra in a complete acoustic environment and after a few moments I found myself listening with this big grin on my face, even giggling at parts of the goofy Christmas Overture.  Beautiful, full clearly articulated lows, sweet highs and everything else in between just in the right place.  I've never heard anything else like it in my house.  To docb, romo and Paul you've hit it out the park!  Thanks.
   

3

Prerecorded Tapes / Dolby level for Ampex Dolby tapes

« on: March 08, 2007, 10:22:21 PM »

Does anybody have any information on the level that Ampex assumed for the standard Dolby level on their later pre-recorded Dolby B tapes?  Since they didn't record any Dolby tones it's not clear.  I have always guessed that they used 185nW/m as the Dolby level, but I wonder if somebody has some real (reel?) information.

4

Prerecorded Tapes / Dolby units for Barclay Crocker and Ampex Dolby Tapes

« on: March 03, 2007, 03:32:59 PM »

Sounds like there are a few out there enjoying Dolby type B pre-recorded tapes whether they are Barclay-Crocker, Stereotape or late Ampex.  What sorts of Dolby play electronics are folks using?  I'll start with my unit, a Dolby Labs Model 330 "Tape Duplication Unit" purchased on ebay.  Any others?

5

Service Resources / Pinch Roller refurbishing

« on: February 17, 2007, 03:04:30 PM »

Here is a service that rebuilds pinch rollers and other rubber parts such as idler wheels.  His address:

http://www.terrysrubberrollers.com/

I just received my two rebuilt RS-1500 rollers, but haven't tried them yet. The material appears to be slightly harder than the NOS rollers (my last pair) that I just installed a few weeks ago.  The hardness may require a change in the back tension voltage when these rollers are installed.  Wonder if any others have tried this source?

 

6

Suggestion Box / R. Strauss L.A. Phil.

« on: February 12, 2007, 09:10:59 AM »

1.  As it looks like there's access to early Decca stereo maybe that could be extended to the late '60's and early 70's Decca for some of the R. Strauss titles by the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta.  An Alpine Symphony, Ein Heldenleben, and Also Sprach Zarathustra are still very fine performances and terrific recordings.  And of course there's the L.A. Philharmonic Planets if folks haven't heard enough of that.

2.  In many years of making duplication master tapes for broadcast automation, then making the dubs 1:1 (on Technics RS1500's) and finally running them on the air day to day I found that 10 1/2 in. metal reels are only a source of frustration.  We only used them to handle tape purchased bulk on hubs, but not for rewinding or fast forwarding.  For everything else we used 10 1/2 large hub plastic reels.  These used to made by a company called Polyline which seems to have gone by the wayside. Despite the fact that metal flanges seem to have a "cool" factor I would vote for finding a supplier of plastic reels.  The only metal reels we would rewind to regularly had 6 holes and special thick flanges, and I haven't seen anything like that in a long time.  In any case I only use plastic at home now.