TP-028, Nat Adderley's Work Song is now available

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Messages - Tim Leggett

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1
Prerecorded Tapes / Re: RCA reissues on 15 ips?
« on: November 08, 2013, 12:18:33 PM »
I had a chat with Chad about this at RMAF. I don't see it happening. You really have to have a running master TP type setup to do this on any scale. Chad has his hands full right now, said he doesn't have any bandwidth to take this on for a handfull of customers.

2
Events / Re: RMAF 2013
« on: October 08, 2013, 11:30:50 AM »
I'll look for you guys there at the times/places you've mentioned!

3
Events / RMAF 2013
« on: October 01, 2013, 05:08:38 PM »
Hi All,

Just checking to see if anyone was going to the show this year from The Tape Project or the forum. I will be there roaming around all day Friday the 11th and half of Saturday the 12th.

Thanks!

Tim Leggett

4
Flirting With Twilight / Re: TP-021 shipping
« on: May 15, 2012, 11:02:20 AM »
I can unequivocally state the ?" Tape Project versions are worth waiting for.

After receiving my complete Series 1 ?" subscription, I chose my 3 favorite titles from the series in ?" format.

There is really nothing to say other than the fact that they are just plain amazing!

Tim

5
Prerecorded Tapes / Re: the 2 track era
« on: April 23, 2012, 07:36:03 PM »
ECS-1 contains about 36 minutes of music. I think there would be a small but dedicated market for high quality 2-track 7-1/2 ips tapes in the $125 range today. Has The Tape Project ever run tests in this format? Considering the vast improvements in tape oxide formulation, tape head design, and transport mechanisms, I'd think a 1:1 duplication from a TP master might sound exceptionally good.

I have been picking up some Capitol 2 Tracks from the late 1950's and early 1960's. I have run across two that are pretty long. One is ZF-41 - The Music Man which is 43 minutes. The other is ZF-27 Gliere: Ilya Mourometz which is about 36 minutes. These are thinner tape than the regular Capitol 2 Tracks, but don't sound too bad.

6
Tape Tech / MDI MagREELs For ATR-102
« on: March 24, 2012, 11:06:25 AM »
Hi All,

I just wanted to mention I picked up a set of Jeff Gilman?s MagREELS ATR-102 10? reel hub adapters and really do like them. I bought the set with the extenders so I can use them with ?? and ?? reels. They really do center the reels on the spindles and give absolute no slip cogged drive by their design with the pin that slips into the holes in the reel platter. They really stop the reel wobble when the transport is running.

I wasn?t sure if anyone had tried them or posted about them. I really do like them. http://www.precisionmotorworks.com/PDF/MagREELS_Promo_web.pdf

Tim

7
Suggestion Box / Groove Note Titles Anyone?
« on: March 07, 2012, 07:20:16 PM »
Most of the Groove Note titles recorded for Groove Note Records were done at Ocean Way Recording by Micheal Ross using some really nice microphones. My understanding is these titles were recorded to analog tape, but I cannot find any confirmation of this. I did hear they were mixed and mastered simultaneously to analog and DSD, and one title live to 45 RPM phonograph lacquers as well. These are some of my favorite reference LPs, ones I use to gauge changes in my system when I introduce something new. They have amazing dynamics.

Anyway I would like to suggest as possible Tape Project releases the following, provided they meet the project criteria. I do know the music moves me:
  • Jacintha - The Girl From Bossa Nova
  • The Bill Cunliffe Trio - Live At Bernie's (All the songs from the SACD if possible)
  • Jacintha - Lush Life

Thanks

8
General Discussion / Re: DAT Tape sound quality.............
« on: November 18, 2011, 12:17:13 PM »
Digital Audio Tape (DAT) is the recordable version of the CD standard (44.1 KHz/16 bit or 48 KHz/16 bit) that recorded the data onto magnetic tape.

I had two different Sony DAT machines and the quality was very good. As implied by the sampling rates it was CD quality and better. Contrary to popular belief, if you put a warm sounding signal into it, that is what you got back out, but with the limitation of the resolution of the analog to digital converters and the sampling rate.

I mastered a few recording from mutlitrack analog to 48/16 with it in the early 90's.

The main issue I had was the machines were very finicky about being able to play back accurately, the archivability of the medium was very poor for me. I had trouble playing tapes recorded 6 months earlier. Fortunately I was able to direct digital transfers to wave files before I was unable to play the tapes any longer. I even had one machine serviced by Sony and it really still performed the same after.

These were basically miniature rotating head type video playback mechanisms that just stored digital instead of analog signals.

9
Yes. Take a look at the fixed guides after the tension arm rollers on a heavily used RS1500 and you will see flat spots on the fixed stainless bushings, where the moving tape has been rubbing and wearing it down. The bushing is also wearing the tape surface, burnishing it at the very least and likely it is removing some oxide with each pass.
Yes, my RS 1520 had that issue. One of the guide sleeves was almost worn through!

10
Just got this tape today, sealed no less from 1971. It is 4T 7? IPS.

Came in a fairly plain box, with a typed looking simple label.

The tape is a thin black looking stock on a clear large hub 7" Ampex reel.

Pretty amazing clean tape with very low noise, just perfect! The Blue Danube is divine! I do like me some Strauss!
 
Tim

11
General Discussion / Re: Kenny Burrell in concert!
« on: August 19, 2011, 07:23:53 PM »
As we like to say down here in 100+ degrees Houston, Texas - Howdy Piper!

Welcome! No doubt you will be (or have been) working on my Series One subscription tapes. Thanks a bunch for the hard work, it is appreciated.

Tim

12
Creek Bank / Very Nice Tape!
« on: August 08, 2011, 06:22:39 PM »
This is the first tape sent to me by the Tape Project for my Series One Subscription. I played it back on a stock Ampex ATR-102, with Flux Magnetics Extended Response heads.

I had never heard this LP and was very pleasantly surprised. I find after a few listens that 'The Seventh Son' is kind of stuck in my head, in a good way.

So here are my impressions:
  • Quality - The quality of the tape is exquisite. I really like the 30 or so seconds of blank tape lead ins and lead outs before the white leader. Very, very thoughtful. Keeps the tape with the signal isolated away from the edges of the reels and nicely packed! I have heard only one drop out which sounds to me like it was on the original tape, the SM468 it is recored on is flawless. No oxide was shed from the tape when played.
  • Recording - The recording and its sound is superb. I have done live jazz recording and this sounds just like it. Every instrument and note is very real sounding. You can hear the intent of the players in everything they are doing. Amazing dynamics throughout!
  • Reproduction - This an amazing sounding tape having come from an original produced in 1959. The tape duplication chain sounds second to none. I have heard quite a few jazz 45 RPMS played on my vinyl rig, but they have nothing on this. I particularly like the piano hammer sounds. That pace, rhythm and cohesion can only come from tape or hi-rez digital original sources.

I really like this tape and have been listening to it much more than I ever thought I would. This was a really good choice by the Tape Project principles. Bravo!

Tim

13
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: What hardware are you using?
« on: August 08, 2011, 06:20:03 PM »
Well, the Technics RS-1520 is at J-Corder getting a rebuild.

I found a service place here in Houston that ran through the service manual I gave them, but it still wasn't working as I expected it to.

It did not always stop with the tension switch engaged ready to play, fast forward or rewind. And they could not get that pesky wiggle out of the strobe. I found out that if I can see, I can hear it!

So, while that one has gone out the door, another has come in its place.


14
Suggestion Box / Re: Suggestion for Series 3
« on: June 27, 2011, 07:07:41 PM »
Genesis - Trick Of The Tail
Al Stewart - Either Year of the Cat or Time Passages
Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown
Bob Seger - Night Moves
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Torubled Water
Peter Gabriel - So
Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours, from the original tapes with no extra echo
Frank Sinatra - Songs For Swingin' Lovers, from the original tapes with no extra echo
Frank Sinatra - A Swingin' Affair, from the original tapes with no extra echo
Franks Sinatra - Where Are You?, from the orignal three track tape

15
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: What hardware are you using?
« on: June 20, 2011, 06:02:14 PM »
Hi Tim,

There are data sheets for the different RMG tapes available on the US Recording Media website.
http://usrecordingmedia.com/datasheets.html
I'm not sure if the 1520 also has the 1-2-3 switched setting like my RS1500, but I've been using bias and eq set on 2 with 468 and it seems pretty good.

Thanks Steve, that is exactly what I was looking for. The 1520 also has the fine EQ and Bias adjust pots, one of each for each channel!

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