Messages

1

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: Reader fav tapes...

« on: March 29, 2010, 07:10:40 PM »

Just picked up "That Newport Jazz" on Columbia. Great soundstage and clarity. Not to mention the music is  awesome.

2

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: Ebay Tapes

« on: March 09, 2010, 07:38:16 PM »

I am seeing quite a few "quadraphonic" tapes on ebay. Are these able to be palyed by a 2 channel, 2track/4 track R2R? I have read the explanations on this site but do not seem to find a difinitive yes or no.

3

Tape Tech / Re: HD computer download to R2R

« on: March 04, 2010, 09:04:21 PM »

Steve, First baking tapes nowthis. You are the man!. I have a pair of silver interconnects with XLR to the Otari and rca on the other end. So I guess I just need the adapter from the computer to each RCA. It just seems so low end to have a single small cord out of the computer "y" to the interconnects. Now that I think of it I have a wireless slim server that sends music from my computer to my preamp. Maybe the preamp could dirct the signal to the Otari for recording. Downloading HD TRACKS burning on a cd, recording directly onto an Otari and sending throughslim server. I wonder which will sound best. This experimentation is great!

4

Tape Tech / HD computer download to R2R

« on: March 04, 2010, 06:52:02 PM »

Being a newbie I am not sure how to proceed. I would like to download some HD tracks (ie: https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=catalogdetail&valbum_code=884385011604) and record directly to my Otari MX500 BII.  How do I feed directly from my computer to the R2R for recording?

5

Raw Tape / Re: cleaning dirty tapes

« on: February 28, 2010, 08:47:35 PM »

The tapes that are labeled as Scotch are probably Ampex.

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Raw Tape / Re: cleaning dirty tapes

« on: February 26, 2010, 04:59:27 PM »

It worked. I baked them for 3 hours, 130 degrees. I will contact the person who taped these and find out if the scotch 102s are that. One of them is a Basf. Thank You for the advise. I had read the beginners course before posting but was reluctant to pop them in the oven. When you both recommended it I felt much more comfortable.

7

Raw Tape / Re: cleaning dirty tapes

« on: February 24, 2010, 09:32:34 PM »

These are Scotch 102 from the mid to late 70's. They do not have a black coating. Just the shiny brown and flat brown colors. So place them on a cookie sheet and bake 3 hrs 130 degrees. Will this make it so the brown coating does not come off on my heads?

8

Raw Tape / cleaning dirty tapes

« on: February 24, 2010, 07:48:33 PM »

I have an Otari MX-5050 BII.The heads appear to be in good condition. I have bought some tapes. They are live recordings of concerts in the 70's by an engineer . They sound good for about 2 songs then the sound quality starts to deteriorate. I noticed the heads and rollers are getting brown quickly. I clean the heads and what not and all is good for a couple more songs and then I have to repeat the process. I was reading about penlon to clean tapes. Is this what I need? Any recommendations, thoughts? Thank You

9

General Discussion / Re: Choosing which RTR?

« on: February 07, 2010, 03:38:38 PM »

Thank You. I feel alot better. Time to shop.

10

General Discussion / Re: Choosing which RTR?

« on: February 07, 2010, 09:16:55 AM »

The more I read the more tentative I get about which machine to buy. When I was acollege student (70's) I had an Ampex R2R and recorded played whatever. 30+ yrs later and I cannot get by the reading to educate myself phase. I have a few prerecorded tapes and they are 4 track 2 channel. I do not know if I will ever be able to afford a tape project tape but I would like to. So I am looking at Otari, mx5050 BII, techniques rs1500 2 track, Technics 1700 4 track, Otari mx5050 mk IV 2 etc. Then I read the 1700 cannot play the tape project tapes w/o modification. This seems like a nice machine for my pre records but if a mod is needed will it then play both types of tape?  Can the 2 tracks play a 4 track? I like the idea of a deck laying flat like the Otari mk IV but is it as good as the otari BII? I have read the sight for beginners. If I buy a 2 track machine will it make play my 4 track tapes? Help

11

Suggestion Box / Re: Suggestion for Series 3

« on: January 27, 2010, 07:39:06 PM »

Eva Cassidy moves me. No one sings "Natural woman" like she does. She also does a beautiful rendition of "What a wonderful world"and "tall trees in Georgia". Unfortunately she passed away at a young age. Her parents have done a good job of getting her music out there. Maybe, just maybe they have the master recordings

12

Suggestion Box / Re: Series 3 suggestions

« on: January 27, 2010, 07:37:50 PM »

I posted this under suggestions with multiple positive reply for Eva Cassidy: Eva Cassidy moves me. No one sings "Natural woman" like she does. She also does a beautiful rendition of "What a wonderful world"and "tall trees in Georgia". Unfortunately she passed away at a young age. Her parents have done a good job of getting her music out there. Maybe, just maybe they have the master recordings
"Live at Blues Alley" is a great recording and I believe her last

13

Suggestion Box / Re: Suggestions

« on: January 27, 2010, 07:32:15 PM »

"Live at Blues Alley" is a great recording. My understanding is that her cancer was taking over and it was her last appearance. On stage leading up to "What a Wonderful world" she says "This ones for my Mom and Dad". Then she sings it with so much feeling that you can not help but feel it over and over. I have the Songbird isc also. It would be a wonderful tribute to her to take this up at the tape project. "you take my breath away," At Last" are done so well that they can only compliment the artists before her.

14

Suggestion Box / Re: Suggestions

« on: January 24, 2010, 08:11:33 PM »

Eva Cassidy moves me. No one sings "Natural woman" like she does. She also does a beautiful rendition of "What a wonderful world"and "tall trees in Georgia". Unfortunately she passed away at a young age. Her parents have done a good job of getting her music out there. Maybe, just maybe they have the master recordings.