tape speed against 2/4 tracks recordings

[jorsan]

Im almost ready to start to preserve in tape some of the best songs that I have in my vinyl collection, but before that, need to decide tape speed and 2 or 4 tracks so, in your experience, what is better to preserve the best sound quality, to record in 2 tracks at 7 1/2 or 4 tracks at 15?. My point is to know if is better to go to the fastest speed, or records in 2 tracks instead of 4. i know that optimal should be 15 speed / 2 tracks but is the difference notorius against the other options mentioned before? .Tanks

[stellavox]

Jorsan,

Of course, the tradeoff(s) are "sound quality" versus tape usage.  Record a few of your best songs at various speeds/tracks working "down" the ladder and see if/when you actually hear a degradation AND if you can live with it.  I'd opine you can live with a slower speed; 4 track - maybe. 

Charles   

[mep]

If you are only preserving your "best" songs, why not record them the best way and go with 2 track 15 ips?  Whatever you do, I wouldn't advise recording 4 track (using both sides of the tape) as noise will be an issue as it will be at 7 1/2 ips vice 15 ips.  You can do it cheap, or you can do it right, but you can't have both at the same time.

Mark

[rawbcca]

I have copied quite a few of my favorite LPs too tape.
If the original recording is very good and it is music that I like to listen to often, then I want to get the best copy I can so I'll record at 15ips / 2trk.
If it is music that I will listen to far less often, then to save on tape 7-1/2 ips / 2trk.
I have been happy with results in both 15 & 7-1/2 but always 2 track.

Richard

[astrotoy]

I also have done quite a bit of recording vinyl to tape. Always have done 15ips 2 track. Getting the reels of SM468 from TP at $120 for 20 reels of 2500+ feet makes the cost of the tape a non issue for me. The empty reels cost more than the tapes.  You do have to check the two or three splices on a reel to make sure they are OK, or resplice, not a big deal.  Larry

[jorsan]

Thanks for the tips, will go 2 tracks 15 ips.

[xcortes]

Getting the reels of SM468 from TP at $120 for 20 reels of 2500+ feet makes the cost of the tape a non issue for me.

Larry, where are you sourcing your empty reels from?

[astrotoy]

Xavier, I use US Recording Media. When I use the TP tapes, which come in pancakes, I buy the 10.5" metal flanges (cheapest in quantities of 5 or more) and the screw sets (cheapest in quantities of 12) separately. This keeps the cost to less than $15 per reel. I assemble the reels and pancakes together. Takes a couple of minutes at most. I also buy their empty boxes (in 50 quantities). You can buy the complete reel with box for a few dollars more. I have looked everywhere for plastic reels for 10.5" 1/4" tape, but have not found any source.  So right now the tape is much cheaper than the reels. If someone has a good source of the big plastic reels, I'd appreciate a posting.  Larry