1/4 inch Test tone tape

[skaren]

Hello to all you clever folk

Apologies in advance if this is not the correct forum for this request!

Is there anyone in the UK who could help making a 1/4 inch test tone tape for a Studer A80? I'm using ampex 456.

Only need the basic frequencies (100, 1k, 10k).

I could post a blank tape and I’m willing to pay for your time.

Many thanks,
Martin

 

[JohnRoberts]

You would be at the mercy of the head alignment in that other tape machine.

Mostly an issue for the 10khz tone accuracy.

JR

 

[fazer]

You use 456?  It has a Shedding problem due to long molecule structure and is unstable after so many years.  Do you Bake it or something.   

You want a full track alignment tape with low freq compensation to be able to set azimuth .  But maybe your just wanting to get playback cal to do record.   

 

[skaren]

Thanks for your replies.

I bake my 456 and it works fine. Worth it for the sound.

The machine just needs some subtle EQ tweaks so the basic frequencies should be fine.

I don't have the knowledge or skill do make more advanced adjustments like the azimuth anyways.

Many thanks

 

[radardoug]

You need to buy a proper test tape. They are not that expensive for 1/4 inch. Otherwise you are interposing the characteristics of the recording machine on to you machine.
If you own tape recorders you need the proper test equipment.

 

[Gold]

You need to buy a proper test tape.

If you own tape recorders you need the proper test equipment.

QFE

 

[gar381]

Order from here...

http://www.mrltapes.com/

GARY

 

[Pip]

A proper alignment tape has to be made on a special machine with a special record head. They are expensive for a reason and have a shelf date, so don't by a used one! You cannot use just a tape with frequencies as a true head and electronics baseline it is not the same as alignment tones for playback at the head of a recorded tape for mixing. So many things come into play bias and speed just two of the things that should be observed properly.

Look around online for good info on web "analog tape machine alignment" is a great search parameter. Machine alignment and proper maintenance  is like piano tuning, best done by those who do it all the time. Sadly it is becoming a lost art. One of the myriad of reasons the Art Of Tape has been sidelined by the Cost Compared To DAW conundrum.  Please by all means get good at it. Any help I can offer I will be glad to. If you are planning to use your machine for projects that will be going potentially to another studio and played back on another machine, you are doing a disservice to your client and the artist if your machine is not aligned correctly for the tape that is being used.

https://atrtape.com/
http://www.jrfmagnetics.com/
http://mrltapes.com/
http://www.analogrules.com/
http://audio.utac.net/pg/tape/align.html
http://www.larryseyer.com/index.php/84-articles/music-production/17-how-to-align-analog-tape-recorders

 

[JohnRoberts]

yup, back when I was manufacturing 4T cassette decks we had more than one commercial alignment tape.. Had to use a special Dolby level tape to calibrate the playback NR thresholds too...

Did I ever mention making tape recorders is a PIA.... 

JR

 

[radardoug]

John, you cant call a 4 track cassete deck a state of the art tape recorder ! Come on now

 

[skaren]

Thank you all for your replies. I will by a proper mrl tape only if I cannot get a good sounding setup without one.
This is all for a project studio so no other clients to worry about.

I found someone who is gonna put some tones on a tape for me and I'll see how I get on
Many thanks

 

[radardoug]

Why dont you just sell the Studer A80 to someone who will look after it? If you cant be bothered setting it up properly, theres not much point in you having it. Better to find someone who will give it the love it deserves.

 

[JohnRoberts]

John, you cant call a 4 track cassete deck a state of the art tape recorder ! Come on now

I'm pretty sure I didn't...

I said PIA not SOTA.  8)


JR   

 

[radardoug]

Funny how vinyl is coming back but not cassetes, and both equally technically limited, but in different ways!

 

[Gold]

Thank you all for your replies. I will by a proper mrl tape only if I cannot get a good sounding setup without one.
This is all for a project studio so no other clients to worry about.

I found someone who is gonna put some tones on a tape for me and I'll see how I get on
Many thanks

I wouldn't bother with all that. Just say it sounds cool. Declare victory and tell everyone they cost 20K new.

 

[Pip]

Funny how vinyl is coming back but not cassetes, and both equally technically limited, but in different ways!

Check the cassette duplication numbers. They are up!

 

[radardoug]

Doh!