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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

77.0. "Avoid Radio Shack tape" by PIPA::JANZEN () Mon Apr 01 1985 14:21

Don't use Radio Shack Supertape.  It gums up heads.

My testing:	
	the tape: Radio Shack Supertape
	a stereo quarter-inch machine;  A 700 Hz square wave was fed
	into both channels.   The play heads were then monitored by the meters
	during recording.  The right channel level vacillated about 1dB
	and slowly over 5 - 10 minutes fell to -7 to -20 dB and stayed there
	until the tape was stopped and the heads cleaned.  Merely stopping the
	tape and restarting made no difference.

	the tape: Scotch 229 (Highlander) same test.
	No shaking or change above 1dB for 45 minutes.
Thomas
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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77.1PIPA::JANZENMon Apr 01 1985 14:212
So where do I get good tape?
Thomas
77.2KATADN::BOTTOMMon Apr 01 1985 17:505
I always use Maxell. I've found it to have the most consistant performance
and in the case of cassettes, they seem to last longer than TDK or others.
I noticed that Rat shack tape seemed to be dirty a few years ago and ended
my search with maxell. Good luck!
					*db*
77.3HELOS::MALIKMon Apr 01 1985 21:404
	I've always been happy with Scotch 206. But, I have nothing
against Maxell or TDK.

					,Karl
77.4SAUTER::SAUTERTue Apr 02 1985 11:542
After a bad experience with Radio Shack I tried TDK, and have been satisfied.
    John Sauter
77.5DCVAX::SBROWNFri Apr 05 1985 02:0710
I found that my TDK AUDUA reel tapes and TDK SA cassettes showed noticeable
variations in output level with a 1khz sine wave, however it was not audible,
while the variations at 10 khz were. Since then I have used Maxell XL series
on both reel and cassette, and have noticed little or no variations, even
up to 20khz. I think Maxall produces tapes to closer tolerance.

Oh,yeah, I find that older ferric oxide (brown colored) tapes leave far more
residue on the heads and guides, and probably wear poorly.

-seymour-