Tape Recorder Revival

[Masterlu]

Do you think Tape Recorders will ever make a revival anything close to what we have witnessed with Vinyl?

Sure, I know you can buy a high end R2R and have it maxed out by a number of places. But, it would sure be nice to see some companies like Tandberg, Teac, or Tascam (to name a few) get back in the business.

[Myles B. Astor]

Sadly--and I'd love to be proven wrong about this--no Just don't think there's a big enough market out, nor software, there. As I said at Axpona, hardware outstrips software supply with the introduction of most technologies (take for instance SACD), but I just don't see there being enough of a software market. R2R software (as does vinyl reissues) face two big issues:

1. Record labels are loathe to release the original or three track tapes. So either you go into their vaults, bring your own machine and make a copy or use a safety. If you're lucky, the record label will send the tape to a remastering engineer the label trusts (like Sterling Sound on the East Coast or Bernie Grundman, and a lesser extent Kevin Gray, on the West Coast).

2. Audiophile labels can't afford the royalty fees that often must be paid up front. It's bad enough to make a profit off sales of 2000 LPs but imagine the numbers with sales of 200-300 tapes. (in fact, some feel that the break even point for tape sales is around 500 copies). As a result, you'll instead see reissues from labels like Opus 3 or Groove Note that already have the rights to their tapes or brand new recordings like Yarlung.

The closest to new on the hardware front is something like the UHA decks from Greg Beron or the reworked decks from Mike Spitz of ATR Services.

[djwhog]

Originally Posted by Myles B. Astor

Sadly--and I'd love to be proven wrong about this--no Just don't think there's a big enough market out, nor software, there. As I said at Axpona, hardware outstrips software supply with the introduction of most technologies (take for instance SACD), but I just don't see there being enough of a software market. R2R software (as does vinyl reissues) face two big issues:

1. Record labels are loathe to release the original or three track tapes. So either you go into their vaults, bring your own machine and make a copy or use a safety. If you're lucky, the record label will send the tape to a remastering engineer the label trusts (like Sterling Sound on the East Coast or Bernie Grundman, and a lesser extent Kevin Gray, on the West Coast).

2. Audiophile labels can't afford the royalty fees that often must be paid up front. It's bad enough to make a profit off sales of 2000 LPs but imagine the numbers with sales of 200-300 tapes. (in fact, some feel that the break even point for tape sales is around 500 copies). As a result, you'll instead see reissues from labels like Opus 3 or Groove Note that already have the rights to their tapes or brand new recordings like Yarlung.

The closest to new on the hardware front is something like the UHA decks from Greg Beron or the reworked decks from Mike Spitz of ATR Services.

2nd this... good post.

Wish there in the hunt, I see some of the best in class sounds go to the 12-22k R2R units in the last shows.

But I loved making my own recordings, I still own a DBX noise reduction system and dynamic range expander, along with a 1/3 octave EQ and made some impressive re-recordings on tape.

I think I mentioned it in an older post, but I owned a Dragon cassette deck, sadly we were broken into back in the 80s in socal and that deck, my Techniques high end platter and a in the day nice Kenwood all grew legs.

I am at some point going to buy a highend R2R deck.

Yes I do similar stuff on digital and the PC to DAC etc, but I still love tape

[Myles B. Astor]

That said, the new Opus 3 One, Vol. 2 is in da house!

Featuring:


NEW!

”One” Open Reel Selection of Opus 3 Analogue Recordings, Vol.II AMC-23120


1. Meetin´At The Building (Trad./adapted by Eric Bibb & Göran Wennerbrandt) 4´01
From: Eric Bibb, ”Spirit & The Blues”, SACD 19421

2. My Heart Stood Still (R. Rogers) 2´35
From: Johan Dielemans Trio, ”Round Midnight” CD 19302

3. Blues Opus 3 (Öhman-Gustavsson-Vinding-Dahlberg) 4´34
From: Kjell Öhman, ”Hammond Connection”, CD 19402

4. Gammal Fäbopsalm (O. Lindberg, 1872-1950) 4´22
From:”Horn and Organ Recital” CD 19501, Sören Hermansson: Horn & Per-Ove Larsson:Organ

5. Fantasie (S.L. Weiss, 1686-1750), 2´38
From Peder Riis, ”Classical Guitar”, CD 8015

6. Fasten Seat Belts (Wager-Åstrand) 3´07
From: ”Live at Vattnajökull”, CD 19802

7. Stealin´ Away (C. Greaves), 4´23
From: Kenneth Arnström, ”Rhythm King”, CD 19502

8. Easter Parade (I. Berlin), 6´29
From: ”The Lars Erstrand Sessions”, CD 19405

Total playing time: 32´30
One 10,5” metal reel


Playback EQ: IEC/CCIR (35uS)

2-track, 1/4” at 38 cm/s (15”)
Catalogue no. from the original album

One, Open Reel.-Vol.II

[Greg Beron]

I would like to offer a more optomistic view on this subject.

The reason I am optomistic is I have seen much progress since I first started showing my decks at the high end audio shows. I must say it was tough sledding at first and there were many nay sayers. However now I am seeing some significant changes such as, (but not limited to), the following.

1.) Yes, tape decks are getting "best of show" mentions and with various amplification and speakers. This is an openion written by many different reviewers, must be a reason, no?

2.) The grass root audiophiles are coming up to me at shows and asking lots of questions and also are saying that tape was something they came to the show to explore. The seem very serious about getting a deck in their systems, this seems like progress to me.

3.) The after hours Master Tape listen events I have been doing at the shows are well antended. At the recent New York Audio show Friday night the event went till 3:30am! Saturday night I had to pull the plug at midnight because I was BEAT.

4.) Myles is right about the need for more music, as he and I have discussed. Myles has some good ideas!
I do see new companies getting into Master Tape sales and yes, as Myles says they are smaller groups with control of their own music. In fact I am working with two new groups that are also interested. This is a good business model for small recording companies. Sometimes better to be a big fish in a small pond.

5.) There is also International Phonograpg Inc. and Yarlung Records that are recording new music on tape.
The Opus3 sampler tape Myles mentions above is just awesome, I personally like the music and the sound is superb.

6.) I believe that the high end audio shows are the way to get more people aquainted with tape playback, that's why I have been spending the bucks to do them.

Here are just a few things just off the top of my head that point to a decided direction for R2R tape and IMHO the direction is looking up!
Oh, and I forgot to mention one last thing, in fact the most important thing, decks are selling and that makes progress possible. That makes the the whole tape movement move. It provides the money to do shows, to advertise, to do after hours listening events, (with some nice wine and beer). Sales provide the money to do the research and development needed to make decks, it always comes down to economics.

Of course these new deck owners need to buy music and that completes the circle. Buy a deck, then buy tapes, more tapes available makes more people buy decks and so it goes.

But it also takes great advocates like Myles and other reviewers to keep putting the message out there and getting more people to stop for a minute and L-I-S-T-E-N. The new regional audio shows have surely exposed more people around the country to Master Tape playback. The thing most impressive about tape is hearing it, it will stand on it's own in that respect.

[radio times]

Been using my bottom end Sony boombox. Not a bad tape sound when on the bed. I'm glad I carted the tapes when I moved.

[tony-w]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Do you think Tape Recorders will ever make a revival anything close to what we have witnessed with Vinyl?

Sure, I know you can buy a high end R2R and have it maxed out by a number of places. But, it would sure be nice to see some companies like Tandberg, Teac, or Tascam (to name a few) get back in the business.

I would like to see Studer Revox and what is left of Ampex start making analog tape machines again. Audiophiles need to start showing more of an interest in tape, to make this happen.

[ehoove]

Some of us are still using the format:
Here is my daily driver.

Regards,
Jim

[Masterlu]

I love it!

[Masterlu]

Greg Beron... Welcome!