What Tape Should I Use?

[MyPal]

It would seem that Recordable Media Group International (RMGI) tape medium is the way to go nowadays. The company is alive & well after relocating from The Netherlands to France.

Australia has good distributor representation for NIB stock & it is easy to get with personalised delivery right to your doorstep.

My recently acquired Studer A810 MkII is currently calibrated for 3M996 & RMGI SM911 1/4" tapes. Of which, 3M996 is no longer produced & has been out of production for some 15 years. I am not interested in punting with NOS, used or unsupportable tape.

Given this, it would likely mean a requirement to re-calibrate my R2R to accept say SM468 which apparently is being used by both TTP & Opus3. However, I have been led to believe that the BIAS difference between SM911 & SM468 is not that much & that both products are basically drop-in compatible....but the local distributor does not entirely agree with that. So SM900 becomes a consideration.

R2R Application - Source subscriptions from TTP, Opus3. Personal Recordings from other HiFi sources.

The question is what tape should I use & who has any experience with the following RMGI products?

1. SM900 - Premium high output studio tape, backcoated
2. SM911 - Standard bias compatible, backcoated studio and archive tape
3. SM468 - High bias studio and archive tape, backcoated

I heard that SM911 is more stable than SM468 when it comes to oxide shedding. Also, SM468 is designed more for non critical applications. But both TTP & Opus3 choose SM468 as their transfer medium of choice...Could this be for reasons of better playback compatibility across the many R2Rs out there?

The Melbourne distributor suggests going for SM900 if your machine can handle it. SM900 has a thicker oxide base than the SM911 & is their reference product. It also archives well like the SM911.

The reality is that the price difference between the 3 types isn't great. It gets down to what the machine can handle & the archiving characteristics of the medium.

[vintage_tube]

Yes, RMGI tape (now manufacturered in France vs. Holland) and have seen several 810's operating/biased with ATR tape -- US Recording doesn't sell overseas any longer; but, should you be interested, I'd be glad to be a middleman Steve.

I use ATR Master tape & have no qualms.

Since Quantegy and AMPEX are gone, what are the equivalents? Here's a convenient chart from the heyday to current:

AMPEX 407/457- Try RMGI LPR-35
AMPEX 456- Try ATR Studio Master or RMGI SM911
AMPEX 499/GP9- Try ATR Studio Master or RMGI-EMTEC SM900 (Pro decks only for SM900)
AMPEX 480 (For Nagra)- Try RMGI-EMTEC SM911

Here's another Tape Equivalent Chart:

The following is a mini chart of RMGI tape equivalent to older out of manufacture tape:

•Quantegy/AMPEX 456 >>>>>>>>>>RMGI SM911 or ATR Master Tape
•Quantegy/AMPEX 457 >>>>>>>>>>RMGI LPR35
•Maxell UDXL-180B>>>>>>>>>>>>>RMGI LPR35
•Quantegy/AMPEX 499/GP9/3M996>>>>>>>ATR Master Tape
•Quantegy/AMPEX 480>>>>>>>>>>>ATR Studio Master Tape

Best

Bob

[MyPal]

Awesome Bob...

No problems with supply...We have excellent representation for RMGI here in Melbourne.

The decision is going to be what tape to commit to & what 2 tape types should I configure the Studer A810 MkII for.

Given that pre-recorded source material (TTP & Opus3) uses a standard BIAS tape type (SM468), do you think the SM911 will drop in OK without any adjustment? If so, then I'm thinking of stocking SM911 (for playback on another machine, just in case) & SM900 for my other tape type preference. Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe the Studer can handle the high BIAS SM900.

I just don't understand why TTP & Opus3 have decided to run with SM468 as opposed to SM911. Everything I've learnt so far tells me that SM911 is superior to that of SM468 & is more stable.

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by MyPal

Awesome Bob...

The decision is going to be what tape to commit to & what 2 tape types should I configure the Studer A810 MkII for.

Steve.

I see you are posting with someone who may know more on the Studder than I.

Best

Bob

[MyPal]

Originally Posted by vintage_tube

Steve.

I see you are posting with someone who may know more on the Studder than I.

Best

Bob

Bob...Not discounting ATR, just when a decision is made, I want to stick with the same format....