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What Tape Should I Use?
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?
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. Last edited by MyPal; 11-23-2012 at 12:27 AM. |
#2
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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
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Amps:VAC 450iQ Monos in Silver Flake on HRS M3X2-1921's, HRS G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchor Conecoasters. Preamp:VAC Statement (on order) (Silver Flake) Digital Source: dCS Rossini CD/SACD Transport, Vivaldi APEX DAC, Upsampler Plus & matching Clock (Silver) Analogue Preamp:VAC Renaissance SE Phono stage in Silver Flake with XLR Output Option & with Nordost Valhalla XLR's. Analogue Sources:SME 20/2 w/SME V arm & Nordost Odin 2 Tone Arm Cable, Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge & Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JRF Magnetic Sciences. Akai RC-17 cabled remote (original owner since 1974). Vibration Control:TT on HRS M3X2-1921 shelf. Speakers:Wilson Audio Alexia V (on order in Ferrari Argento Silver/Parchment grills sitting on Acoustic Diode Kit). Power Cables:4 Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on amps, preamp & DAC. Ansuz Acoustics C2 on Transport & Clock. Power Distribution:Ansuz Mainz D3 Distributor & Ansuz Mainz C2 1M Power Cable Power Outlets:Furutech GTX-D NCF (R) duplex outlet, GTX Wall Plate & Duplex Cover (x2) on dedicated, same panel phase, 20A breakers. Speaker Cables:2M Nordost Odin 2 Supreme Reference on Nordost Sort Lifts. Signal Cables:Nordost Odin XLR's on dCS DAC & Amps. Digital Cables: Nordost Odin 2's, 110-ohm AES/EBU on dCS Transport to DAC. Clock Cables:5 each 75 ohm 1.25M Nordost Valhalla BNC/BNC Digital Ethernet Cable: WireWorld Platinum 1M Starlight® 8 Twinax Headphones:Vintage Koss Pro IV AA. RCM: Audio Desk PRO Tube Test Gear:Mint late '60's/calibrated Heathkit TT-1A, MaxiMatcher Power Amp & Preamp & Space Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube test sets. Last edited by vintage_tube; 11-23-2012 at 12:54 AM. |
#3
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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. |
#4
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Quote:
I see you are posting with someone who may know more on the Studder than I. Best Bob
__________________
Amps:VAC 450iQ Monos in Silver Flake on HRS M3X2-1921's, HRS G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchor Conecoasters. Preamp:VAC Statement (on order) (Silver Flake) Digital Source: dCS Rossini CD/SACD Transport, Vivaldi APEX DAC, Upsampler Plus & matching Clock (Silver) Analogue Preamp:VAC Renaissance SE Phono stage in Silver Flake with XLR Output Option & with Nordost Valhalla XLR's. Analogue Sources:SME 20/2 w/SME V arm & Nordost Odin 2 Tone Arm Cable, Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge & Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JRF Magnetic Sciences. Akai RC-17 cabled remote (original owner since 1974). Vibration Control:TT on HRS M3X2-1921 shelf. Speakers:Wilson Audio Alexia V (on order in Ferrari Argento Silver/Parchment grills sitting on Acoustic Diode Kit). Power Cables:4 Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on amps, preamp & DAC. Ansuz Acoustics C2 on Transport & Clock. Power Distribution:Ansuz Mainz D3 Distributor & Ansuz Mainz C2 1M Power Cable Power Outlets:Furutech GTX-D NCF (R) duplex outlet, GTX Wall Plate & Duplex Cover (x2) on dedicated, same panel phase, 20A breakers. Speaker Cables:2M Nordost Odin 2 Supreme Reference on Nordost Sort Lifts. Signal Cables:Nordost Odin XLR's on dCS DAC & Amps. Digital Cables: Nordost Odin 2's, 110-ohm AES/EBU on dCS Transport to DAC. Clock Cables:5 each 75 ohm 1.25M Nordost Valhalla BNC/BNC Digital Ethernet Cable: WireWorld Platinum 1M Starlight® 8 Twinax Headphones:Vintage Koss Pro IV AA. RCM: Audio Desk PRO Tube Test Gear:Mint late '60's/calibrated Heathkit TT-1A, MaxiMatcher Power Amp & Preamp & Space Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube test sets. |
#5
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Bob...Not discounting ATR, just when a decision is made, I want to stick with the same format....
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