Author Topic: RECORD more than you ERASE ! (Read 302 times)

elwoodblue · « **on:** March 14, 2016, 04:54:49 AM »

For Deadhead Sound geeks;
There's some great reading here and many tangents.
SHMF thread
I'll put up some links as I wade through the thread.

I've found hundreds (if not thousands) of fantastic pics and recollections on Steve Hoffman's site.
I'll admit I hadn't heard of him before the internet.Does anyone here have some stories or info that would make me feel smarter?

sonicus · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2016, 06:57:52 AM »

This is indeed a great site. I have browsed it before in the past.
The tape machine in the picture is a Studer A-80 variation.
Thanks for posting this !

I have worked on Studer, Ampex,MCI & Otari studio machines and still put them into use for transfer and archival work.
Here are some handy relavent links ;

http://recordist.com/

http://www.davegroupjapan.com/ekoukoku3.html

Sonic Regards !

Wolf

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2016, 02:57:10 PM »

Wow, love those links. Thanks for sharing, Wolf!

jazzyvee · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2016, 03:46:15 AM »

Hi Wolf you might be the right person to advise me here. I have some 1/4 reel -to - reel masters that are from a recording in did with my band around 1978 and they have been stored in my house in the original boxes in a plastic bag since that time.

I contacted the recording studio that did the original sessions about transferring them to digital. He recalled they were either mastered on a Fostex or Teac reel to reel in those days. But his advice was don't do anything with them until they have been baked otherwise you could lose the coating and ruin the recording. There is a company in London who could do it but that it could be expensive and no guarantee of recovering the recordings fully.

What do you know about that process and what would you advise?

jacko · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2016, 08:27:13 AM »

Good question Jazzy. I also have 1/4 reels from the late 70's of my first band that I'd someday like to get onto CD so any advice would be great.

Graeme

elwoodblue · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2016, 09:40:20 AM »

I need to digitize an Entwistle interview,
...what do you set the oven to? ; )

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2016, 10:15:23 AM »

Hello friends , in answer to Jazzy and Jacko regarding reel to reel tape transfer and restoration there are many questions and variables in this regard.
I have been doing tape transfers in various levels of the process and am a member of both the Ampex List Forum and the Studer List Forum and am extremely fortunate to be able to confer with highly esteemed folks who are also forum members . Richard Hess, Jamie Howarth of The Plangent Process http://plangentprocesses.wix.com/plangent , Steve Puntolillo of the Sonicraft A2DX Labs are Ampex list members as well and are operating large facilities engaging in this process.

Jay McKnight of MRL can supply you with a proper CALIBRATION TAPE
http://www.mrltapes.com/

YOUR TRANSFER MACHINE MUST BE DEMAGNETIZED AND IN PROPER ALIGNMENT !

There are various ways to go about this and various levels of expense to be considered .

1) A good prime directive regarding in handling of the tape is DO NO HARM

2) Know exactly what the tape base is ACETATE , POLYESTER or MYLAR.

3)What is the manufacturer of the tape and the designation number
Such as AMPEX 456 or 3M 111 or AGFA PEM 468 .... ... etc ... .

4) Know what the tape width is 1/4 or 1/2 or ? Speed ;30ips/15ips/7.5ips , etc ... ... ...

5) What is the track configuration ? FULL TRACK , 1/2 track( 2 track) stereo, 1/2 track mono. 4 track stereo , 4 track multi track in one direction , etc, etc

6) If the tape is MYLAR and sometimes polyester but NOT acetate tape base such as 3M 111 . it is likely that baking will be needed to avert the ill effects of what is know as
STICKY SHED SYNDROME;

http://richardhess.com/notes/formats/magnetic-media/magnetic-tapes/analog-audio/degrading-tapes/

http://www.sonicraft.com/Tape_Baking.html

https://www.loc.gov/preservation/scientists/projects/sticky_shed.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticky-shed_syndrome

http://www.josephson.com/bake_tape.html

http://www.tangible-technology.com/tape/baking1.html

Get a decent high end analog to digital interface with great converters and put the digital transfers a a storage hard drive and NOT your OS system drive.

If you cannot afford the top method such as Plangent process there is software such Sonic Solutions NO NOISE. WAVES restoration bundle and various programs from ISOTOPE that are less expensive to do.

There is much territory to cover on this topic and I have just scratched the top, I can go on and on about this but need to eat breakfast now , I will continue later

Wolf

sonicus · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2016, 10:35:45 AM »

Elwoodblue , do not use your food oven in your kitchen for this !!!!.

Many folks who are doing this at home are using food dehydarors used just for tape baking
such as this ;
http://www.nesco.com/products/Dehydrators/Dehydrators/

Read my links and it will help guide you as far as temperature . 120 -130 F , is what I use . I am backed up on projects on this and need to get my act in faster gear as well

Wolf

elwoodblue · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2016, 11:22:13 AM »

Thanks for the morning primer,I'll go through some links tonight.
I'll stick to sourdough bread in the kitchen then
(I did bake a strat neck in there once).

sonicus · « **Reply #9 on:** March 16, 2016, 12:18:32 PM »

I love Sour Dough , with cream cheese , avocado and turkey with some hot peppers on the side . Yummy ! That was breakfast.

Back to work now ... ... ...
Wolf

pauldo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2016, 03:31:16 PM »

I have one of those Nesco Dehydrators and I have 1/4 reel to reel tapes!

I no longer have a reel to reel machine and not sure what is on all of the tapes.

One of the tapes does have Smash Your Head Against the Wall; Whistle Rhymes; Rigor Mortis Sets In; Mad Dog and Too Late The Hero on it. :-D