Tape Project Tapes

Gentleman,

I made the comment to Mepearson regarding buying 20 releases from TTP per year, if they could release them. It wasn't an off the cuff statement but re-enforcement of what happened after I heard the first TTP release on my Ampex 351-2 I bought new in 1958, or so. I have a high resolution system that showcased TTP recordings that to the point that Sue and I bought some high quality mikes and started out recording live music in Richmond, Va. The variety and venues are great here, and NOTHING sounds better than live music recorded on a pro machine with great mikes, Peluso 2247 SE's. It all began after we heard TTP releases and wanted more.

I'm sure Dan and crew knew there'd be rip offs but it's not as easy as ripping a $20 cd on a $500.00 computer.

If you have a pair of top Pro machines, Studer, or better yet, Ampex ATR machines, which TTP uses to dub the masters in IEC equalization, you'll get a copy from ? to ? The old adage said, " Garbage in, garbage out." Put your $75 bucks in the LP. Chances are the quality level of your tape machine will be close to that of your TT/ Cartridge so buying a dupe of a TTP release might be wasting your money.

On another note, the prices of RTR machines on ebay are going up; buy with caution or deal with TTP and get a machine that will deliver the music on the tape, or stick to LP; the most cost effective medium of all. I think I'll visit Goodwill tomorrow and see if I can score a find.

Ken

Whoops,I forgot to mention-

TTP uses 468 tape. If you buy 10 reels they cost about $45 each plus shipping. The reels are NAB but not as classy as TTP reels, plus the leather bound boxes are first class. THEY CAN'T BE MAKING MONEY ON THIS VENTURE, YET!

If you have a superior product you need to appeal to the top end of the market.

If you have a chance to hear their tapes on a system with all the correct audio acoutrements, you'll know what the engineer heard when the tape was originally recorded. After that, you'll know how much has been lost as we've escalated to the Ipod generation.

Thoughts from other RTR Gonners are appreciated

Ken

i still have to wonder if i was misunderstood- if they want to make some $Money$ they could offer 7.5ips dubs of their premium tapes that could be played on a teac, revox, akai, pioneer, sony, etc. which are far more affordable to alot more people than ampex-351's, studer 810's and 807's, etc. a 7-inch plastic reel of tape, cut from a pancake, would not be that expensive, and you could get 1800ft/45 minutes per side (or the half-track version if you have the right machine and prefer to play one side only). i'll bet you $50-$75 that it would sound wonderful. put me down for 4 CLASSICAL RELEASES for $240 please...

French_Fries, that's just the point. The Tape Project effort is not about making lots money. It's all about providing the highest fidelity playback possible without constraint and to share that result with the audiophile community. I'm sure the principals would like to recover their costs, but it's not about getting rich.

i still have to wonder if i was misunderstood- if they want to make some $Money$ they could offer 7.5ips dubs

I agree with Ken and Rush. The ideal behind this project is to get the listener as close to what is on the master tape. In order to do so, the playback machinery must be optimized to accommodate the effort. Tape project tapes are true 2nd generation copies of the master tapes. The tape quality must be high to accommodate this. This all comes at a price. Each tape is duplicated in real time at 15 ips on 10.5 inch reels on very expensive tape. The principals involved in the project are not trying to make a lot of money, they are trying to show what is possible in quality analog playback in 2008.

Compare this to vinyl playback: Yes it is true you could produce a product at a lower speed on less expensive tape that would sound quite good on most consumer decks, just the same way that there are many quality turntable/cartridge combinations available for a reasonable sum of money that allow the listener to enjoy LPs. There are also state of the art turntables on the market for those who are fortunate enough to be able to make that kind of investment. The Tape Project is aimed at those folks who wish to enjoy tape playback that approaches the same level the ne plus ultra in vinyl does, perhaps surpasses it.

The Tape Project is a specialized effort designed to ensure everything is as good as it can be from the machines, to the quality of the raw tape, the copying process, and the packaging. In time, perhaps there may be some effort to provide tapes at a lower price tier. Each master is licensed for a limited amount of time and copies, also at great expense. It is obviously turning out to be quite successful as the people involved are doing everything they can to keep up with filling the orders for the current group of charter subscribers, all of whom feel that the investment, paid up front by the way, is well worth it. I count myself as one of those.