Tape Project Tapes

Mike,

I must disagree...

I have never found vinyl to eclipe RTR tape. It is the one bastion of "as close to master tape as you can get".

When RTR were/are mastered there was/is no concern to the low or high frequency rolloff of disc cutting heads and thus dynamics will always be better with RTR given similar work parts and mastering thoughtfulness. It makes no difference if you have a Rockport TT or a Walker... In my mind, tapes will always be more life like because of their greater frequency response.

I owned Lloyds best TT for 7 years and my RTR machines were far better in life-likeness. His table was close but just not "as there" as RTR. You know, it's that extra little bit that separates the sensation of real from reproduced. Otari, Technics 1520, many Revox decks and many-many Ampex 44s just blew away the turntable in this slight but important regard. I don't think vinyl is in the same league as RTR. I've been at it for years with over 4000 tapes (15,000 records now down to 10,000) and I would take the master tape like sound of RTR over the pops and ticks of my vinyl any day :)

You should try some dolby BC tapes (much controversy) with a Concord decoder. It's amazing!

Peter

well along with how things are dubbed etc., tape machines take a lot of set up to work properly. You have align your machine to get the best sound out of it and if you want to aling it properly, you'd need distortion measruing equipment which alm ost nobody has at home.

are there reference tones on the tape project tapes?

The Tape Project provides an alignment tape to all subscribers as part of the package.

Peter,

i appreciate your perspective that RTR can/does exceed the performance of a top tt. i have invested in aquiring a couple of the top RTR machines, the ATR-102 and Studer A-820, thinking that properly set up and with the proper output electronics they will take me to another level beyond my Rockport with optimized 15ips master dubs.

i have always believed that the direct drive speed perfection of the Rockport takes it to another level; and believe that the transports of the master recorders ATR-102 and A-820 will potentially contribute the same to tape.

after investing some significant dollars refurbishing these RTR decks i sure want the tape performace to be better; which means i have taken another step forward in this hobby.

hopefully very soon i'll have the dPv Technics and the A-820 here and all tweaked to get right down to it.

the next few Tape Project tapes will include a couple where i also have 45rpm re-issue Lps; Saxophone Colossus and Watltz for Debbie. i also have 33rpm Lps of a couple other Tape Project tapes; Arnold Overtures and Albeniz, Suite Espanola.

it will be educational to do some comparisons.

the next few Tape Project tapes will include a couple where i also have 45rpm re-issue Lps; Saxophone Colossus and Watltz for Debbie.

Mike I like you have those LP's as well and are waiting for the same tapes.