vaporware

The shredding/baking was a result of a defective tape manufacturing process from the 70s. The problem was that the polyeurethane in the binder hydrolized causing sticky tape syndrome. Any magnetic tape medium with ployeurethane in it could exhibit the same problem if the tape was imporperly manufactured and/or stored.

An analog tape that is stored under proper conditions (low humidity and temp controlled) and is not from this time period has been determined to have the longest archival shelf life for these purposes. Even tapes that do exhibit sticky tape syndrome can be baked and played with complete recovery of all information on the tape, something that will not happen when CD-Rs and DATs start to die.

Also keep in mind that the technology to play back an analog tape has remained consistently available since the format's introduction. I am not sure in 50 years you will be able to say the same about digital based technology...

My partner at work is very much into digital technology. He told me a LONG time ago that CDR's and especially CDRW's should not be counted on for long term archiving as they are far from "flawless". He also told me that i was speeding up their death rate by "trimming" the edges of CDR's with my Audio Desk Systeme.

Oh well.... Sean
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I always use mitsui media, it is more expensive but I have burnt cd's going back 7-8 years (can't say the same thing about my stack of DAT's, none of them work) that are working perfectly. Most ad agencies have the same thing, to much info to fit on tapes (are new tape drive is going to cost $100,000 to just backup new work each day). We are archiving to DVD now as blank media is only $3.75 a disc now. Have not tried to burn any audio tracks yet, will do that soon.

I have been recording "live" performances in the feild for 20 years or more. The last 13 years on DAT, which would include some 2,500 hours on over 1,500 DAT tapes. That is a fair representation when creating a statistical baseline as for the reliabilty of DAT tape.

DSS tapes are known to not last as long as Audio DAT. Whether it is due computer drives rewinding and forwarding way more often than an audio tape or less QA I don't know or care. It's not the point!

As for magnetic R to R, well, it just not feasible for in the field recording and again that is not the point of the post. Your preaching to the chior!

The point is this: The industry has sold you a 30 year roof which leaks and is falling apart after the first year. Now, we can "blame the victims" or we can create a large enough voice so that this shame "vaporware" is exposed.

Do you think people would be buying CDR's if in large print it stated, "We can not accept any responsibility for the longevity of the burned media. It has been determind that within a year's time your recordings may no longer be playable and further for proper storage you sould back everything to DAT, R to R, cassette or better yet "vinyl"?

I don't think so!

If that were the case I would be buying stock in companies that manufacture cassette decks!

Where, oh where, are the Ralph Naders?

If you have further interest in problems with CDR's go to www.oade.com and look into the taper's forum. I have posted my concerns there and there is the possibility to begin a data base containing manufacturers of CDR's and failure rate. This information can then be used in order to lobby the FTC if needed.