Favorite tape for 388?

[themaddog]

Does anyone have a favorite tape for the Tascam 388? Or does everyone use any 1/4 reel of tape they can find?

I've been using Emtec SM900 1200 ft reels that I got for $3.50 a piece from a company who was getting rid of them. Is this comparable to Quantegy 456? Daddy's Junky Music sells 456 here at the same length for $16. So far I've been really happy with how the SM900 has been sounding. Should the machine be calibrated for use with this tape, or is that being real nitpicky since the heads are so small anyways?

Thanks for any and all input,
-MD

[The Ghost of FM]

I believe Emtec 911 is the technical equivalent to 456 but that number may only apply to the larger sized reels.

Bottom line;

If it sounds good to you and the levels are staying in range, I wouldn't start monkeying around with it.

Enjoy!

[Beck]

Originally Posted by themaddog

Does anyone have a favorite tape for the Tascam 388? Or does everyone use any 1/4 reel of tape they can find?

I've been using Emtec SM900 1200 ft reels that I got for $3.50 a piece from a company who was getting rid of them. Is this comparable to Quantegy 456? Daddy's Junky Music sells 456 here at the same length for $16. So far I've been really happy with how the SM900 has been sounding. Should the machine be calibrated for use with this tape, or is that being real nitpicky since the heads are so small anyways?

Thanks for any and all input,
-MD

Emtec/BASF SM900 is an equivalent to the high output tapes like Quantegy 499 and 3M996. The tapes originally recommended for use in the 388 were Ampex/Quantegy 457 and 3M 227. These are 1 mil 1800' versions of 456 and 226 respectively. Most people wound up using the 1200' 456 -- cheaper and easier to find.

SM 900 is not bias or level compatible with the factory tweaked 388. But a lot of people have found "Their Sound" by breaking the bias rules. You can hit the levels harder with 996, but at a point it will confuse the dbx, so experiment.

Other tapes to try that are bias and level compatible to 456/457 are:

Emtec/BASF SM 911 (German)
AGFA PEM 468 (Emtec/BASF SM 468) (German)
Scotch/3M 226 or 227 (USA)
Zonal 700 (UK)