So have there been any multitrack tape decks that run at higher speeds than 30ips?

Aloha

New member
Rather than having tape larger than 2 inches have any analog tape machines been made to run faster than 30ips?
 
For every dubling of the tape speed, the bass enhancement effect you get with tape will move one octave up. Over 30 ips it's getting into high-bass/low-mid. It won't sound good.

Unless you run it as some stupid speed, like 300 ips, and push that bulge up over the treble. :)
 
Many Vari-Speed kits that were available for owners of MCI, Studer and Ampex decks offered speeds up-to 45 IPS but this was designed to be used for pitch effects and tuning applications and not designed for constant usage as high speed recording requires different head gap designs as well as the internal eq adjustments have to be calibrated to that speed.

And, as Regebro stated, you will loose bottom end response, the faster the tape moves across the heads. You really only gain top end frequency response improvements and s:n ratio improvements and beyond audible numbers, it doesn't really add that much sonicaly beyond the 30 IPS standard.

What super high speed will do is wear your heads down faster as well as your guides and lifters. If you are a professional facility and have a working budget to keep up in parts replacement and tape stock, then it's feasible to use such equipment. If you are a dude in your parents basement, recording your rendition of Sweet Home, Alabama.......:rolleyes:

Cheers! :)
 
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