Analog Tape Specs

  • Thread starter Thread starter bozmillar
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bozmillar

bozmillar

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I've read about a million threads on analog vs digital. I do not want to start another one. What I do want are some cold hard specs on reel to reel sound quality. SNR, Dynamic range, frequency response, THD and the likes.

We all know the how this works in digital audio, but as far as analog tape goes, I've never seen a spec written. Can somebody please provide this?

Also, the same for vinyl.

(I don't want this to turn into an analog vs digital argument. I just want some real information. The words warm, brittle, sterile and so forth are useless terms. Please don't use them.)
 
This is from my Tascam TSR-8 manual (8 track 1/2" tape):

Frequency response: 40Hz to 20kHz + or - 3dB
THD: 0.8% or less at 1,000Hz, 0 VU
Signal to Noise ratio: 108dB


I believe the specs are a bit better still on my 42B (2 track 1/4" tape), like 30Hz to 22.5kHz or something like that, but I don't have the manual with me.
 
famous beagle said:
This is from my Tascam TSR-8 manual (8 track 1/2" tape):

Frequency response: 40Hz to 20kHz + or - 3dB
THD: 0.8% or less at 1,000Hz, 0 VU
Signal to Noise ratio: 108dB


I believe the specs are a bit better still on my 42B (2 track 1/4" tape), like 30Hz to 22.5kHz or something like that, but I don't have the manual with me.
Click to expand...

Just to get an idea, how good is that tape?
 
famous beagle said:
I'm not sure I know what you're asking. Are you asking about the machine, or the physical tape itself?
Click to expand...

I'm most interested in the tape itself. I've never actually bought a rtr tape machine nor tape, so I don't know model numbers and such off the top of my head.

I know that analog gear (not tape, but hardware) floats around 110dB for dynamic range, 120 for the good stuff, but I'm really curious to know how that translates to tape.
 
bozmillar said:
What I do want are some cold hard specs on reel to reel sound quality. SNR, Dynamic range, frequency response, THD and the likes.
Click to expand...

The beagle gave you a good idea of what to expect, though no tape recorder can achieve 108 dB s/n without noise reduction. And even with noise reduction the hiss is always much louder with respect to the music.

To me the main problem with tape is its high distortion. Maybe not a big deal on the original multi-track recording, but when you mix down to stereo, and then make a copy of that, the distortion becomes quite noticeable. Frequency response errors also accumulate, so 3 dB down at 20 KHz soon becomes 9 dB down. And tape degrades every time you play it or record on it. If you have a complex mix the tape may be played hundreds of times, and then the high end suffers. So now you're 15 dB down. Also, tape recorder specs assume you have aligned the heads and electronics optimally for the specific tape you're using. Pro studios align their recorders every time they put on a new reel of tape. What a PITA.

Not to editorialize too much, but when I switched from tape to digital recording in the 1990s I was very glad to leave tape behind.

--Ethan
 
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