1.5mil MRL on a 1mil deck?

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sweetbeats

sweetbeats

Reel deep thoughts...
Is there any reason why you shouldn't use a calibration tape that is on 1.5mil stock on a deck specifically designed to utilize 1mil tape stock?
 
Is there any reason why you shouldn't use a calibration tape that is on 1.5mil stock on a deck specifically designed to utilize 1mil tape stock?

Very much so. The transport was typically (I'm sure there are exceptions, but I err toward the side of caution) made for 1 mil and by running 1.5 mil stresses the transport. I almost killed a Fostex R8 that way. My analogy is using 12 gauge strings on an electric guitar. It may work great for a while, but it will take its toll.
 
Shoot, I missed that you said "calibration tape." You should be fine as long as it specs out the same way.
 
Thanks fellas...a new quandry has arisen in the meantime...I thought my 1.5mil 1/4" MRL was a two-speed tape (7.5 and 15ips). Its not...15ips only...ARG!

I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
 
...running 1.5 mil stresses the transport. I almost killed a Fostex R8 that way.
Would you be kind to actually describe what did the "almost killed" look like? What exactly happened? No analogies, please, but just as it actually was.

Also, when you say "stresses the transport" what do you mean exactly?, -physics please, no psychology :)

thanks,
 
Thanks fellas...a new quandry has arisen in the meantime...I thought my 1.5mil 1/4" MRL was a two-speed tape (7.5 and 15ips). Its not...15ips only...ARG!

I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...
I DON'T wanna buy another MRL...

You sure you can't use it? I use the 71/2 mrl for 15ips?
 
Well sure I can use it, but whether or not it will repro the tones I need is the question. I have to check my 15ips tape and see if its got a 2k tone on it for all the 1k tests...I doubt it has a 20k tone on it for the 10k azimuth fine adjust. 16k will probably work okay...I got the tape for my BR-20T but that project has been on the back-burner so I haven't even used the tape yet.
 
Okay...so I refreshed my memory and I bought the multi-frequency tape. So am I correct that using that 15ips multi-frequency tape on a 1/4" will get me what I need at least close enough? It has 2k and 20k tones. That'll get me my 1k for all the 1k stuff and 10k for azimuth...I won't really be able to cal the repro frequency response since the deck I'm wanting to calibrate specs +/-3dB from 30Hz to 15kHz...

Should I just get a 7.5ips tape??
 
1.5 v. 1 mil tape, regular use

Would you be kind to actually describe what did the "almost killed" look like? What exactly happened? No analogies, please, but just as it actually was.

Also, when you say "stresses the transport" what do you mean exactly?, -physics please, no psychology :)

thanks,

I had a Fostex R8 that was intended for 407/457 and I bought 456 for it. It worked just fine for a while (a couple months) and then one day I rewound something for playback and the take up reel was really jerky and the rewind stopped working (I'm trying to remember from memory but this was several years ago so forgive my brownouts). This deck was in like-new condition, in the original box as well with low hours on it. I take it to my tech. He calls Fostex (they were still in business) and he informs me that we can't get a single part for it. He takes it apart anyways and looks inside hoping maybe it's a belt, if memory serves me correctly, there was a hub that held to a motor that through the increased tension of 1.5 mil tape had shaken loose (this according to the diagnosis of a tech that has been working on these since 1976) and suggested that it very well may not have happened with the 1 mil tape. It should be noted that a Fostex R8 does not have the strongest transport to begin with, but I now err toward the side of caution, you can feel free to use whatever tape you like, but if the creators of a precision instrument like an open reel machine suggest using a certain thickness of tape, I am going to use that certain thickness.
 
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