Cassette vs. Reel-to-reel

[cypal]

Teac x300

Reel-to-reel is generally going to give you the best results. However, those that are familiar with terms like "reference metal cassette" will remember how far that format came before being replaced (prematurely) by CD.

Even cassette has its place in that it too is free from digital coldness. Tape compression is one attribute, but not the only one. A little cross-talk and the presence of "just right" 3rd harmonic distortion, which is musically pleasing to the ear, is another. Boston's Tom Scholz refers to these qualities as, "The analog smear effect." I guess that term is as good as any. I describe it as the difference between a cold Winter rain and a warm Summer shower.

Cassette technology has made up for a lot through design, such as CrO2 tape (Type II) formulations, finer magnetic particles and noise reduction. Its biggest challenge compared to open reel is wow & flutter, which is audible at slow cassette speeds on most decks.

An open reel deck is your best bet. With today's modern tape formulations there's nothing a 1/4" 2-track @ 15 ips can't do. Even a consumer 2-channel 4-track @ 7 1/2" ips will knock your socks off if you've become acclimated to CD.

Tape speed and track width is a big part of the picture, but things like head design, tape formulation, and microcomputer transport control have made the issue a little more complex.

Recommendations:

2-track mastering decks - Tascam 22-2, Tascam 32-2, Otari MX5050
4-track 2-channel consumer hi-fi - Akai GX-77, TEAC X3/X300, Realistic TR3000 (made by TEAC)

I'll be happy to answer any other questions best I can.

Since you offered...

Have TEAC X300R . It has been in storage for a couple of years; unused, covered well, unplugged. Upon retrieval, it works mechanically and sends signal to headphones or amp. BUT when I put a tape on to play, I get nothing. The tape appears to be aligned with the head and in contact. No VU meter action. No sound.

What would cause this, and what can I do about it?

 

[rayc]

MAYBE
The sound is "fat" because he's run the levels hot & added a little bit of that nice "fullness" you can get from doing so.
Cassettes aren't 1/2" but a portastudio can get a "good" sound when used well. NO, nothing like a good reel to reel recorder but good - subjectively & objectively so. I have cassette (chrome) of LPs properly recorded & played back on the right machine that really are VERY BLOODY GOOD thank you - & better than the CD rerelease.
SO MANY around the forums use a version of tape then DAW. The thread poster is using a variation & one I've used on many occassions as an alternative when trying for a different sound/feel/fatness for a final mix.
Be nice folks. Pedants limit their own abilities by shutting out options.
Cheers
rayC

 

[pbergo]

May I humbly submit (?)

It might be worth reading up a bit, maybe seeing if a friend has a properly set up r2r before plunking down the cash, if your only purpose is to add the effect.

I say this because:

1) You have already stated satisfaction with what you have heard so far.

It may be the 'lo-fi' that you are loving more than the 'analog tape' sound.

2) Analog reel to reel machines are best used after assuring proper alignment, and biasing for the type of tape you will be using etc.

3) I may get some flack here, but if you are talking about doing a few tracks with it, I see no need for anything beyond 1/4" half track, biased for hot tape at 15 IPS.

Also, I think that TASCAM made at least one cassette deck that runs double speed in a 'half track' format. Might be worth checking out.

Or, another thing to try to get a listen to...maybe a Tascam 234. It is a 4 track that runs double speed, has Dbx if you like, can be had inexpensively, and will likely sound great for what I think you are wanting to do.

Just a few thoughts.

 

[Bobby Darko]

I just finished recording an album on cassette (tascam 688, so 8 tracks on 1 cassette) which kicks ass. Nobody could tell it was recorded on cassette (and cheap mics, no outboard gear, cheap hi fi speakers as monitors). Off course, I didn't play it back to professionals, but those guys won't buy the album anyway....

 

[A Reel Person]

May I humbly submit (?)
... I think that TASCAM made at least one cassette deck that runs double speed in a 'half track' format.

There was only one "half-track" cassette deck (that I know of), the TEAC_124/TASCAM_124AV,... which is a fine deck, but it runs at 1-7/8 ips "normal" tape speed. It's a fine sounding deck, FWIW.

PS: Not only is the TEAC_124/TASCAM_124AV a "halftrack" format, but it does "Simulsync" recording/overdubbing of tracks 1 & 2 independently. Just FYI.

Tascam 124AV.............

 

[A Reel Person]

...

TEAC 124..............

 

[A Reel Person]

...

Or, another thing to try to get a listen to...maybe a Tascam 234. It is a 4 track that runs double speed, has Dbx if you like, can be had inexpensively, and will likely sound great for what I think you are wanting to do.

Yes, the 234 is a fine 4-track cassette deck with dbx & running 2x "High Speed", (3-3/4 ips). It sounds great, has good features & is ranked as superior to many other cassette 4-track Portastudios, before or since. The 234's a great 4-tracker that's uniquely a 3U-rackmount unit, & may often be found at low-deal prices.

 

[A Reel Person]

...

I just finished recording an album on cassette (tascam 688, so 8 tracks on 1 cassette) which kicks ass. Nobody could tell it was recorded on cassette (and cheap mics, no outboard gear, cheap hi fi speakers as monitors). Off course, I didn't play it back to professionals, but those guys won't buy the album anyway....

I luv u guyz!

 

[pbergo]

Well, it looks like the Tascam 133 does do either standard or double spped, but I don't think it's half track, and a tad bit of track space used for cue (?).

Here's one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tascam-133-Mult...07941794QQcategoryZ41480QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#

 

[A Reel Person]

Hello,...

The 133 does 1x and 2x tape speeds, but it's not half track. It's a 4-track/3-channel format, with 1-track used as guard band between the stereo program and the cue track. When used with cue track, you're also limited to single-side recording in one direction only.

 

[A Reel Person]

...

Tascam 133...................