Does longer tape = more problems?

[BigKahuna]

I always thought ADAT tape only came in 42min and 60min versions. Then, while looking for good deals on Maxell brand tape ... I ran across this site at Markertek.com (sorry, they don't have alot of info at this site ... and no pics)
$12.99 USD for 182 minutes seems like a fantastic deal! ... I'm paying about $12 for 60min Quantegy brand tapes now. Are these really going to give me 182 minutes or record-time if I put them in my LX20s, though? or, I'm thinking, maybe Markertek sells these as video tapes, too ... and forgot to translate the "video time" into "ADAT time"??? I really have no idea ... but I'm tempted to buy a couple and just see what happens.

Does anyone know if there are problems associated with longer tapes? I've heard longer analog tapes tend to be more prone to wow/flutter ... but would that be a problem with digital tape?

I appreciate anyone's attempt at making me a little smarter!
Thanks!

 

[Wil Davis]

In the analogue world, longer tapes (for the same sized spool) means THINNER tape, and although thinner tape can give you better contact on the heads, it is much more fragile and is prone to s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g especially when used in pro tape machines which, in order to get better contact with the heads (less drop-outs), tension the tape more. They're also are harder on a tape during fast-forward and rewind, so for these reasons, pro-tape tends to be thicker.

I think the fragility of thinner tape would be a prime concern, no matter what the format, whether analogue, digital, audio, video or whatever.

er, I hope this makes sense...

- Wil

 

[sonusman]

Hmmmmmm.....

I don't think that you are getting 182 mins on those tapes. The Maxell's that I have say that too, but really, they are 60 min tapes. That 182 min thing is some half time video hoopla that has nothing to do with ADAT's (those video guys always think they need something bigger and longer in tape to make up for deficiencies elsewhere.... )
As far as I know, there is nothing longer then 60 mins of tape (in ADAT time) that can fit on a SVHS spool.

Also, as far as I know, there is no difference between the tape thickness of 42 min and 60 min tapes on the SVHS format.

Also, I once bought a case of 60 min tapes, and ended up paying more per min of tape then buying 42 min tapes. Be aware that the 42 min tapes are more popular, thus, end up costing less then the 60 min tapes in a lot of cases. So check around and see what is the best price PER MIN of tape and get those.

Ed

 

[BigKahuna]

Thanks guys!

I had a feeling that 182 minutes wasn't exactly true. In thinking about it ... I remember Quantegy labeling their tapes in the same way a while back ... they changed that though.
Weird video/audio translation tables! As if my brain isn't overworked enough as it is!!
I've actually been looking at per minute prices and comparing different suppliers, which is why I nearly fell off my chair in thinking that these were really 182 minutes!

Thanks again!