Good quality 1’’ tape types-brand?

[tedsorvino]

Hi everyone. I’m about to enter the tape multitracking world in a more proper way, so I am very new to 1’’ tape.
I can’t find any 1’’ equivalent of my favourite Maxell (ud-xli) 1/4’’ I use so far with my 1/4’’ machine.
New RTM sm 911 - 900 is easy to find since I’m in Europe (ATR is in the states). Brand new. Not cheap. Rarely some used ones appear.
The equivalent slightly frequent used one is basf-emtec sm 900 (haven’t seen any 911). I think some other brands G9 type is equally good. Can’t remember if I’m correct or what brands.
I also know that Ampex 456 is to be avoided because of tape dryness, even if it’s the most frequent on used sites. But I don’t know if this applies to any 456 type, since it’s reputation makes me pass any 456 (quantegy etc).
So what other good types-brands (let’s say +6 or +9 db max) can be found used?
Thanks in advance

 

[sweetbeats]

Any used tape should be approached with caution.

Maxell did not make tape beyond 1/4” as far as I know.

It’s not just tape “dryness” (flaky shed” to be concerned over but more so sticky shed.

Ampex/Quantegy 499 has fared better over the years but is not at all impervious to sticky shed. It’s inevitable. Quantegy-branded will be newer and therefore a better chance of being okay, but the best bet is new RTM. BASF/EMTEC 911/900 also seems to do better but is harder to find and commands a price. You could also look for Pyral 911/900.

What machine are you running?

 

[tedsorvino]

Thanks for the useful info. At the moment I’m not running any machine, but I’m about to repair a Bernell mini 8. Quite some work but eventually it will ask for some tape. That’s why I asked mainly for ok used. Testing some not crucial parts on good used tape (like tape alignment-zenith etc) is handy.
Test tape also is an issue since I’m not a business…Extreme cost, but I guess it’s inevitable at some point. My 1/4’’ test tape proved itself very useful over the (few) years I’m back to analog.

 

[sweetbeats]

Pics of the Mini-8 please. Very cool.

Test tape…very much not just for repair shops. If you own a tape machine it should be maintained. And a test tape is a fundamental maintenance tool. So it has to be included in the budget.

Be mindful of minute differences in tape width between Ampex/Quantegy tape and everything else. It can be problematic if the existing wear path was created by the former and you switch to anything in the latter category. I can explain more. Do the heads on the Mini-8 have edge slots?

 

[tedsorvino]

At the moment it’s only booked. It will soon be with me. Yes the heads have edge slots.
I think I will stick with 911 (rtm, pyral, e Ted, basf) since I’m in Europe (ampex 499 1’’ is less common than the others here).
Eventually I will start a new thread in this great site since I’m sure I will ask some help and advice from the more experienced members. Some of them have the same machine.

 

[sweetbeats]

The AGFA/BASF/EMTEC lineage is good.

Do keep us posted. The Mini-8 is a rare and very cool machine. I’ll have to refresh my memory as to whether or not I have any tech docs on it. I think not.

 

[tedsorvino]

The AGFA/BASF/EMTEC lineage is good.

Do keep us posted. The Mini-8 is a rare and very cool machine. I’ll have to refresh my memory as to whether or not I have any tech docs on it. I think not.

Thank you for all the info. I’ll do keep you posted.
Luckily enough Allen and heath site has a very detailed Brenell document section. Of course with old machines things may have been revised or modified or plainly different to the ones in paper.