Hey Jeff I need some help

[Herm]

Let me start this with last week I ordered some 407 tape from u s and got it yesterday but like a dummy I thought well fine they have 1/2 inch 456 so its no big deal for me to get some later. But no yesterday I get a 12 song job by a local band for a cd and I only have 2 rolls of 456 quantegy that are of use.
So I call u s to order some tape today and they are out now and they do not know when the new stuff will come in.They said probobly 2 months.
So my only thought is I have some old 456 12 to 15 years old I know is bad.
My question is do you think If i go and get a baker for it I will be able to use the old stuff or not? I know you did some of this and I was wondering if you still think it is a good way to go? And have you checked any of the tape you baked a couple of months ago to see if it is holding its own or not?

Thanks for the help Herm

 

[The Ghost of FM]

The tapes I baked are working good as new and the baking process has held up completely over a 5 or 6 month period of time so far.

So long as the tape wasn't coming off in chunks, I'd advise you to just bake it, as is, don't try to spool it as that may cause more damage and with any luck at all, you should have something very useful to use...all of this based on your tapes in question not having thousands of passes on them already and full of drop outs.

An hour on each side at 130 degrees, Fahrenheit ought to do it. Then two hours for it to cool back to room temp.
Good luck with the bake!

Cheers!

 

[cjacek]

But no yesterday I get a 12 song job by a local band for a cd and I only have 2 rolls of 456 quantegy that are of use.

Hi Herm,

What gear do you have to record the band ? If I recall correctly, you've got a 22-4, an m-30 and what else ? Just curious ..

~Daniel

 

[BRDTS]

I think that a lot of stores are now pretty loaded up with new half inch Quantegy tape..even places like Musician's Friend.

 

[Herm]

Thank you Jeff.
I went out to walmart today and bought a unit that cost 39.99. Its a Nesco.
One thing I like about it is I didnt have to do any mods to it. Just pull the lid off and lay the tape in.
As I type Im baking away now. Im not sure how many passes this tape has cause it came with a recorder I bought about 6 years ago. At that time some of the tape was bad with sticky shed but there are a few I used about 3 years ago that wasnt to bad.
We will see what happens One thing I am noticing right now is Im not sure if its tape cooking I smell or just a new dehydrator breaking in
Again thank you.

 

[apl]

I just paid $50 for a 120 GB HDD. That's enough for 20 hours of 16 tracks. How much $ did I save over tape?

 

[Herm]

Well for me the sound of digital compared to analog, You didnt save enough.

 

[cjacek]

I just paid $50 for a 120 GB HDD. That's enough for 20 hours of 16 tracks.

We're all very happy for you.

~Daniel

 

[cjacek]

Actually, never mind Herm... I visited your site and saw the picts of your gear. Therefore please disregard my previous question.

I love your set-up btw!

~Daniel

 

[cjacek]

I just paid $50 for a 120 GB HDD. That's enough for 20 hours of 16 tracks. How much $ did I save over tape?

Shit, saving on tape is not the reason we're in Analog..

~Daniel

 

[apl]

Saving on tape is not the reason we're in Analog..

~Daniel

I know. I'm just funnin' with y'all. If I had the time, money and room I suppose I'd be chasing analog equipment, too.

Good Luck!

 

[cjacek]

If I had the time, money and room I suppose I'd be chasing analog equipment, too.

Good Luck!

Ahh .. Finally somethin' I understand and appreciate ..

~Daniel

 

[up-fiddler]

I just paid $50 for a 120 GB HDD. That's enough for 20 hours of 16 tracks. How much $ did I save over tape?

If you want good mileage then buy a Toyota!

 

[Beck]

Thank you Jeff.
I went out to walmart today and bought a unit that cost 39.99. Its a Nesco.
One thing I like about it is I didnt have to do any mods to it. Just pull the lid off and lay the tape in.
As I type Im baking away now. Im not sure how many passes this tape has cause it came with a recorder I bought about 6 years ago. At that time some of the tape was bad with sticky shed but there are a few I used about 3 years ago that wasnt to bad.
We will see what happens One thing I am noticing right now is Im not sure if its tape cooking I smell or just a new dehydrator breaking in
Again thank you.

Herm,

The Nesco from Wal-Mart is the one I use -- works great. 135 degrees on the dial seems about right. I've recovered several tapes with it. I keep them in there for at least six hours, turning every 2 hours.

-Tim

 

[Herm]

Thanks Beck I just got done a few hours ago baking my first tape and the results where bad.
I only had the machine on 130 and I baked the tape for 1.5 hours on each side.
Then I let it cool for a couple of hours and put it on my machine but it drags.
So I dont know.
You mentioned you do it for 6 hours? Mybe thats why I didnt have any luck with the tape. I have another one in the machine now and I guess I will try and bake it longer like you do and see what happens.
Thank you for the info.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Yes!

Bake longer if the tape is still sticky!

There's no harm in baking it longer if need be. The key to even drying is to keep the turns coming...I'd do a turn once an hour and did have success following that time table.

About the smell, you should just be smelling the tape. I notice no unusual smells when I did my bakes. I have the FD40 model.

Cheers!

 

[Beck]

6 hours is on the high side for 1/2", but I do that just to be sure. I've even left them overnight since it won't hurt anything. If you bake 2 or more tapes at a time you want to leave them in longer.

Ampex recommended 2 - 8 hours, depending on tape thickness @130 degrees F, +/- 5 degrees. 3M guidelines were 4 hours for 1/4" and 7 -12 hours for greater than 1/4" @130 degrees F. +/- 5 degrees.

Edie Ciletti recommends the following @ 130 - 140 degrees F:

1/4" 1 - 4 hours
1/2" 2 - 5 hours
1" 3 - 6 hours
2" 4 - 8 hours

I always just go with the higher times. A range of times only seems relevant in hindsight, since you can't really predict beforehand how much the tape will need. I would rather leave the tape in longer than needed than to have to clean the tape path again.

I always smell that lovely odor of Ampex after 1.5 - 2.0 hours. Once you smell that you know it's working. It takes a while for the inside of the dehydrator and the tape to reach the temp you've set for.

-Tim