miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
Not sure if there have been any involved discussions about the differences of using New/NOS tape vs tape that's been used?
Now I know there all kinds of "used" tape...from so-called 1-pass (probably no such thing) to tape that's used/abused beyond anything resembling audio tape.
I don't want to go off on some extreme tangent or start talking about SSS or any of that.
Let's just say you have two reels of new/NOS tape...you then record on one of those reels...the typical multi-track session recording which requires a good amount of FF/RW/Play/Rec actions.
Now...a week or two later you decide you hate everything you recorded and you erase it all.
How much of a difference really will you end up with if you record a new multi-track session with all the FW/RW/Play/Rec actions on that same "used" tape compared to grabbing your other new reel and doing the same to it?
There's a lot of decent used tape to be had on the market...and if there is no SSS issues or any abuse that has damaged the tape..what are you losing/missing by using it instead of new/NOS tape that basically becomes "used" after the first few FW/RW/Play/Rec actions...?
I acquired a decent amount of very decent used tape with the purchase of my MX-80 2"...most of it being 499...and I also have NOS 499 that I've purchased.
I've tried both....I can't hear much difference in the recorded quality, and to tell the truth, I kinda like the NOS tape better after it's had a few FW/RW/Play?Rec actions. It's like the tape "settles in" after a bit and appears to become more stable overall once it's been "used".
So it kinda then begs the question as to how much value to buying more NOS...of course, if you have clients that want to use only NOS or you are buying for the future resale value, that's another thing...but I'm just wondering about it.
Mind you...I"m still buying NOS at this time but I'm also stocking up on good used tape too, as it's very inexpensive compared to NOS.
I've got a few reels of NOS 499 in my sights at the moment, at $125 each, which is a great price compared to the going rate of $250-$300 for NOS or new.
Now I know there all kinds of "used" tape...from so-called 1-pass (probably no such thing) to tape that's used/abused beyond anything resembling audio tape.
I don't want to go off on some extreme tangent or start talking about SSS or any of that.
Let's just say you have two reels of new/NOS tape...you then record on one of those reels...the typical multi-track session recording which requires a good amount of FF/RW/Play/Rec actions.
Now...a week or two later you decide you hate everything you recorded and you erase it all.
How much of a difference really will you end up with if you record a new multi-track session with all the FW/RW/Play/Rec actions on that same "used" tape compared to grabbing your other new reel and doing the same to it?
There's a lot of decent used tape to be had on the market...and if there is no SSS issues or any abuse that has damaged the tape..what are you losing/missing by using it instead of new/NOS tape that basically becomes "used" after the first few FW/RW/Play/Rec actions...?
I acquired a decent amount of very decent used tape with the purchase of my MX-80 2"...most of it being 499...and I also have NOS 499 that I've purchased.
I've tried both....I can't hear much difference in the recorded quality, and to tell the truth, I kinda like the NOS tape better after it's had a few FW/RW/Play?Rec actions. It's like the tape "settles in" after a bit and appears to become more stable overall once it's been "used".
So it kinda then begs the question as to how much value to buying more NOS...of course, if you have clients that want to use only NOS or you are buying for the future resale value, that's another thing...but I'm just wondering about it.
Mind you...I"m still buying NOS at this time but I'm also stocking up on good used tape too, as it's very inexpensive compared to NOS.
I've got a few reels of NOS 499 in my sights at the moment, at $125 each, which is a great price compared to the going rate of $250-$300 for NOS or new.