normal vs. high bias?

[Kasey]

This may be a really dumb question, but what is the difference between 'normal' cassette tapes and 'high bias' cassette tapes?

 

[The Ghost of FM]

There are physical and electrical differences between type I and II cassette tape.

The physical differences refer to the oxide coating materials that on type I cassettes, shed coating more easily so more frequent head cleaning is needed.

Electrically, they each have different bias and eq requirements that make type II formulations come away with lower distortion and less hiss as well as reduced modulation noise and higher output levels without gross distortion.

Most Portastudio manufacturers prefer to only work with type II tapes because of their physical and electrical benefits.

Type II cassettes are also a newer technology and were developed to overcome the pitfalls of type I cassettes.

Cheers!

 

[Kasey]

thanks, so if i was to buy a cassette tape of some band at a record store, would it be a type II tape or type I tape?

 

[The Ghost of FM]

thanks, so if i was to buy a cassette tape of some band at a record store, would it be a type II tape or type I tape?

That depends on the band and their recording label's manufacturing standards.

Generally, somewhere on the tape's case, it will say what kind of tape it is; normal or chrome.

Do they still make pre-recorded music tapes?

Cheers!

 

[arjoll]

Do they still make pre-recorded music tapes?

http://www.stebbing.co.nz/avduplication/audiodup/index.htm
I guess so, even in little ol' New Zealand.