Otari 1/2" 4-tracks... avoid or buy?

[ofajen]

People have been complaining about these sorts of problems as recently as this year.

As a consumer, I have two choices if I want new tape: ATR or RMGI. Am I going to go with a brand that is slightly cheaper but has a history of problems, or am I going to go with the one that I've heard almost no complaints about? It's a no-brainer. Maybe RMGI have gotten it together, but why would I take the chance when I can just as easily get a product that hasn't had these problems?

Actually, I've now heard complaints about both RMGI and ATR formulations from very experienced tape users. I don't know Steve Albini, but Mitch Easter mentioned to me that had issues with shedding and level drop with some ATR 1/4" tape he bought 12 months ago and decided that RMGI 911 and Zonal 700 were the way to go until he could trust ATR tape not to cause those problems. Mitch is no slouch when it comes to recording on analog tape, either.

I think the bottom line is that no tape company has ever been perfect and had no issues with any batch of any formulation they ever made, and if you insist on doing business with a perfect company, you will not be able to buy tape. OTOH, my impression is that tape from both RMGI and ATR is getting the job done for people these days (and Zonal, too, if you can get it over here from the UK.)

Cheers,

Otto

 

[SteveM]

You must mean JRF Magnetic Sciences out in New Jersey, right?
http://www.jrfmagnetics.com/

The only thing MRL sells is calibration tapes:
www.mrltapes.com

I don't know what I was thinking when I mentioned MRL. I meant this place. http://www.sprague-magnetics.com/audio.htm

Sprague Magnetics, he builds custom heads too. I had him relap mine. It was a quicker turn around time than JRF. I think 2 days. His name is John Austin.