possible tape supplier

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nate_dennis

nate_dennis

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Hey everyone, I'm wandering if any of you know anything about a company called Full Compass. Their site offers R2R tapes new. Below is a link to their site, in specific, a 1/4" tape at 1200' (7" reel) and I'm trying to see if it would work for a 388. Also, how does one know if a specific tape will work with their machine. Thanks for the input.


http://www.fullcompass.com/product/344598.html
 
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nate_dennis said:
Hey everyone, I'm wandering if any of you know anything about a company called Full Compass. Their site offers R2R tapes new. Below is a link to their site, in specific, a 1/4" tape at 1200' (7" reel) and I'm trying to see if it would work for a 388. Also, how does one know if a specific tape will work with their machine. Thanks for the input.


http://www.fullcompass.com/product/344598.html
Click to expand...

Any newly made tape of the right width will work. Your machine needs to be properly aligned for optimum performance with any given tape oxide formulation.
 
Yes full compass has been around for many many years and are reliable

But 1/4 inch tape at 1200 feet is 1.5 mil tape. 1 mil tape is recomended for your 388 from tascam. It comes in 1800 foot spool. The Rmg tape you are looking for is the lpr35
 
Hey guys, thank you so much for your help!!! Much has been said about quantegy and ampex and such but is this RGMI good? From what I can tell it's about the only tape that is READILY available today. Is it good quality? Also, and I hope that this is not a redundant question.

What exactly is biasing and can one do it on their own or should it be left to a professional? Thanks a lot guys you've been so helpful.
 
nate_dennis said:
is this RGMI good?
Click to expand...

It's basically the old BASF / EMTEC tape, under a different brand, RMGI this time. Yes, it's very good tape.

What exactly is biasing and can one do it on their own or should it be left to a professional?
Click to expand...

In a nutshell, it's a super high [inaudible] high frequency, which is added to the signal, going to tape, to reduce distortion and make recordings more faithful to the original source.

Biasing actually is a very simple process, like tuning a radio but you really do need a service manual and also it is a bit more tricky on a 2 head machine, such as your 388.

I personally would get a spool of 7" LPR35 tape and try recording something. If all is good and well, then I wouldn't bother tinkering with bias. I still would urge you to read the manual, especially the sections on mechanical / electrical adjustments and get familiarized, as anyone who owns analogue today should.

You should be more concerned about the condition and cleanliness of the tape path, heads etc... and if the pinch roller and capstan belt are in good good condition.

I personally don't trust any outside person, to dick around with my machines, so I'm not one to recommend going to a tech.

It's best to learn this stuff yourself.

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I'll second/third/fourth/etc. the advice above, not that its needed. Knowledgeable/experienced folks advising you.

RMGI, good stuff, check! ;)

LPR35, check! ;)

Full Compass, one of the very best, check! ;)

Everything cjacek said about the bias issue and your 388 is, as usual, spot on...he owns one as well.

Clean and demag your tape path well and do some tracking with new LPR35. If it sounds distorted or something else doesn't seem right then we'll help right it, but start by cleaning it up well, and have some fun rolling tape and then go from there (oh, and +1 for the advice to read...no, study that manual...it is, AFAIK part and parcel to operating such a machine).

The 388 is a cool piece of kit. ;)
 
Thank you guys so much for all the help. I don't even own a 388 yet. I'm just doing research so I know what I'm getting into. You guys have been so great. Thank you!!!
 
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