reel to reel and tape hiss

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snapper

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Is there a significant difference between a 1/2" deck
and a 1" deck as far as sound quality and tape hiss. And
for comparison how do they rate compared to a cassette for tape hiss.
 
With the same number of tracks, yes. It's really the width of the track that decides the amount of hiss. So a 16-track 1/2" will basically have twice the hiss that a 16-track 1".

Is that amount significant? Well, it depends on the rest of your equipment. If the amount of hiss on the 1/2" is noticeble together with the rest of your equipment, then yes, it will be significant. Otherwise, nope.

If this happens or not depends not only on your equipment but on what tape you have and if you use noise reduction.
I would GUESS that it isn't significant if you use noise reduction. Then again, with low hiss you might not need the noise reduction, and therefore you can bypass another source of coloring.

Casette has a track width of around 1/32", which is the same as a 16-track 1/2". The noise ration will be higher though, since you don't use teh same medium. The tapes you use on a reel-to-reel have more magnetic particles on them, they are simply thicker. Also, you use a higher tape speed (7 1/2 or 15 ips for R2R and 3 3/4 ips for a good multitrack cassette). So the tape hiss there will be higher because of these reasons, even though the track width is the same.
 
I run my Fostex E16 1/2" 16 track without noise reduction and the only hiss you get is very nominal. ok, so i guess you can hera it if you turn it up to 11 on your monitring system, but c'mon, you can hear that on any homerecorder's rig. It sounds awesome, and its simple.
 
track width is more important when thinking about crosstalk than noise. 16 track on 1" will have less crosstalk than on 1/2". So wider tape is better, also more particles to represent the sound, so better sound quality.

The most important aspect of tape hiss is the speed, tape hiss is the noise of the tape passing the head. If you double the speed you double the frequency of the tape hiss.Pretty quickly it gets less obvious because it is a higher frequency and eventually it gets above the human spectrum. Plus higher speed also gives more particles to represent the given sound, so better sound quality, better dynamic range.

Before I went to digital I recorded at 30ips........you use a lot of tape but it sounds great and hiss is not a problem.
Brenton
 
30ips vs 15ips. Actually the ellusive 'warmth' of analog is what a lot of people associate with the frequency response of analog tape, and its low mid frequency bump. This however is complicated, since people running at 30ips slide up the bump one octave, sort of masking what you hear, and 30ips also rolls off bass a lot. But it does send the frequency out way past 20kHz, expecially on 2" which go up to and past 25kHz easily. 15ips has the bass response, and the frequency bump in the low mids.
 
Is there a significant difference between a 1/2" deck
and a 1" deck as far as sound quality and tape hiss.



SNAPPER,

Keep in mind that all multi-tracks are not created equal.
Tascam products are fine in most ways but for the most part
Tascam & Fostex do not compare to say an Otari or Studer.

Need proof...

Search the net for pro analog studios.

Take a look a their equipment.
 
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