Tape print through

  • Thread starter Thread starter Herm
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Herm

Herm

Well-known member
Ok maybe im being alittle stupid here but today i was working on a song on my 38 and when i finished i thought maybe i should store the tape tail out.
After thinking about it I thought there is no difference weather you store it tail out or just rewind it.
Am I wrong or can someone tell me how it makes a difference?
 
Well, yeah, there's a difference.

If there's print through, however unlikely, then the echo will be a post-echo, which is acceptable, and not a pre-echo, which is disturbing.

Then, with a reel that's been wound tail-out, it's a nice, flat pancake of tape, where the rewind process on a 38 will stack tape unevenly. A flat, evenly wound pancake of tape is less prone to tape-edge damage from handling, or from stacking reels flat, instead of on edge.

So, it makes a difference. However much difference it makes to you is relative.;)
 
It should be noted as well that Print-through does not occur over night or even with in a few weeks unless the back coating on the tape is very poor.

Tail out storage is a good habit to get into on reels that you know won't be used again for some time.

dbx, (if you have it on your 38?),as well, prevents you from hitting the tape as hard, level wise, so it will also assist in minimizing the print through effect to a lesser degree. Recording without it, (dbx), will force you to record a hotter signal and make it easier for the stronger magnetic signals on the tape to jump from one layer to the next and create the Print-through phenomenon.

If you are working on a track over a period of a few days to a week, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Cheers! :)
 
** Ok, now lets just take into consideration that I should have worn a helmet as an infant, but alas..(Sigh) I didn't... **

Now what/how is tail out?
What is the tail?

I THINK I understand print through and even perhaps recognize it's effect on Zep #1 where you can hear a short erie vocal passage from "Babe I'm gonna leave you" coming through on an entierly different song.

** You know the drill (Take your blood pressure meds and) please explain. :) **
 
Blood pressure pills running low! :p

Tail out is the end of the roll of tape.

You know movie rental companies always say; Be kind, Please rewind"

Tail out is like not being kind. You don't rewind. You wind the tape till the tail slaps around and you store the tape fully wound.

Then when its time to put the tape back on the machine, you will have to learn how to reverse thread the full take up reel onto the empty supply reel.

I think we talked about this before. (threading tape, that is)

Blood pressure pills gone!! Need scotch now!!

Cheers! :)
 
:( I'm sorry guys. I never thought I'd have a semi decent machine in my life (But I always wanted one!) , so now that I have a 38 I'm trying to learn like crazy, but I guess It's no excuse to be a forum slut.

Christ, I've driven someone besides myself to drink!!
 
Last edited:
Billy,

Don't sweat it dude! If anyone was really pissed with you on this bbs, they would tell you in no uncertain terms or, they would just ignore you and I am not at all even near that stage..............................yet!

I just like scotch!

Cheers! :)

FM
 
My second wife drove me to drink. Its the only thing im indebted
to her for!
 
Aww, I feel all analog inside.

:) You guys are a riot! :)

Happy Friday one and all.
 
When you smile the mixing community smiles with you.
Congrats. :)


P.S. I don't have the 312 on my list, so please do tell.
 
Cool! You won't be disappointed. You're the man!

/crowd goes wild!/
[Begin fanfare!]...;)
 
Well this is the 3rd one I bid on and I wasnt going to be able to be home for the auction to end so I put a pretty high max on it cause i lost the last two by 2.50 in the last 15 seconds.
But I got it for like 218.00. I dont think that is too bad.
 
Excellent desk. Excellent price.

A tear of joy is rolling down my chin....or was that beer?

Congratulations!!

Cheers! :)
 
Well it looks like Im going to take my 388 to Deltronixs in chicago
in a couple of weeks.
I cant find anyone around here that will work on it. I was going to be up that way anyhow. Bad thing is though I will have to drive back up 2.5 hours to pick it up but atleast maybe they will do a good job.

Get this one music store in the area said that their repair man wouldnt work on it casue electronics has changed so much since the 80,s . I just shook my head and said so long.

Could someone tell me how much the 312 weighs.
 
I was just looking (On-Line) at places around here and found a M-312B for $300. What do you guys think in terms of price and compatibilty with my 38?? (Is it like in line monitoring??)

Don't you have one Ghost???
 
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