<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bass Ninja:
I would highly recommend using type II tapes with high bias and/or chromium dioxide. Pick a brand and stick with it.
Also, go with shorter length tapes like 30 or 60. The longer the tape, the thinner it is. Thin tape wears down faster.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Had to put in my $0.02 here.
First, ALL type-II tapes are Chrome (with the exception of some newer cross-formulation types that are chrome and something mixed).
Second, ALL type-II tapes, without exception, are high-bias.
Third, long tapes are also bad because the added weight puts more strain on the winding motors in your deck. BAD thing. Ever price the capstan/reel motors in a 424 or 488? Yikes.
Tape formulations:
Type I - Iron oxide. Slightly 'bassy' tape. Also referred to as 'normal.'
Type II - Chromium dioxide. This is EQ'd differently from Type 1 tapes (on recording and playback, hence those 'chrome/metal' switches on tape decks everywhere) because it is more sensitive to high frequencies and less sensitive to low frequencies compared to Type I tapes. It also uses a different bias frequency (hence high bias) because
the Chromium particles are smaller and can 'hold a stronger magnetic field' than Type I.
Type III - Obsolete, this was a combo of Type I and II that made use of I's good bass response and II's good treble response. Many public/university libraries used these in the early 80s for recording but they can't be found anywhere anymore.
Type IV - Metal. Metal Oxide tapes have even smaller particles that can 'hold an even stronger magnetic field' than Type II. It is EQ'd the same as Type II tape, but uses even higher bias when recording.
Each step up has lower noise, more headroom, and less distortion.
Recording on a Type I tape using a Type-II recorder will result in a severely depressed high end, and probably also 'blubbery' sounding bass, but otherwise it won't hurt anything.
Recording on a Type II tape with a Type-I recorder will give an exaggerated high end and (most likely) deficient bass.
I have tried recording on Type-IV tapes with
my Tascam Midistudio 688 with good results. The high end can seem a bit tinny at times, but it's nothing that a bit of EQ won't fix, and the lowered tape noise and higher clarity is almost worth the higher price for tapes.
Generaly, having used the 488MkII and the 688, I stick with TDK SA-X tapes. They have pretty low noise, and the shells are sturdy. I have used Maxell XL-IIs a few times because they keep going on sale around here. They're noisier than the TDKs but otherwise work fine. I have tapes from 4 years ago, done on XL-IIs, that still sound great.