Type I and Type II cassette tape

[Outlaws]

So right now I am getting a seeming small amount of tape hiss using Type I tape and have nothing to complain about interm of what I would think a tape should be capable of. It has exceeded my expectations.

But what would I get if I used Type II like the 424 says I I should use? Would I get the same noise floor but more range of the tonal spectrum, or would the noise floor go up a bit?

Right now on certain parts I can tell I lose something somewhere in the upper high end, but I think that is just because its a cassette and/or the DBX.

So back to the question.....what will I obtain by using Type II?

 

[apl]

So right now I am getting a seeming small amount of tape hiss using Type I tape and have nothing to complain about interm of what I would think a tape should be capable of. It has exceeded my expectations.

But what would I get if I used Type II like the 424 says I I should use? Would I get the same noise floor but more range of the tonal spectrum, or would the noise floor go up a bit?

Right now on certain parts I can tell I lose something somewhere in the upper high end, but I think that is just because its a cassette and/or the DBX.

So back to the question.....what will I obtain by using Type II?

More high end.

 

[cjacek]

Type I tape is simply incompatible with the 424 and will yield less than satisfactory performance in every area. You really do need to use a good type II (chrome) tape. Ideally, stick with 60min or less (90min is acceptable). Pick major brands only, Maxell XLII, TDK SA or SAX etc .....

 

[Wil816]

Your bias is too high for type I tape, which will result in lousy frequency response and distortion among other things.

Although TDK is still making SA, their top-of-the-line type II cassette tape now is SM.

 

[Outlaws]

Your bias is too high for type I tape, which will result in lousy frequency response and distortion among other things.

Although TDK is still making SA, their top-of-the-line type II cassette tape now is SM.

What about Quantagy? (or whatever company is selling under the name) They have on their website 45 minute Type II on sale for $1.00 each. It says that 10-60 minutes is all the same thickness. But for a dollar each I am tempted. That almost half the price of anything else.

But better high end frequency response is going to come with more tape hiss too right?

 

[Farview]

But better high end frequency response is going to come with more tape hiss too right?

No, you should get less tape hiss because you will be using the tape that the machine is biased for. You should have never used type-1 in that machine.

 

[Beck]

Any name brand Type II will be better than using Type I on a portastudio. As has been already said above, you really can't use Type I with a 424. Well sure, it fits in there and moves when you hit buttons and even records. But everything will be off… the response curve, levels, DBX, etc.

Cassette multi-tracks are designed with very close tolerances. Many small things must come together for the device to deliver as advertised… tape selection probably being the most important.

If you want to eek out every drop of performance get something like TDK SA C60, Maxell XLII 60, or maybe Quantegy 472 60.

 

[Outlaws]

You should have never used type-1 in that machine.

Because......

-its not going to give optimal sound quality?
or
-its bad for the machine?

 

[apl]

Because......

-its not going to give optimal sound quality?
or
-its bad for the machine?

It won't hurt the machine.

 

[cjacek]

Because......

-its not going to give optimal sound quality?
or
-its bad for the machine?

It's not bad for the machine, as in pouring oil into the gas tank of your car but it won't give optimal sound quality, as was already pointed out.

 

[cjacek]

What about Quantagy? (or whatever company is selling under the name) They have on their website 45 minute Type II on sale for $1.00 each. It says that 10-60 minutes is all the same thickness. But for a dollar each I am tempted. That almost half the price of anything else.

Some good prices here, yes:

http://www.quantegyonline.com/shop/index.php?cPath=32_90

Be aware though, that when recording at 2x, the amount of minutes on each tape will be half. For example, say you will get the 45min cassette (the one for a buck). As you are using only one side of the tape, that's 22.5min per side, running standard speed and just over 11min per side, running 2x the speed. Do you have 2 speeds on your 424 ?

Also, remember to clean the tape path properly. I do it after every extended session. You need 90% or better alcohol and cotton swabs or wipes (lint free). Just the heads and metal parts though with the alcohol. (Squeeze excess alcohol out). The rubber pinch roller can be cleaned when you obviously see oxide deposits on it and only clean it with a lint free rag dampened with some warm water. Microfibre is good. (Only applies if pinch roller is fairly new and not hardened / glossy).

 

[Outlaws]

Some good prices here, yes:

http://www.quantegyonline.com/shop/index.php?cPath=32_90

Be aware though, that when recording at 2x, the amount of minutes on each tape will be half. For example, say you will get the 45min cassette (the one for a buck). As you are using only one side of the tape, that's 22.5min per side, running standard speed and just over 11min per side, running 2x the speed. Do you have 2 speeds on your 424 ?

Also, remember to clean the tape path properly. I do it after every extended session. You need 90% or better alcohol and cotton swabs or wipes (lint free). Just the heads and metal parts though with the alcohol. (Squeeze excess alcohol out). The rubber pinch roller can be cleaned when you obviously see oxide deposits on it and only clean it with a lint free rag dampened with some warm water. Microfibre is good. (Only applies if pinch roller is fairly new and not hardened / glossy).

Thanks everyone.

I have 2x. That is what I have been using. The thing is, I have a big box of 90 minute Sony Type I tapes that I have had for a while and I am using them up because I am cheap like that. I figure, I barely know how to overdub on this thing without bouncing the tracks lol that I don't need to waste money as of yet on "quality".

But as for the time issue, ya, I for got to cut it in half the second time for the 2x part of the equation, but at $1 each for a 45 minute tape VS $1.80 for a 60 minute tape, thats 80 cents extra for [(15/2)/2]= 3.75 minutes. If I can get 11 minutes for $1, I can't justify paying for the extra when I can just buy another tape.

But even after all is said and done, I got this machine for simply tracking ideas more-so than actual songs, some of the stuff will get tracked at normal speed, and possibly use the tracks for more time rather than multi tracking. I just have to experiment with how/if it bleeds.

 

[cjacek]

Hey, if you leave 30sec to 1min of space between songs, which I'd recommend, you can still print a couple of fairly lengthy numbers on that $1 tape. Not bad at all.

Even at standard speed, with dbx, you'll get much better results using type II tape than type I at fast speed.

 

[Outlaws]

Even at standard speed, with dbx, you'll get much better results using type II tape than type I at fast speed.

I will get a few Quantagy tapes for $1, and if they are night and day difference, I will get some of those TDK SM for the really good ideas.

Hey, if you leave 30sec to 1min of space between songs, which I'd recommend, you can still print a couple of fairly lengthy numbers on that $1 tape. Not bad at all.

Isn't 10 seconds plenty? I don't have a scrub feature or anything...that I know of.

 

[cjacek]

I will get a few Quantagy tapes for $1, and if they are night and day difference, I will get some of those TDK SM for the really good ideas.

I personally feel that any major brand type II tape, currently made, will sound very similar. Some have better specs than others and may even sound a bit different, have better dropout ratios, distortion etc... but then again they're similar without splitting hairs. My general recommendation for an ideal tape is to pick one from the major players, 60min max (90min acceptable) and, of course, make sure it's type II (for your deck). Otherwise, buy on price.

Isn't 10 seconds plenty? I don't have a scrub feature or anything...that I know of.

I've used 10 sec before but found that it's easier to overwrite the original than, say, with more lead time. Hey, if you can spare the extra 20 sec or so then why not use it, as a precaution ? Btw, no "scrub" feature on a tape recorder, that I know of..