Tape Project Tapes

Gentleman,

I made the comment to Mepearson regarding buying 20 releases from TTP per year, if they could release them. It wasn't an off the cuff statement but re-enforcement of what happened after I heard the first TTP release on my Ampex 351-2 I bought new in 1958, or so. I have a high resolution system that showcased TTP recordings that to the point that Sue and I bought some high quality mikes and started out recording live music in Richmond, Va. The variety and venues are great here, and NOTHING sounds better than live music recorded on a pro machine with great mikes, Peluso 2247 SE's. It all began after we heard TTP releases and wanted more.

I'm sure Dan and crew knew there'd be rip offs but it's not as easy as ripping a $20 cd on a $500.00 computer.

If you have a pair of top Pro machines, Studer, or better yet, Ampex ATR machines, which TTP uses to dub the masters in IEC equalization, you'll get a copy from ? to ? The old adage said, " Garbage in, garbage out." Put your $75 bucks in the LP. Chances are the quality level of your tape machine will be close to that of your TT/ Cartridge so buying a dupe of a TTP release might be wasting your money.

On another note, the prices of RTR machines on ebay are going up; buy with caution or deal with TTP and get a machine that will deliver the music on the tape, or stick to LP; the most cost effective medium of all. I think I'll visit Goodwill tomorrow and see if I can score a find.

Ken

Whoops,I forgot to mention-

TTP uses 468 tape. If you buy 10 reels they cost about $45 each plus shipping. The reels are NAB but not as classy as TTP reels, plus the leather bound boxes are first class. THEY CAN'T BE MAKING MONEY ON THIS VENTURE, YET!

If you have a superior product you need to appeal to the top end of the market.

If you have a chance to hear their tapes on a system with all the correct audio acoutrements, you'll know what the engineer heard when the tape was originally recorded. After that, you'll know how much has been lost as we've escalated to the Ipod generation.

Thoughts from other RTR Gonners are appreciated

Ken

Gentleman,

Please allow me to make a comparison of a vinyl system to a tape system.

The TT / arm combination will allow the cartridge to retrieve the information from the LP. Buy a $50K table/ arm and compare it to a $500 table on ebay.

Buy a tape transport for $500 on ebay, generally a Japanese RTR to handle the tape as the TT and arm would. This does not include the Technics 1500 series transport. It does what only the Sony MCI and Ampex ATR machines will do at 10% of the price, durability does account for much of the price difference.

The cartridge extracts the sound from the LP; pay more and you generally can expect a better sound. Tape heads can cost from $210. each for an OEM unit to $700 for a mastering series head.

You can have a good TT set up man set up your cartridge for a hundred or so. Installing a new tape head requires a re-calibration of the electronics for recording and playback according to the EQ curve desired. Aligning the tape heads in all three planes requires tape analyzers that are scarce in todays market, unless you live in the LA, Nashville, Chicago or NY area. Bench time is around $100 an hour.

Alignment tapes run over $100 bucks each even though they only run for a few minutes. You need one for each speed and EQ. It gets expensive.

Now to the medium.

You can pay big bucks for a re issue of a recording that will sound good on any TT/ arm/ cartridge combo. Better vinyl delivers better sound. It will generally sound best on the mega buck rig.

Tape is no different. The 468 tape now used by TTP will deliver about 6 db over ZERO VU. This translates to a greater Signal To Noise Level that a lower grade, or thinner extended play tape could deliver. The first thing I hear from someone listening to a Tape Project recording is," Where is the tape Hiss." ATR Magnetics is now shipping a tape that will yield a 10 DB over ZERO VU. It's not cheap but it's the best money can but. If you invest in the best of RTR software there is nothing better.

I'm listening to my LP's on a SOTA vacuum star that I bought from Robert Becker at the CES in Chicago who knows how many years ago. The music is great. I will finally finish the TT i've been working on for 2 years so I can compare the Suite Espanola on TTP 005, to the Decca reissue, To the CD remastered By Paul Stubblebine of TTP. I think the pecking order will be- TTP, Decca vinyl and then CD, but as Dennis Miller says," I may be wrong."

Tape is fun, it's a combination of electronics and mechanics. I put a CD in the player and it either plays it or not, that's it. A tape recorder makes me feel as though I still have some value as I can check the tension resistors, clean the heads etc. I don't see any labels that say, " No user serviceable parts inside, breaking the seals voids the warranty!" Translation- Ship it back to us so we can boost our profit margin, we'll be kind.

If you have a RTR machine, please reply. I'm convinced that tape is on the rise. The number of postings for RTR machines on Audiogon is three times what it was when I bought my first RS 1500 machine two years ago for $600 bucks. It was as new but cost me $450 to get it to Va. If you see one on ebay it will be much more.

Time for supper, it's 9:04 in Virginia.

Ken

Audioblazer,

Replying to your first thought; maybe there will be more classical albums from The Tape Project. I don't hold out much hope. You can get great Blue Note re issues for 50 bucks each. It's not hard to record and reproduce small groups that don't sell many albums and that's why the masters are more available. I'm grateful that the classical titles they issued are those I play over and over. Black Jack is a close second but the Jazz all sounds the same to me and I won't play them again.

I realize the cost constraints of TTP when they source masters. If they could count on ALL their subscribers to purchase full subscriptions they might take a few more chances. I will continue to be a full subscriber and ENJOY all their issues, after all, I need to expand my musical horizons.

Those in my audio group have told me for years, not that many, to do just that.. I've spent bucks on Jazz, rock and everything below the CLASSICAL genre. I buy it , listen to it and file it away. I guess I just prefer music written by dead guys.

IMHO, playing a small jazz group is much less demanding on an audio system than a full blown symphony orchestra. I realize not everyone can afford the cost and room size to hear the best reproduction of "The Absolute Sound." I'm not counting out the difficulty for ANY system to reproduce the human voice or a piano but it all comes down to what makes you want to hear it all again.

Enough said. I was unable to navigate the website and effect an order for their classical titles. I can dig out my book, "Apples for dummies." or you can give me a helping hand.

Thanks from a fellow RTR "Gonner."