quality playback tape needed - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

yestertech · 21st Oct 2012, 10:30 pm

Big ASK !
I have a valve Stereo RTR machine which I am restoring. However, I now realise that I have no source of "quality playback" tapes, as I ( foolishly ? ) converted much of my material to CD some years back.
What little remains is on 10.5 inch NABS @15ips, so unsuitable for a domestic machine.
Would anyone be able to supply me with a 7" reel with some high quality playback material ?
Ideally I need 1/2 track stereo, recorded at 7.5 ips. ( 15 mins max, perhaps with excerpts of pop and classical to check out the noise/flutter )
What would also be useful is a few reference tones beforehand, just to give an idea of the condition of the playback side of things, say 50/500/1K/5K/10K and 15K Hz ( or a 'glide' )

Once the playback is reasonably OK, I can compare/adjust the record side against it directly ( 3 head machine) If it's dire then the machine is toast anyway !
I'm not worried about accuracy to the nth dB. Just something from a reasonably well aligned machine in terms of frequency and azimuth would suffice. We're talking 60s Vortexion so I'm assuming the curve will be CCIR/IEC ??

Happy to cover any costs

Fingers crossed !

Andy

John_BS · 22nd Oct 2012, 2:16 pm

Andy:

I have a BBC 19cm/s calibration tape you can borrow (51nWb/m, full-track, 70uS)

John

llama · 22nd Oct 2012, 5:49 pm

Just one thing to be wary of and that is if the tape is matt-backed. The Vortexion will have felt pressure pads and these aren't really compatible.
Graham

21st Oct 2012, 10:30 pm	#1
yestertech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Coulsdon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,135	quality playback tape needed Big ASK ! I have a valve Stereo RTR machine which I am restoring. However, I now realise that I have no source of "quality playback" tapes, as I ( foolishly ? ) converted much of my material to CD some years back. What little remains is on 10.5 inch NABS @15ips, so unsuitable for a domestic machine. Would anyone be able to supply me with a 7" reel with some high quality playback material ? Ideally I need 1/2 track stereo, recorded at 7.5 ips. ( 15 mins max, perhaps with excerpts of pop and classical to check out the noise/flutter ) What would also be useful is a few reference tones beforehand, just to give an idea of the condition of the playback side of things, say 50/500/1K/5K/10K and 15K Hz ( or a 'glide' ) Once the playback is reasonably OK, I can compare/adjust the record side against it directly ( 3 head machine) If it's dire then the machine is toast anyway ! I'm not worried about accuracy to the nth dB. Just something from a reasonably well aligned machine in terms of frequency and azimuth would suffice. We're talking 60s Vortexion so I'm assuming the curve will be CCIR/IEC ?? Happy to cover any costs Fingers crossed ! Andy

22nd Oct 2012, 2:16 pm	#2
John_BS Octode Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wincanton, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,782	Re: quality playback tape needed Andy: I have a BBC 19cm/s calibration tape you can borrow (51nWb/m, full-track, 70uS) John

22nd Oct 2012, 5:49 pm	#3
llama Octode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,482	Re: quality playback tape needed Just one thing to be wary of and that is if the tape is matt-backed. The Vortexion will have felt pressure pads and these aren't really compatible. Graham __________________ Half my stuff is junk - trouble is, I don't know which half!