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Mike Rivers[_2_] Mike Rivers[_2_] is offline
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Default Ampex ATR100 operating issues

On 7/26/2018 6:46 PM, Gareth Magennis wrote:
I've looked at buying test tapes many times in the past, but this is not
something to take lightly, given the price and variety, and suitability
for more than one machine.


There is a somewhat confusing variety of flux density/EQ/level etc.


If you haven't already done so, download the "Choosing and Using MRL
Calibration Tapes" paper:
https://www.canford.co.uk/ProductRes...ng%20tapes.pdf

You can use nearly any calibration tape to calibrate any speed and flux
level. Your choice should lean toward the settings that you'll be using
most. That will save you the effort of computing offsets for the various
settings. I don't know if everybody over on your side of the ocean is
still using IEC equalization, but if they are, and you want to be
compatible with other studios using tape, then you should get an IEC
tape. Otherwise, get NAB. And get one for the speed that you intend to
use most of the time.

You have a choice of 200 or 250 nW/m reference fluxivity. 250 nW/m is
about "+2.5" which, these days is the common "standard" level for high
output tapes. Depending on what you're recording, you might want to go
higher than that. If you want to record at "+6," you'd set the playback
level so that the 250 nW/m tape plays back at -3.5 VU (referenced to the
standard nominal +4 dBu). That's easy. If you get a 15 ips tape and want
to align 7.5 or 15 ips, you'll need to do some fiddling when setting EQ,
but there are tables for that.


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