Buying Tapes

[M2M]

Would be possible buy Reel tapes for majority albums, both digital and old (analog) recording, and what prices range?

I ask because I “might” start collecting.

Thanks!

 

[Ron Resnick]

majority albums

no

both digital and old (analog) recording

I don't know of anybody transferring digital recordings to tape. I don't know of any sonic reason why anybody would want to do this.

 

[Foxbat]

Ron, I am not sure, but he probably does not mean the original master tapes, but their copies... if so the answer is of course YES.

Prices... the majority is around $500, give or take.

 

[astrotoy]

There are private sources where both can be purchased. At 15ips 2 track, they typically cost about $400 for a 2 reel tape which is needed for most albums (35-60 minutes). Most are direct copies of safety and production master tapes. Definitely not a low cost hobby. The commercial sources are much more limited - Tape Project, Acoustic Sounds and Horch House/Revox have some well known licensed albums (again 15ips 2 track) for $400 to $550 for a 2 reel album.

PM me if you want more information. BTW, I never buy from ebay. Lots of scams (like tapes made from CDs or digital downloads). Larry

 

[Ron Resnick]

Ron, I am not sure, but he probably does not mean the original master tapes, but their copies... if so the answer is of course YES.

He is asking if a majority of [all] albums recorded in analog and recorded in digital (which effectively means all albums ever recorded) are available for purchase on tape. I think the answer to this question is "no."

A majority of all albums? Do you think the answer to this question is yes?

 

[Foxbat]

Heh, since the sentence needed some interpretation, mine was "major albums" - but I do agree yours is most likely correct.

 

[Tapetech]

I don't know of anybody transferring digital recordings to tape. I don't know of any sonic reason why anybody would want to do this.

Take a digital recording that to you sounds excellent (well recorded and mastered) and transfer it to tape (assuming you have a recording-capable deck that is in perfect calibration). I know plenty of people who do this because they claim the tape sounds better than the source even though it makes no sense. Try it.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Take a digital recording that to you sounds excellent (well recorded and mastered) and transfer it to tape (assuming you have a recording-capable deck that is in perfect calibration). I know plenty of people who do this because they claim the tape sounds better than the source even though it makes no sense. Try it.

I can believe it. This is why some people feel the same way about digital recordings remastered to vinyl.

 

[microstrip]

no


I don't know of anybody transferring digital recordings to tape.

CahtGPT immediately finds six audio firms selling such tapes.

I don't know of any sonic reason why anybody would want to do this.

The same reason sound engineers sometimes run mixes through tape loops - saturation and adding some pleasant harmonic distortion or simply increasing the sometimes called "aesthetic choice" - audiophiles preference for a sound type they are used to.

 

[M2M]

Thanks a lot to all for replies. Very much appreciated!

He is asking if a majority of [all] albums recorded in analog and recorded in digital (which effectively means all albums ever recorded) are available for purchase on tape. I think the answer to this question is "no."

A majority of all albums? Do you think the answer to this question is yes?

Heh, since the sentence needed some interpretation, mine was "major albums" - but I do agree yours is most likely correct.

apology for confusion! I'm checking if i could find most CD release on Reel such 1/4" for home listening only! Something like Telarc, in case made their albums in Reel tape.

Take a digital recording that to you sounds excellent (well recorded and mastered) and transfer it to tape (assuming you have a recording-capable deck that is in perfect calibration). I know plenty of people who do this because they claim the tape sounds better than the source even though it makes no sense. Try it.

I'm not expert! Based my listening Telarc Vinyl, it is significantly superior to CD. I'm "assuming" Tape sound better.

Ron, I am not sure, but he probably does not mean the original master tapes, but their copies... if so the answer is of course YES.

Prices... the majority is around $500, give or take.

There are private sources where both can be purchased. At 15ips 2 track, they typically cost about $400 for a 2 reel tape which is needed for most albums (35-60 minutes). Most are direct copies of safety and production master tapes. Definitely not a low cost hobby. The commercial sources are much more limited - Tape Project, Acoustic Sounds and Horch House/Revox have some well known licensed albums (again 15ips 2 track) for $400 to $550 for a 2 reel album.

PM me if you want more information. BTW, I never buy from ebay. Lots of scams (like tapes made from CDs or digital downloads). Larry

$400-550? A lot for home listening! Sorry! I'm sure I cant do it. But "BIG" thanks for information's
I'm investigating for alternative analog listing than Vinyl, better sound! Because I'm departing now completely from digital listening.

 

[adrianywu]

Many recordings released before the mid-1970s are available on open reel tapes. The earliest stereo releases were in 2-track 7.5 ips format, and then by around 1959, most labels stopped issuing 2-track tapes and went to 4-track tapes. Some cheaper releases were in 3.75 ips, especially pop and rock titles, since the target customers were younger people with less financial resources. In my experience, many of these commercial 2-track tapes can come close to the 2-track 15ips tapes being sold today, at a much lower cost, but you need to make sure they are in good condition, given these are almost 70 years old. Even 4-track tapes can sound amazing, often better than the original LPs. This is especially true for RCA Living Stereo, Everest and Command Classics. Many London, DGG and Mercury tapes sound excellent also. High Definition Tape Transfer has transferred many of these 4-track tapes to digital files, and you can download a few to sample. At least for most classical titles, the tapes are still relatively cheap. Rock and jazz titles can be very expensive though. Take a look at what is on offer at Ebay and Discogs.