VW>I was wondering if any nice people out there could give me a low down on
VW>different casette types that is type1, type2 etc...normal bias, high bias
VW>etc... What their advantages/disadvantages (Aside from cost) and what
VW>they are usually used for in recording?
        The differences between Normal, Cr02 (or Ferro-Chrome), and
Metal tapes are in their signal-to-noise ratio, noise floor, dynamic
range, and the signal level or the amount of flux that can be applied to
the tape before percieved distortion occurs.
        Normal Bias tapes have the lowest of these qualities and are
generally best used for speech, though music can be recorded on them.
The Type II (Cr02/Ferro-Chrome) tapes have higher signal-to-noise ratios
and dynamic ranges, extended response to high frequencies.  These are
best for recording from CD's or from any source with a high and wide
dynamic range.  For example, I could record a CD into the +6dB area of
the meter on a normal bias tape and it will sound ok, but I've recorded
some CD's well into (and sometimes over) the +12dB area of the meter on
Cr02 tapes and the result is much truer to that of the original source,
with no distorion and a lower noise floor.  The noise floor is the
amount of "hiss" that can be heard as the tape passes over the head when
nothing is on it.
        Metal tapes are usually the cream of the crop and have the
benefit of longer life (more playbacks) before the sound begins to
degrade.
        I use Cr02 and Metal tapes in my home studio.  I usually do all
the multi-tracking on Cr02 and then once the work is finished, I mix it
all down to a Metal tape to have a real high quality master that can be
duped many times over.
        Hope this helps  :)
        kjt
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