-=> Quoting Bonnie Goodwin to Terry Smith <=-
 BG> Wonderful message about tape formulations, an area that I'm not that
 BG> versed on since I do as little with cassette as possible and that will
 BG> shortly be even more so. I was unaware of that distortion in the
 BG> Chrome settings. Does the ferrite formulations emulating the Chrome
My experience with the various formulations sorta goes like this: :)
Type I (normal): Slightly higher noise floor, higher high frequency
distortion.  Top of the line tapes are very good however.
Type II (true CrO2): Low noise.  Record EQ requirements slightly
different than "fake" CrO2 formulations.  Very clean, but high
frequencies saturate at a somewhat lower level, but do it without much
distortion.
Type II (Chrome Equivalent): Mostly excellent overall performance with
slightly higher noise floor then "true chrome".
Type II (Metal particle): Excellent performance overall.  EQ
requirements for recording can produce a real "zip" at the top end if
the machine is set up for "true chrome".
Type III (Ferro-chrome):  A hybrid of standard and "true chrome".  Had
very low noise.  However, the wild differences between brands for
record bias/EQ requirements and advances in Type II equivalents made
this formulation obsolete.  Overall sound was fine with the "true
chrome" high frequency saturation effects but a cleaner low end
performance.
Type IV (Metal):  Excellent top notch performance.  Early runs of
equipment couldn't properly utilize this tape as manufactures were
still learning how to deal with it.  And some were deceptive in
claiming "metal" compatibility but the recording head, recording
circuitry, bias generator etc. actually couldn't cope.  These were soon
weeded out.
Some other random comments.
A deck with Dolby HX-Pro with normal tape and Dolby C can provide very
good performance if a higher end type I is used.
After several decks over the years, I've finally settled on an AIWA
ADF-990, which I got in the early '80's if I remember correctly.  It's
still working well but starting to show it's age with slightly higher
flutter.  Having obtained the service manual, I was able to fine-tune
the auto-adjust and with a metal tape and Dolby C, it's hard to tell
tape from source (it's a 3 head deck).
I don't do hardly any taping now, as we've gone to a Panasonic cd
portable. :-)  And, yes, buying re-issues often makes a profound
improvement in the quality of CD sound.
 BG> also have this problem? Also, as you know, tape has a natively high
 BG> distortion anyway.
Absolutely!  Experience though shows that for those who tape for the
car, the "true chrome" types with the falling top end can sound very
pleasing in the auto car units, softening some of the brutal top end on
many CD's.  Knowing what brand produces what type of recorded effect
can often enhance the final outcome.
Cameron Hall
cameron.hall@bluebeam.gryn.org | ad121@hwcn.org
Blue Beam MailServer | 905 662 5784 | Stoney Creek ON Canada | v34 FAX
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