Hi there Cameron,
 
 HB> But I'd guess it'd be the same with pre-recorded tapes since most of
 HB> the pre-recorded tapes must have been recorded with another tape deck.
 HB> :) 
 CH> Actually they're done at high speed on duplicators that record several
 CH> at once.  Since their alignment would be differnent, it would
 CH> prove/dissprove your walkmans' head alignment problem.
 
Pre-recorded tapes have come a long way though. EMI are using something
called XDR which is a new system that apparently says "the pre-recorded
cassettes you can now buy sound as good as the record". They're not far
wrong there. I bought an album on one of these XDR tapes in 1984 and knowing
how soon cassettes can often wear out, this one surprised me as it's still
going and the sound quality is just as good from the day I bought it. It's 
been played quite a lot over the years :) Not sure if they do XDR duplication
in real time or not though, though if it was high speed you couldn't notice
any degradation of the sound.
                             
Cheers,
Frank
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