I am currently working on a couple reel to reel sampler tapes that I will transfer direct to SVHS video tape... hopefully everyone still remembers good old post DVD days where you had to watch movies on tape.  

This might sound odd to some of you, but recording hi-res audio onto a SVHS tape usually gives superior results to cassette, and even slow speed reel to reel machines.

So I though it would be entertaining to see if I can make a $75.00 SVHS machine sound better than most of the DAC's and even some vinyl rigs despite the SEVERE handicap of a $12 solid state output stage in the player itself.  Yes, this is how I amuse myself and thought it would be fun to include some of you...

Even with the handicap, this SVHS tape and player that I will be sending around will be a more than powerful demonstration of what good analog tape sounds like compared to the average DAC.

Just to make it interesting I am remastering some digital recordings with no computer or EQ's onto tape so that people can compare side by side known digital 16/44 CD recordings and hopefully find themselves wondering how I made a bone stock 75.00 SVHS machine sound better than their DAC which cost ten to fifty times more using the same recording.  And the answer is the tape process itself which includes the tape formula, speed, size, tape bias and CCIR or NAB equalization.  This particular tape will let you hear what is possible by combining these variables correctly to express the music being recorded.

Then I plan to take some samples directly from master tapes that I have so people can experience a real copy of a master tape via this inexpensive format.

This is just a heads up so you have time to think about if you have any interest in hearing it.  I'll need a volunteer to be in charge of making a list and overseeing that each person on the list ship it to the next in a timely manner and then report the results.  Of course he or she will be the first one to hear to tape.

Thanks,

Steve

I bet someone out there has a museum of audio products that never made the big time. The El Cassette was one of my favorites for this venue. It all made sense to me. The wider tape, and I don't know if the speed was different or not, but could have been a factor too. I also liked the idea of 4 track cassette decks that ran in one direction only for the same reason.

Being one of the few tape heads on this forum, I will volunteer.  It is a fascinating experiment and I would love to hear what you put together, first, before passing on to the others.  :)

Wonderful!  I know how it is and you certainly have more than enough on your plate.  Between your commitment to continual improvement, along with your willingness to connect with your customers, I am sure there is no "free" time to take on stuff like this. I am happy to help.  

Selfishly, I want more people to get excited about analog tape.  It is a nano community at best and until it grows enough to motivate manufacturers, the hardware and software options will be scarce.  I would love to see more people interested and excited about tape.  Every time I spin one up,  it is a stark reminder why I subject myself to the effort and cost of acquiring and maintaining a tape rig and library of tapes.  Because I have not heard anything better when the source-to-speaker chain is well tended to.  It is the gold standard when it comes to achieving a live performance in our listening room.  You introduced me to this idea over a year ago and I have taken it to heart, and can honestly substantiate everything you have stated with regards to its "holy grail-ness."  

My ears thank you, but my wallet curses you.  It's ok, because I just keep telling my wallet to shut the **ck up!  

You got it Stone!  You are next inline to receive Steve's SVHS system.  I will work on designing a Tour Schedule soon and once I do, I will publish the process for those interested to get on the list.  I will also post in the General thread in hopes of attracting the most people possible.  

It will be an interesting compare as I recently obtained a Sonorus custom Revox C270 reel-to-reel deck with a matched Sonorus external tube playback amplifier from the personal inventory ofSonorus creator himself, Arian Jansen.  For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Jansen, he is a tape machine icon and well-respected recording engineer.  If you are familiar with Yarlung Records, he is their tape recording engineer and creator of the Sonorus Holographic Imaging process. Anyway, super smart guy (and so nice).  I had the pleasure of driving to his house in Paso Robles to pick up the rig at which point he treated me to his listening room for a few hours.  I was able to hear his Sonorus ATR-10, $18,000 tape machine with some of his holographic imaging reels on his electrostats.  It works!  Amazing stuff.  

The tube playback electronics on my new Sonorus consist of a nuvistor tube head preamp stage, which is built into the C270, plus an external playback amp with the EQ settings (IEC & NAB). The head preamp nuvistors are 7586 triodes and the external playback amp is using ECC83/12AX7 triodes, allowing for some tube rolling.  How sweet it is!  Live concert in my listening room   I was also able to pick up some master dupes from the LA Audio Show last week, which was a nice treat to myself.  

Here is a pic...  

WOW J of A! I'm at a loss for words from what you have obtained and have going on here.

I so look forward to your impressions of Steve's SVHS and then I appreciate being next on the list and will do it justice and report.

......look forward to when you post in the general forum and attract more for the list.

Jeff,

Congrats on the new tape rig!  I'd sure like to hear that.  

I'm finding it tricky to get the levels perfect when I make the recordings because the VHS recorders, even my industrial one, are not expecting this much dynamic range so to get it just right so as not to wake up the limiter, or saturate the tape.  So far every tape I've made is perfect except for one or two notes on one or two songs...  naturally it's going to take a few tries.

-Steve

Splendid gentlemen. Splendid indeed. Exactly J of A.....for the fun of it and understanding of how good this will/could sound.

Your encounter with Mr. Jansen, albeit more involved..... . This reminds me of meeting Prof Johnson of Reference Recordings and his time with the Minnesota Orchestra and other recordings as well. I met him when I was part of the MN Audio Society. I use his recordings for pleasure and to remind myself how all recordings should sound with DYNAMIC RANGE!  
https://referencerecordings.com/people/prof-keith-o-johnson/

Anyway, back to the real world and compression.....and a never established volume/recording level(s).....and so on and so on.



I look forward to this!  Keep the info coming gentlemen.

Steve, how about some direct to two track single mike stuff you did to your recording console, from the first house....your garage band and you on Drums man?!  This would be cool too!

Yes, I too, would like to purchase a copy of the master SVHS to compare to the digital.......... .

TAPE ONE is now completed.  

This tape is a never been heard before demonstration of a re-mastering process I have been developing over the years that has the ability to transmute digital back to analog and does so without a computer, solid state parts, nor even a circuit board.  It's a 100% analogue process... organic, non GMO if you will.

Since the only way to hear this process is to have an analog playback system and since I can't press records here at Decware, I am taking this opportunity to let all of you hear it by making the entire first tape using it.  

It's important to understand that the source for this tape was not high resolution digital files, nor even rebook CD, but rather a stream from the internet at 320 kbps, which is how so many of us are now listening to digital with our computers.  I figure if the process actually works, it will work on that.

This gives those of you who get on the list to hear the tapes, an opportunity to do direct side by side comparisons of the tracks on the tape with the original source tracks from the internet.

Some of the tracks on Palomino's original track list were omitted because the process highlights errors in the recording, such as tiny sibilances, and peak distortions that were previously masked just enough to sound OK.  Even many of the tracks on this tape have minor distortions that are notated on the tape as part of the process.  Remember this is a work in process.  Also, the presence that results from this process which is in part the 632 tape I use for digital sources, includes some tape hiss in this demo because I personally prefer it.  It let's me know I'm hearing everything.  Sometimes it's not even tape hiss but just the self noise of the microphones used in the recording.  Nevertheless, when you hear the tape hiss I want you to imagine what it would sound like filtered out so you couldn't hear it... and try to listen to the low level detail that is inside that tape hiss as if it were deleted.   That said, tape hiss is not a byproduct of the process, and can easily be avoided at will.

So here is the Tape One

Steve,
I am sorry to hear about the casualty - a true bummer.  Some people just don't understand that delivery services, all of them, will wreck your stuff if you give them the chance.  Crappy packaging is that chance once given, will lead to a box full of destruction.  Well, that is why Plan B's exist.  Great call on the Pelican, especially considering this national journey it will embark on.

Exciting news about the tape!  Looking over the tracks, it will be a treat to listen to.  I am very intrigued by your remastering process which is what makes this tour such an great opportunity - being able to actually listen to the difference in the digital steam vs. the SVHS.   And, as I mentioned prior, I would love the chance to borrow (on my dime of course) the 10.5" reel to compare against the SVHS if possible.   I would also be willing to foot the bill for a new blank tape and your time to dub another copy.  

Thanks for the update Steve.  Ive got my list ready.  Let me know how you want to proceed with the post to solicit those interested in hearing it and the "rules" of the tour whenever you are ready.  I will be the tour manager - keeping this baby moving along safely and efficiently.

Jeff,

I will make you a copy of the Palomino reel as compensation for managing this tour.

Steve

Jeff, put me at the bottom of the List. I realize I won't get the tape and SVHS unit for 2, 3 or 4 months. I want to read others comments first.

This is going to be cool. Maybe the end game could be Steve remastering with his process our music collections for our own private use..... . I have dibs on a SVHS unit.....if needed in the future.

This weekend I plan to make some additional tapes.  I've been pondering what to make and have decided that probably the best thing is going to be more samplers.  Since these SVHS tapes are my personal backups of my personal reel to reel tapes, I don't see any legality issues since they remain my property and I've only invited each of you to listen to them.  That said, Jeff will have a copy of the reel to reel master tape of tape one.  He can compare the difference in sound quality using his world class tube reel to reel machine to the supplied $100.00 VHS player and accurately assume the large gap in sound quality is the same across the board with all the additional tapes.

So I'll chime in this weekend with the next track list that is to make up Tape Two.

-Steve

Second player is indeed functioning... a nice commercial Sony unit.  

Probably would have been just perfect if it had more than just a single mono output jack for audio...  [smiley=ahhhhhhh.GIF]


EDIT:  This is how the audio gods that watch over me operate.  See what happens next.

Tape 2 is done.



It came out really great!

And the last two reels were 30 IPS which together total less than 20 minutes, so they only fill half of the VHS tape. Rather than add other stuff to fill the tape I have elected not to for the simple fact that if something happens to one of these tapes I want to be able to easily make another one. Once you start mixing tapes and tracks, essentially making a mix tape, you're talking about an all night gig.




Reel 2 = 8:41
 

Acetone,
I think some of your home crafted beer is an excellent offering in return for some time with my gear. Honestly, I am dying to share my Decware gear and SonoruS tape rig with anyone interested in listening. And since you are so close it would be a travesty not to have you over.

You will have the SVHS after me. As a matter of fact, I would love to have a second set of ears when evaluating the R2R next to the SVHS for tape #1 so this arrangement works out great all around.

Timing is good.  Now 85% done with room treatments and should be at 100% by time you cruise down.

Thanks Jeff,
Would love to hear another members set up. The LA Audio show proved to me that my Decware gear can run with the big dogs when room, cables, etc are all taken into account. Can't wait to hear this experiment!!

Jeff,

Please add me to the list. I've been enjoying the Palomino Mix at 320kbps and look forward to comparing that with Steve's experimental recording technique on SVHS.

TIA,
Rob

Hey Jeff,

Thanks for the thoughtful PM. Add me up here in the Great Northwest to the list.

Randy

Steve said:
"He declined the offer for extra and assured me he was an EXPERT at packing an it would arrive in perfect condition...  it didn't.  One inch of packing peanuts, single box... toast."


The extent to which people are swine is beginning to make me tired.  

Brian

Yes! Excited to read about and hear this (put me after bottlehead).

Jeff,  Let me know when your ready to have me over for tape and ? listening session...My home brew is in the fridge cooling.

Sign me up.  I still haven't quite gotten over the experience of hearing the Hendrix masters at Zenfest last fall - I gotta hear what this is all about !!

I made a dupe of the Palomino Master Tape today, so that completes everything and the package will ship tomorrow as planned : )

Steve