As of October 13 2016 there are 458 master tape titles available at 15ips.

[earlinarizona]

Tonight I totaled up all of the 23 companies doing master tapes and how many different titles are available. No question sales have gone up along with variety.

[astrotoy]

Thanks for that data. Did you use the sticky that Myles posted for your data base? I didn't realize how much things have grown. So far I have 136 titles from 13 of the companies. I generally collect mostly classical and I think I have the vast majority of the classical titles that have been released so far. I would guess that about 70% of the titles I have are classical. In total, that would be about 200 reels. In addition, I have another 220 reels, about 140 titles, of mostly safety masters and some copies of safety masters. Everything is 15ips 2 track, with about 70 reels in 1/2".

Larry

[Goheelz]

That's a pretty decent number for a "dead" format. Any guess/approximation of what the average retail price would be for the currently available R2R tapes?

[astrotoy]

That's a pretty decent number for a "dead" format. Any guess/approximation of what the average retail price would be for the currently available R2R tapes?

Usually depends on the number of reels in the album. I've been paying around $175-$300 for a single reel (and can be more if it is a direct copy of the master tape). The double reel albums are around $325 to $500, with some more. 1/2" tape is more. Chad and Tape Project both are charging about $450 for a 2 reel album. Note that the raw materials these days for 1/4" tape with a metal reel is around $75 per reel (ATR tape is the only brand around at this point), while 1/2" tape is about $125 per reel. Of course, there is essentially no economy of scale in making these 15ips 2 track tapes, all in real time. Tape Project has the biggest production line with one master and 4 slave machines, while Chad (from his promo video) has 1 master and 2 slave machines. Most of the companies doing this have just two machines. Given the cost of the materials, few companies keep much inventory and most are made to order.

Larry

[MylesBAstor]

I'm pretty sure Chad has 6 ATR 102s. So I wonder if he'll eventually get them set up and bring them online if there's enough
demand for the tapes?

[MylesBAstor]

Usually depends on the number of reels in the album. I've been paying around $175-$300 for a single reel (and can be more if it is a direct copy of the master tape). The double reel albums are around $325 to $500, with some more. 1/2" tape is more. Chad and Tape Project both are charging about $450 for a 2 reel album. Note that the raw materials these days for 1/4" tape with a metal reel is around $75 per reel (ATR tape is the only brand around at this point), while 1/2" tape is about $125 per reel. Of course, there is essentially no economy of scale in making these 15ips 2 track tapes, all in real time. Tape Project has the biggest production line with one master and 4 slave machines, while Chad (from his promo video) has 1 master and 2 slave machines. Most of the companies doing this have just two machines. Given the cost of the materials, few companies keep much inventory and most are made to order.

Larry

Take for instance the tape boxes Chad uses. They are handmade and there's no difference in price whether he orders 1 or 1000.

[astrotoy]

It doesn't surprise me that Chad has stocked up on ATR-102's to be able to expand his business. My guess is that he picked up ones not in great shape for a good price, so he doesn't have a big investment sitting there, waiting to be used. He can increase his production by refurbishing the machines as he needs them. The head block is usually the most expensive part - getting them from ATR with flux magnetic heads is over $3K. So it might cost $5K or so to get a 102 up and running. Another cost he needs to amortize over his number of tape sales.

I just got my copies of the first two tapes today - played the first reel of the Janis Ian tape and compared it to my Acoustic Sounds vinyl copy. The vinyl is very fine, but the tape has greater depth of sound, feels more three dimensional and richer overall. I have to check, but I think the tape has more songs than the record, one more song on side 1 anyway.

Larry

[JCOConnell]

Tonight I totaled up all of the 23 companies doing master tapes and how many different titles are available. No question sales have gone up along with variety.

Yeah, there may be 458 master tape titles available, but theres probably 4.58 million Lp titles available, its a drop in the ocean at this point.

[astrotoy]

Yeah, there may be 458 master tape titles available, but theres probably 4.58 million Lp titles available, its a drop in the ocean at this point.

Agreed. I have about 250 tape titles (including my safety masters) and about 15,000 records. Given the cost of making tape copies and their subsequent retail cost, they will always be a drop in the ocean, but a very delicious drop.

Larry

[MylesBAstor]

It really doesn't make any difference once you get over a certain number of records. I have some probably haven't played in decades on my shelf.

[audioguy1958]

I received 2 new recordings from Ultra Analog Recordings on the weekend, 'Beethoven Violin Sonata No.3 and Ravel Tzigane', and 'Schubert Grand Fantasy and The Swan'. These recordings are fabulous, and the two musicians are amazingly talented. Ed's recordings are superb, if you are a classical music enthusiast then these recordings are a must have. I think the new recordings that are becoming available are really pushing the envelope on what's possible. In another ten years there will probably be many thousands of tape recordings available, given the way this tape media is gaining in popularity. And I don't think a better format (digital or analog) is suddenly going to appear.

[astrotoy]

I received 2 new recordings from Ultra Analog Recordings on the weekend, 'Beethoven Violin Sonata No.3 and Ravel Tzigane', and 'Schubert Grand Fantasy and The Swan'. These recordings are fabulous, and the two musicians are amazingly talented. Ed's recordings are superb, if you are a classical music enthusiast then these recordings are a must have. I think the new recordings that are becoming available are really pushing the envelope on what's possible. In another ten years there will probably be many thousands of tape recordings available, given the way this tape media is gaining in popularity. And I don't think a better format (digital or analog) is suddenly going to appear.

I got them also. Wonderful stuff. Ed has been able to find these super talented young artists - many international prize winners and record them in his home concert hall - capturing the sonic quality and ambience better than just about anyone. I have almost all of his tapes, and he has improved the quality of the recordings over the years with better equipment and techniques. He redid all of my tapes last year with the latest version of his equipment at a quite modest cost.

Larry

[El Magnifico]

Note that the raw materials these days for 1/4" tape with a metal reel is around $75 per reel (ATR tape is the only brand around at this point), while 1/2" tape is about $125 per reel. Of course, there is essentially no economy of scale in making these 15ips 2 track tapes, all in real time. Tape Project has the biggest production line with one master and 4 slave machines, while Chad (from his promo video) has 1 master and 2 slave machines. Most of the companies doing this have just two machines. Given the cost of the materials, few companies keep much inventory and most are made to order.

Larry

Interesting, Larry, but I believe the story is a little different. Currently, there're 3 tape manufacturers of good open reel tape: ATR, RTM and Capture. Perhaps you would like to read these articles about it:

https://audioimpressions.wordpress.com/2016/03/15/capture-audio-tape-the-new-kid-on-the-block/

https://audioimpressions.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/long-play-tapespyral-or-atr/

https://audioimpressions.wordpress.com/2016/06/28/recording-the-masters-lpr-90/

Also, the fact is that Tape Project has one of the simplest duplication rigs. The biggest ones are in Europe, with Hemiolia Records been the biggest. STS is another company who has a very nice duplication room. Most of the duplicators I have talk to and have reviewed their tapes as well are using SM900. BUT, quantity does not necessarily means more "quality". Dr. Pong duplicates 1 tape at a time only, but the results are excellent: http://www.monoandstereo.com/2016/10...ecordings.html

Enjoy!

[astrotoy]

Interesting, Larry, but I believe the story is a little different. Currently, there're 3 tape manufacturers of good open reel tape: ATR, RTM and Capture. Perhaps you would like to read these articles about it:
https://audioimpressions.wordpress.c...-on-the-block/
https://audioimpressions.wordpress.c...spyral-or-atr/
https://audioimpressions.wordpress.c...asters-lpr-90/

Also, the fact is that Tape Project has one of the simplest duplication rigs. The biggest ones are in Europe, with Hemiolia Records been the biggest. STS is another company who has a very nice duplication room. Most of the duplicators I have talk to and have reviewed their tapes as well are using SM900. BUT, quantity does not necessarily means more "quality". Dr. Pong duplicates 1 tape at a time only, but the results are excellent: http://www.monoandstereo.com/2016/10...ecordings.html

Enjoy!

Carlos, thanks for the correction. Glad to know that Pyral is still in business. My usual tape supplier (US Recording Media) stopped carrying them. So with the bankruptcy letter, I assumed they were out of business. I had never heard of Capture before. Are you comfortable with the cutting width issue you had with the test tape. I am looking to buy some blank tape - 1/2" 2500'. What would you recommend? I looked at the Splicit website and couldn't find any 1/2" tape. Thanks.

I saw Hemiolia Records on Myles sticky of R2R prerecorded tape sellers.

I just found STS Digital (is that the same company as STS?)

http://sts-digitalshop.nl/reel-to-reel/

From their title are the R2R from digital masters? The website also says Analogue Experience - MasterTape Copies of Analogue Recordings. Reading their website, it looks like they are analogue masters and copies, but it's not completely clear to me. Also there is no way listed that I could find to order their tapes. Thanks.

Ed Pong's tapes are among my favorites. I have close to 40 of them (I think I don't have 3 or 4 of his earliest tapes). Larry

[El Magnifico]

Carlos, thanks for the correction. Glad to know that Pyral is still in business. My usual tape supplier (US Recording Media) stopped carrying them. So with the bankruptcy letter, I assumed they were out of business. I had never heard of Capture before. Are you comfortable with the cutting width issue you had with the test tape. I am looking to buy some blank tape - 1/2" 2500'. What would you recommend? I looked at the Splicit website and couldn't find any 1/2" tape. Thanks.

I saw Hemiolia Records on Myles sticky of R2R prerecorded tape sellers.

I just found STS Digital (is that the same company as STS?)

http://sts-digitalshop.nl/reel-to-reel/

From their title are the R2R from digital masters? The website also says Analogue Experience - MasterTape Copies of Analogue Recordings. Reading their website, it looks like they are analogue masters and copies, but it's not completely clear to me. Also there is no way listed that I could find to order their tapes. Thanks.

Ed Pong's tapes are among my favorites. I have close to 40 of them (I think I don't have 3 or 4 of his earliest tapes). Larry

Hello Larry! My pleasure and honor to be of help. Capture is basically a domestic tape. Very good indeed and affordable, but only available @ 1/4". Yes, they corrected the width issue and I worked with them closely. For 1/2" I'm afraid you have to deal with ATR and RTM. RTM is more affordable and a very good tape indeed. This people from Pyral has put a lot of money in the project. You should be happy with it. Wow Larry, 1/2" format! That reminds me 10 years ago when I convinced my wife that having an A-80 in my living room looked good! Ha! Incidentally, Splicit also distributes RTM (Recording the Masters). If you have problems finding it, please let me know and I'll put you in contact with them.

Hemiolia duplication room is impressive as well as their facilities. They can duplicate 16 tapes at the same time on their restored Telefunken. We are waiting for a review tape and also a cassette tape they are planning to make. Yes, STS Digital from the Netherlands. I really love that couple: Netty and Fritz. I'll keep you posted when I receive their

sample for review.


Dr. Pong is a class by himself. Some new tapes are coming shortly. Definitely Larry: you are one of his more loyal fans! If anything else I can be of assistance, please let me know. I just reviewed his sample and I was impressed. Happy to make your acquaintance, Larry.

[El Magnifico]

By the way, Larry. Just stay away from NOS stock. There're a lot of new and fresh tape available for a very decent price. Enjoy!