How Times Change

[MylesBAstor]

Remember the days when software was rarer than hen's teeth and reel-to-reel tape enthusiast would buy anything they could get their hands on?

Over breakfast one morning at Axpona we were talking about reel-to-reel tape and the subject of buying software came up. One person remarked that he would only buy exceptional, not average sounding tapes, in part because of cost and in part because there's a greater quantity and variety of tapes now available. Who would have thought tape would reach this point?

[mep]

Remember the days when software was rarer than hen's teeth and reel-to-reel tape enthusiast would buy anything they could get their hands on?

Over breakfast one morning at Axpona we were talking about reel-to-reel tape and the subject of buying software came up. One person remarked that he would only buy exceptional, not average sounding tapes, in part because of cost and in part because there's a greater quantity and variety of tapes now available. Who would have thought tape would reach this point?

Tape is really starting to grow legs now and new machines coming into the marketplace will help to strengthen the growth.

[dminches]

I still feel that the non-classical offerings are limited via commercial channels. Chad's stuff and the tape project titles are great but $450 per album is still a lot. Maybe that's where the price point is going to settle.

[mep]

I still feel that the non-classical offerings are limited via commercial channels. Chad's stuff and the tape project titles are great but $450 per album is still a lot. Maybe that's where the price point is going to settle.

Unless the price of tape and metal reels fall, the price for albums released on tape will remain high. Duplication is done in real time with a limited number of machines which makes the process slow, inefficient, and labor intensive. There is nothing cheap or easy about the process of making tapes.

[MylesBAstor]

That's why LPs took over. More LPs could be stamped even with high speed tape duping.

[rockitman]

It will always be a very small niche market....nothing remotely approaching the recent vinyl resurgence.

[MylesBAstor]

I like to think large niche market. 🤣

[Ki Choi]

Still considering the prices of some the sought after LPs... $450 isn't too bad of price if the music on tape is what you really like and is truly a quality master tape dub, IMO.

[MylesBAstor]

Great point! Especially say Blue Note jazz titles.

[Dre_J]

"if the music on tape is what you really like and is truly a quality master tape dub, IMO"

That's the key, IMO

[Madfloyd]

I bought my first tape at the Axpona marketplace.

[Madfloyd]

Sorry! (Ironic since I can't even play it, lol)

[MylesBAstor]

Well u better hurry up then!

[allenh]

Haha, we're in the same boat then, Ian. I have about 4-5 tapes with nothing to play them on either. :-) Likely will buy the Scheherazade after your recent post, too. :-)

[Asamel]

Welcome to the club! Nothing sounds like tape.

[mep]

I bought my first tape at the Axpona marketplace.

Now you have an excuse to buy a deck. Bob's would be a nice one. I would leave it on the stand. It's all integrated and looks very professional.

[Madfloyd]

I don't have the room (floor space) for it unfortunately.

[kcin]

Unless the price of tape and metal reels fall, the price for albums released on tape will remain high. Duplication is done in real time with a limited number of machines which makes the process slow, inefficient, and labor intensive. There is nothing cheap or easy about the process of making tapes.

This will continue to make tape a specialist market. I can't see any volume in the software side that would affect prices and have them go down. Basically we are a bunch of old fa__ts that will eventually fizzle out. With LPs... there is far more software out there and the hardware is much more approachable.. it will be around forever.

As far as prices being reasonable... not sure how anyone can claim $450 is "not too bad".... I do ok, but the pricing on these is stratospheric.


Having said all that I bought my first two tapes as well at Axpona...

[MylesBAstor]

❤️

[MylesBAstor]

This will continue to make tape a specialist market. I can't see any volume in the software side that would affect prices and have them go down. Basically we are a bunch of old fa__ts that will eventually fizzle out. With LPs... there is far more software out there and the hardware is much more approachable.. it will be around forever.

As far as prices being reasonable... not sure how anyone can claim $450 is "not too bad".... I do ok, but the pricing on these is stratospheric.


Having said all that I bought my first two tapes as well at Axpona...

The boxes for Chad's tapes are hand made and would cost the same if he buys 10 or 10,000. Plus the cost of labor and paying Gus Skinas to do the transfers. The Bernie Grundman transferred tapes cost because of his hourly rates $650-675. Not to mention the lawyers fees. It all adds up in the end.

[Alrainbow]

Guys this I am sure is a dumb question but back in the cassette days there was high speed dubbing
is this a viable way to dub tapes. Does it defeat the quality
?

[kcin]

The boxes for Chad's tapes are hand made and would cost the same if he buys 10 or 10,000. Plus the cost of labor and paying Gus Skinas to do the transfers. The Bernie Grundman transferred tapes cost because of his hourly rates $650-675. Not to mention the lawyers fees. It all adds up in the end.

I bet, I get the cost of inputs for these things... this is a niche specialist market for sure. In the end the producers need to make a buck as well to sustain themselves and continue to provide the service we all benefit by this.

Almost anyone could stretch for for say a 1/2 speed 200 gram 45rpm copy of some LP for $65 but the cost of ongoing admission for the tape scene is definitely steep.

Even at half that price , a robust collection is a significant investment.

[MylesBAstor]

Guys this I am sure is a dumb question but back in the cassette days there was high speed dubbing
is this a viable way to dub tapes. Does it defeat the quality
?

To varying degrees but yes. That's why for the ultimate in sound, the new tapes are duped in real time.

Trivia fact. The technology used in Keith Johnson's one of a kind tape deck was actually first developed for high speed duping.

[Bruce B]

Plus the cost of labor and paying Gus Skinas to do the transfers. The Bernie Grundman transferred tapes cost because of his hourly rates $650-675. Not to mention the lawyers fees. It all adds up in the end.

I didn't even make that when I did Anesthesia! I'm in the wrong business..... or I may need to increase my prices!!

[MylesBAstor]

Sorry slightly confusing. The tapes are that price. But the Groove Note and Lyn Stanley tapes are $200 more than most other double reels.