Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - RMG SM 911 new batch, serious sticky shed

bob katz · 28th June 2009

I was just about to transfer a beautiful new 1/2" set of master tapes when I discovered some serious problems with the tones and I thought maybe my heads or electronics had gone bad. But it turned out, upon visual inspection, to be a serious case of sticky shed.

It doesn't take more than a minute of play for a 1/8 to 1/4" wide brown layer of oxide to land on the gap. That's serious. I also detect a little squeak when rocking it, indicating this could be a lubricant issue. The tapes came from Seattle, and humidity could be the problem, but of course they also got shipped through Florida on their way to me. They are now in air-conditioned conditions, but nevertheless....

I would advise that anyone considering using this tape, before using it or recording on it, to play some sections of it for 5 to 10 minutes and make sure it does not have the sticky shed phenomenon.

This is not a denigration of this new brand and the brave folks making it, or the type of tape. Many tape types have had sticky shed issues in their early generations. Although I understand this model of tape has been around for a year or more, and this is from this year's batch to the best of my knowledge. I can give you the batch number if anyone is interested.

Sorry for the bad news.

28th June 2009	#1
bob katz Mastering Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,099 Thread Starter	RMG SM 911 new batch, serious sticky shed I was just about to transfer a beautiful new 1/2" set of master tapes when I discovered some serious problems with the tones and I thought maybe my heads or electronics had gone bad. But it turned out, upon visual inspection, to be a serious case of sticky shed. It doesn't take more than a minute of play for a 1/8 to 1/4" wide brown layer of oxide to land on the gap. That's serious. I also detect a little squeak when rocking it, indicating this could be a lubricant issue. The tapes came from Seattle, and humidity could be the problem, but of course they also got shipped through Florida on their way to me. They are now in air-conditioned conditions, but nevertheless.... I would advise that anyone considering using this tape, before using it or recording on it, to play some sections of it for 5 to 10 minutes and make sure it does not have the sticky shed phenomenon. This is not a denigration of this new brand and the brave folks making it, or the type of tape. Many tape types have had sticky shed issues in their early generations. Although I understand this model of tape has been around for a year or more, and this is from this year's batch to the best of my knowledge. I can give you the batch number if anyone is interested. Sorry for the bad news. __________________ Bob Katz DIGITAL DOMAIN http://www.digido.com "There are two kinds of fools. One says-this is old and therefore good. The other says-this is new and therefore better." No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.