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bob katz · 8th November 2009

You can also do your own pseudo IEC even at the NAB setting or even if it doesn't have IEC. Just align the 10 kHz tone of the NAB playback tape to -3 dB (or whatever you choose) and this will amount to another 3 dB of high frequency noise reduction but (caution here) a proportional amount of increased high frequency saturation or distortion.

Using a 1/4" tape machine without noise reduction, especially at 15 IPS is an exercise in the art of compromise, unless all you are doing is rock and roll with little dynamics. There's far less compromise in my opinion with 1/2" and there you can play with the sonic differences between 15 and 30 without feeling like hiss is not your friend. As the hiss level of 1/2" is much more acceptable. In fact, I find the hiss level of 30 IPS 1/2", 320 nW/m with GP9 to be subtle and "soothing" and for most music, 15 IPS 1/2" to be quite acceptable.

8th November 2009	#26
bob katz Mastering Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,099	You can also do your own pseudo IEC even at the NAB setting or even if it doesn't have IEC. Just align the 10 kHz tone of the NAB playback tape to -3 dB (or whatever you choose) and this will amount to another 3 dB of high frequency noise reduction but (caution here) a proportional amount of increased high frequency saturation or distortion. Using a 1/4" tape machine without noise reduction, especially at 15 IPS is an exercise in the art of compromise, unless all you are doing is rock and roll with little dynamics. There's far less compromise in my opinion with 1/2" and there you can play with the sonic differences between 15 and 30 without feeling like hiss is not your friend. As the hiss level of 1/2" is much more acceptable. In fact, I find the hiss level of 30 IPS 1/2", 320 nW/m with GP9 to be subtle and "soothing" and for most music, 15 IPS 1/2" to be quite acceptable. __________________ 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.