RMG tape.. Oxide shed?

[Lord Fear]

I've never seen tape shed like this before in my life...Isn't this stuff supposed to be based off of the EMTC 900 tape?? That stuff didn't shed like this. This is some seriously lame tape, I've spent way to much time cleaning the heads and not enough time recording.

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by Lord Fear

I've never seen tape shed like this before in my life...Isn't this stuff supposed to be based off of the EMTC 900 tape?? That stuff didn't shed like this. This is some seriously lame tape, I've spent way to much time cleaning the heads and not enough time recording.

This is new SM900 tape that you just bought?

Where did you buy it? Have you discussed this with the dealer?

I am interested, since I just bought some from US Recording.

[Lord Fear]

I got it from Sunset Sound in LA, and I spoke with the Studio Manager there and he said that we aren't the first people to use the tape and complain about a large amount of shed, just check your heads all the time.

[stellar]

yea I noticed the 911 does leave a little bit more oxide than 456 does. I can't really tell the difference in sound, but I haven't done a proper A/B either. I think there might be ever so slightly more high end.

[Lord Fear]

Originally Posted by stellar

yea I noticed the 911 does leave a little bit more oxide than 456 does. I can't really tell the difference in sound, but I haven't done a proper A/B either. I think there might be ever so slightly more high end.

haven't noticed that, I'm just so pissed about the shedding, we had to go back and re-record about half of a bass part becase we discovered in dumping to pro tools that the tape had "gunked up" (the technical) the heads so badly that it was hardly usuable, lame...

[themaidsroom]

i had a really bad reel
crazy shedding
i got in touch with rmg
they kindly sent me
two reels, and told me that there
was a bad batch
i'll report back about the replacements
nice people
people who love tape



be well


- jack

[Lord Fear]

Originally Posted by themaidsroom

i had a really bad reel
crazy shedding
i got in touch with rmg
they kindly sent me
two reels, and told me that there
was a bad batch
i'll report back about the replacements
nice people
people who love tape

thats good, i'm glad it isn't a lost cause. did you tape come in a box that looked like it went through the wringer? because ours did.

[stellar]

jack,

was this recent?

I only got mine about 6 weeks ago.

I once had some shedding tape and in order to finish the mix I had to every few minutes clean the heads and whole path and also run the whole tape in fast forward with a piece of cloth or paper towel covering the headstack, first damp with alcohol and then in reverse with a dry one.

[themaidsroom]

ya, probably about six weeks
ago
ultra sludge like
multiple q-tips
after a half
hour........

i did kinda dig the sound
of the hi's
different from gp9
i hope the new reels are
great.
the people were
on it, responsible and groovy.


- jack

[stellar]

please report back,

maybe I ought to send mine in. I got two.

[DigitalMahem]

We've used RMG tape from the get go and there's never been any issues at all other than it being better than the original. We've used over 90 rolls of 1/2" and 200 rolls of 2" SM900. "Lord" you either have a nasty filthy tape path or you have a connection to Quantegy. That's my opinion.

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by DigitalMahem

We've used RMG tape from the get go and there's never been any issues at all other than it being better than the original. We've used over 90 rolls of 1/2" and 200 rolls of 2" SM900. "Lord" you either have a nasty filthy tape path or you have a connection to Quantegy. That's my opinion.

They could have had a slitting problem, things do happen like this once in a while,
I've seen it with the old emtec 900 and with 499 and GP9. If you start seeing gunk early on, stop and get a reel of something else and send that back. BTW anyone who sold you a reel and tells you to just check your heads constantly is an idiot. What he should have said is, I really sorry, let me get you a reel from a different run. BTW you should clean the entire tape path not just the heads, this stuff will build up in the guides, the lifters, all over.

[themaidsroom]

Originally Posted by DigitalMahem

We've used RMG tape from the get go and there's never been any issues at all other than it being better than the original. We've used over 90 rolls of 1/2" and 200 rolls of 2" SM900. "Lord" you either have a nasty filthy tape path or you have a connection to Quantegy. That's my opinion.

rmg returned my call pretty quickly to say that they let a bad batch out - the
shedding was insane - there was an issue



- jack

[RMGtechsupport]

Lord Fear, please contact me by email so we may address the shedding issue you are having. I am the technical support engineer in North America and I would like to apologize for your difficulty and try to resolve this issue.

There was a very limited number of reels of SM900 that have had shedding problems from a very early batch of production. The batches in question were recalled from dealers and replaced with new trouble free production.

[GearHunter]

Probably just a batch thing and not endemic to the brand. Early on, Ampex/Quantegy 499 was notorious for shedding and I think it was the formula. 456 was very reliable, but even IT had the occasional bad-batch of sheddy oxide.

[Dan]

How does the sound compare to GP9? What's your tape machine setup?

[cdog]

I miss tape.....





























Ok not really.

[Lord Fear]

It seems to sound nicer and fuller than GP9 i'm using it on a studer A827.

[themaidsroom]

i'm also on an A827 - i just heard some interesting clarity in the highs...



- jack

[Mike H]

FYI, I was on the phone a few minutes ago with Phil Paske, the RMG US tech support engineer (posting here as RMGtechsupport). He was very helpful. I gave him the batch number of my tape (which is printed on the reel box) and he confirmed that I don't have a problem. They have only had a problem with a few reels of SM900, 2" only, from a very early shipment to the US. If you have any concern, I highly recommend you email him.

Lord Fear, he told me he had phoned your LA studio and emailed you, trying to reach you to help with your problem. If you see this, I encourage you to email him. He seems to be a good guy.

Alas, these things do happen sometimes. I still love tape.

[Lord Fear]

I spoke with a rep from the company and they are sending over 4 new reels to replace the ones we have now, really nice people.

[Mike H]

Given RMG's great effort to deal with a very limited problem, I believe the title of this thread could use some slight modification.

Of all the current production tapes (except 499), I like 900 the best for mixdown.

I just received a reel of 499 and have yet to try it.

[url]

Just a question. What can you do with old tape that is no-longer being used or is past its use by date. Is there any way of recycling it or does it just go to land fill like everything else in this wasteful disposable society. How harmful to the environment are the chemicals used in tape once they have broken down, what about if they contribute to the toxic flow into ground water? Do manufacturers take back old tape to safely dispose of it?


"UK needs to tax throw-away culture".

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsst...9072/story.htm

[Lord Fear]

the tape itself could every much still be crappy, I'm just glad that they deal with it like pro's.

[RMGtechsupport]

I was the tech support when EMTEC was in business and I have been though all of the EMTEC/BASF plants in Germany.

When EMTEC/BASF was in business, there was a small plant in the Wilstaet plant that took old tape and recycled it. They would break down the tape to the componet materials (they would not let me in there to see without a hazmat suit) and reuse the chemicals , binders, oxides, etc. The plastics (base film) were not reused but sold as reclaimed plastics to make toys and other cheap plastic things (like the clear plastic wrapping meat in the market).

The studio tapes do not have a shelf life is stored properly. We had tapes from 1938 that had great signals on them. At the AES 2000 we were handing out CD's with the recording of the London Philharmonic performing in Munich Germany recored on BASF tape.

If you have any questions concerning analog tape, feel free to send me emails.

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by Lord Fear

the tape itself could every much still be crappy, I'm just glad that they deal with it like pro's.

I'm just suggesting that it is not crappy, but actually very good, based on my experience. I like to see us praise tape manufacturers when they deserve it, since we need them to do well.

I continue to hope we will have even more good options when ATR Magnetics finishes beta testing.

[lucey]

I wish folks would try and resolve these issues before going ballistic online. RMGI seems to be working hard to do the right thing here, and had a bad early run. No huge deal.

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

I had a bad batch of GP9 when it first rolled out into the world... lost a few days and precious track etc etc.. It was all solved with a simple phone call and it looks like the same is happening here..

Good to see the spirit of tape is still alive!

WERD
Wiggy

[stevep]

Awesome to see them making tape again !

I'm using GP9 now but i would like to try the RMG stuff




I Love TAPE








steve perkins

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by stevep

I'm using GP9 now but i would like to try the RMG stuff

If you like GP9, I suggest you get a reel of 900 and A/B them. There is a noticeable difference. I prefer the 900, but it is personal preference. Great fun A/B'ing each mix.