15 ips... 30 ips

[wilcofan]

Hey all,

I got the Tascam ATR-60 1/2" back in action mastering another record this weekend. If you saw the other thread about the HEDD, you'll know I had this Tascam repaired this week.

I saw the test tones on the repair table and this machine is reproducing well right through 20k. We only tested 30 ips, however.

So I'm about to commit some mixes to tape and I flipped to 15 ips for a listen and I got a strange effect. Normally I expect less air and more "bow" in the bass when I go to the slower speed. I also expect less transient clarity.

Right now I'm getting less transient clarity but the EQ seems a little wonky. It seems brighter and thinner at 15 ips.

I flip back to 30 ips and indeed the transients come back but the air is duller but the mix is still full in the low end. I do like the overall effect of clear transients and EQ to make the program feel right.

I know the way to go is whatever sounds good but any ideas why the 15 ips could sound brighter? Is it a different electronic circuit?

Thanks,
Bobby

[brianroth]

Maybe the bias setting isn't optimized for 15 Ips.

Bri

[Larrchild]

or IEC eq @ 15 ips

[peeceebee]

Yeah, it's not aligned right-
As said above, could be bias, eq curve, eq settings, repro OR record, etc.
You have to go through the full alignment to find the specific problem, all settings interact-

[lucey]

you need to align for both speeds ... beginning with record bias, then repro eq from MRL, then record eq, then tweak to taste. thumbsup

[JTR]

I would add that you should probably have the head alignment confirmed;
if that's out, everything else will be too.

[wilcofan]

Thanks guys, before I got the machine fixed I never once picked 15ips over 30ips on program anyways. Since the tech worked at 30ips and it sounds good I'm not gonna worry about 15ips for now.

Bobby