Mixdown Shootout - Metal Cassettes vs 1/4" Reel 2 Reel 

Thanks for having a listen, and I know what mean about the cassette.

Thanks for letting us know what you think! 👍 Yes, there’seems to be an issue with the reel to reel unfortunately.

@@wehappyfewmusic I thought so. Sounds muffled too. But the cassette is really impressive. Very good quality.

@@rocknreplay thanks yes the cassette tapes high end response surprised me too. I’m about to borrow a fully serviced Sony reel to reel so will hopefully get better results from that.

@@rocknreplay thanks! 👍

Hi thanks for having a listen and you’re definitely right about the reel to reel. It had just been fixed but it didn’t get calibrated for the right tape, so will need to take it back to get sorted. Good idea about comparing the recording quality of the classic TDK tapes, I’ll look into that!

@@wehappyfewmusic The black tape on the sony tc are no good i have found the brown tape to be way better on the sony tc maybe the black tape was after the tc was designed to play the brown tape. i have a 60's r2r and a sony tc 366 and a 4 track cassette tape recorder the sony tc 366 blows them all away with the brown tape the black tape just dont work right. I would have drop outs in one channel when recording stereo but with old brown tape playe and sounds perfect. Also our cassette multitracks record at CM a second when the r2r records at inches per second so no way the cassette sounds better The metal cassette tapes throw away the bass for high frequences i prefer type 2 for tape cassette muilti tracks. great video thanks made me realise not to waist money on metal tapes spend it on new r2r tape

Many thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. You’ve got a classic tape deck there with the Tascam 122 and should get great results! 👌

Thanks for having a listen Peter! Yes both the R2R and cassette could be improved with some careful eq, I had to try really hard to resist tweaking them before posting. I was surprised too with the amount of high end on the metal tape too, although as you say it’s kinda harsh. Great to hear you like the song though and I’m planning to try to get hold of a Hi Fi vcr soon to see how they sound.

Many thanks! You can get some great results from VCR’s.

Yes it does seem that way.

Excellent points, yes the convenience, lower cost and popularity of the cassette made for some clever technological advances in a relatively short period. As you say though a good reel to reel is going to have more headroom and depth.

Thanks for having a listen and taking the time to leave a comment! Yes a revox would be a more capable r2r machine, I’m hoping to get one at some point soon (preferably a 15ips model 🤞🏻). I’d love a studer but out of my budget sadly. 😅💰Good idea about using a micro cassette recorders for character, I’d like to give that a go! I’m currently working on a video comparing hifi vhs with cassette tapes and the results are quite surprising!

@@wehappyfewmusic haha also way too expensive for me with a Studer. Aarh yeah, this other RU-vid guy did a comparison between VHS, Computer and Reel-to-Reel (Some Revox or Teac I think 🤔). The Reel-to-reel sounded best, and the VHS sounded better than computer. I'm foreseeing that a Hifi cassette recorder recording to type 2 will sound better than VHS. He also did a comparison between type 1, 2 and 4 tapes, and type 2 was definetly the best, type 1 next and type 4 garbage imo. Too much high end and too little low end. But he used Portastudio and they're specifically set up for type 2. So who knows, but most recorders I've had my hands on have the option to change between types.

@@nym053 yes I think that video might of been by made on tape? Those metal tapes are super expensive now too, so a bonus that type 2 sound better! 😄

@@wehappyfewmusic aarh yes 'Made On Tape'! Forgot the channel name 😅 Yeah he mentioned that as well about the high prices. Makes no sense haha.

congratulations your tone deaf type 1 or a micro cassette hahahaha

Yes it’d just been serviced but the reel to reel is still not quite right.

@@wehappyfewmusic right channel OK, left not right at all. I wonder if there are some knackered caps on the board. The technics cassette absolutely smashed it. To 20khz and no doubt!

@@Waffledogchat I think you might be right and it needs recapping or recalibrating. Not sure it’s worth throwing extra money at it but at least it looks cool in the studio 🤣. Yes the technics smashed it with the high end response!

is it just me or is channel L and R sounding totally different on the tc 77?

@@travisraab yes the two channels sound like different machines. I’ve only heard this tc377 but that can’t be right, and I’ve just had it serviced. The joys of old gear 😅

@@wehappyfewmusic i'm so confused. as a matter of fact, someone just hit me up and offered me servicing for my machines. i asked him 'what is servicing?'. cause i'm not understanding

@@travisraab I’m no expert but I think It involves getting the machines transport working correctly; basically getting it to run tape at the correct, speed, tension and handle the tape without damaging it, re capping circuits, cleaning, replacing belts etc. I don’t think mine got re calibrated for new tape though. If your guy is offering a free service I’d defo jump at it! Costs a fortune otherwise.

​@@wehappyfewmusic ok. what i mean is - who cares about all that if they didn't make both channels sound the same?

Hi thanks for checking it out and I know what you mean.

Yes the Sony seems to have a problem with the left channel. I’ve got a Sony TC-399 now which works much better. Hopefully I’ll get a 2 track Tascam at some point. 🤞🏻

Hey thanks for listening and sharing your thoughts. Yes I think the Sony has Issues 😊

Thanks for checking out the video and sharing your thoughts!

A fair point, I think you’re right. 👍

Thanks for checking it out and sharing your thoughts!

Always nice to meet a fellow 688 user! Know what you mean about the metal tapes (although this is the first I’ve tried). Which Dolby S deck are you using?

@@wehappyfewmusic Pioneer CT-W604RS Dolby S does not screw up the audio, like, DBX or Dolby C does, and the only noise you hear is actually from the 688, and not the Pioneer!

@@dannydaniel1234 that’s good to know, I’ve never tried Dolby S so I may try and find a machine with it on (and as you mention Dolby C doesn’t sound that great)

@@wehappyfewmusic No, it doesn't, and actually sounds worse than DBX.

Hey Danny, I just got a Tascam Porta 02 and I'm trying to get a real nice analog, lofi, warm sound with character. I'd had some nice Maxell metal tapes on hand which sound good, but as you mention, a bit hi-fi for what I'm after. I don't understand a lot of the lingo in this world, but should I just get a lower quality tape to get that sound? I don't know what dolby S is or an apex aural exciter.. are these things neccessary? I just want a lofi sound, so a little background noise/hiss is fine. I don't need a lot of top end as I want a warmer sound

Yeah tape compression is a great thing!

Wow, you have used a lot of tape gear! I used to have a Tascam 238 and would be keen to get another at some point. That’s interesting about the akai 4000ds, they seem to come up quite often and are often quite cheap.

👍

It’s not the best interface but it’s pretty neutral.