Date:         Mon, 14 Aug 2006 12:47:12 -0400
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         David Lennick <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: To bake or not to bake?
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Lou Judson wrote:

> With my small scale tape transfers, when I get radio airchecks (from a
> small nonprofit I used to work for) I always bake them before even
> trying them (just the other day I had one the had unbranded Shamrock
> junk spliced to Scotch 176, so I would have needed to bake half the
> reel), but now I have a few reels and woudl rahter not bake if not
> needed, as they are record label masters.
>
> Ampex 456 from 1988
> Scotch 206 and 207 from mid 70s
> Scotch 226 mid 80s
>
> What say the experts?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lou

456 from 1988 MAY be in the "good" period..anyone know for sure? I'd heard that
1968 to 1982 was the bad time for back-coated Ampex, but now I've had reels
from the late 80s that feel sticky (my method is to thread a reel outside the
head assembly, hold up one tension bar and fast forward the tape between my
fingers..answer provided almost immediately).

Scotch 226 from any period should probably be baked, and I've never had a
problem with 206 or 207.

dl