Pre-recorded tapes use what setting?

[jleon92f]

Hi,

I am trying to figure out what setting to use for pre-recorded tapes that you buy or find at GW or Salvation Army stores?The tapes have no info on them to what kind they are.

The CT-F850 and most tape decks have the 4 settings, Metal,STD,CrO2,FeCr.

I was using STD for them, is this correct?

John.:music:

[Celt]

99.9% of them will be STD (Standard/Normal Bias) 120uS Eq playback.
You'll occasionally run into some Cr02 (Chrome/High Bias) tapes for 70uS playback.

[OscarEmmy]

99.9% of them will be STD (Standard/Normal Bias) 120uS Eq playback.
You'll occasionally run into some Cr02 (Chrome/High Bias) tapes for 70uS playback.

That's true. Many Chrome recordings have the advice printed on the sleeve that you should play back at Normal (Type I) setting. With some recordings, they can be a bit brassy, in which case I'd try Type II setting. It's probably just a matter of switching settings during playback to see which you prefer. As a rule, I assume Type I for pre-recordeds.

[jleon92f]

99.9% of them will be STD (Standard/Normal Bias) 120uS Eq playback.
You'll occasionally run into some Cr02 (Chrome/High Bias) tapes for 70uS playback.

Thank you,

I always thought for some reason they were Fe-Cr? Great to know now.
Thanks,
John.:music:

[Celt]

The two companies that I remember using Cr02 tape on a regular basis was A&M Records and Mobile-Fidelity. Both used BASF Chrome tape, A&M suggested Type I/120uS playback (for better highs) and Mo-Fi suggested using Type II/70uS playback. Mo-Fi manufactured their tapes at "real time" or no more than 2x, which provided better fidelity. But their cassettes are fairly rare.

[r_brumett61]

Hi,
Also look for the Dolby symbol-good luck