RMGI SM468 reel tape

[OscarEmmy]

I want to start buying some new 1/4" reel tape to use with my Sony 756. I mainly record 1970's rock from vinyl, but also some Bach and Baroque classical from vinyl.

I have read that RMGI SM468 is a good tape that offers exceptional stability in terms of retaining the recorded sound without the rapid deterioration found on many other tapes, hence its use as an archive tape; this loss of sound quality is an issue I have noted with the used tapes I own, including Maxell UB. A very nice initial recording sounds great when first played back, but seems to lose top end clarity over a few days. Of course I keep my heads and rollers very clean and routinely demag.

US Recording Media offers RMGI's SM468 in 2400ft reel pancakes for $27.75 + P&P, and I can't afford to make expensive errors here, so my questions are:

Has anyone here tried the SM468 on a domestic machine of similar performance to the Sony 756?
If you have, what is your opinion of the tape's performance?
Are there other tapes that you think might do the job just as well or better, whether for more or less money?
The Sony does not have a 'high bias/EQ' setting, but normal and 'special' - what does this mean in terms of buying suitable tape...is the SM468 wasted without the later 'Type II' settings?

http://usrecordingmedia-store.stores.yahoo.net/rmsm1x25onna.html

[goldear]

I want to start buying some new 1/4" reel tape to use with my Sony 756. I mainly record 1970's rock from vinyl, but also some Bach and Baroque classical from vinyl.

I have read that RMGI SM468 is a good tape that offers exceptional stability in terms of retaining the recorded sound without the rapid deterioration found on many other tapes, hence its use as an archive tape; this loss of sound quality is an issue I have noted with the used tapes I own, including Maxell UB. A very nice initial recording sounds great when first played back, but seems to lose top end clarity over a few days. Of course I keep my heads and rollers very clean and routinely demag.

US Recording Media offers RMGI's SM468 in 2400ft reel pancakes for $27.75 + P&P, and I can't afford to make expensive errors here, so my questions are:

Has anyone here tried the SM468 on a domestic machine of similar performance to the Sony 756?
If you have, what is your opinion of the tape's performance?
Are there other tapes that you think might do the job just as well or better, whether for more or less money?
The Sony does not have a 'high bias/EQ' setting, but normal and 'special' - what does this mean in terms of buying suitable tape...is the SM468 wasted without the later 'Type II' settings?

http://usrecordingmedia-store.stores.yahoo.net/rmsm1x25onna.html
FYI - So called "High bias" in the reel to reel world does NOT equal type II tape. So called High-bias open reel tape (like Maxel UD, or XL1) would still be considered type I tape in the casette world (ie Maxel UD, or XL1). The "normal" stuff was truly prehistoric tape like Scotch 150, which if it was ever produced for a cassette, would have required setting your fine bias knob at about 7 O'clock to be low enough for that tape.

The bias/record EQ switches on your Sony are more much more akin to a fine-bias knob on a good cassette deck. You probably will want it on the special setting. But I would experiment with all 4 possible bias/eq combintations to find the setting that sounds flattest for 468.

[OscarEmmy]

Thanks Goldear. Have you tried the SM468? If so, what are your thoughts on it compared with alternative modern tapes?

[Brian]

Why not set the machine for the tape. Take the tape and machine to a tech and he can optimize. One reason why a number of early tape lovers' systems had a dedicated record and a separate playback deck. The playback deck was set to accommodate a broader range of tape formulations where the dedicated record deck was set to record and play a specific formula.

[goldear]

Why not set the machine for the tape. Take the tape and machine to a tech and he can optimize. One reason why a number of early tape lovers' systems had a dedicated record and a separate playback deck. The playback deck was set to accommodate a broader range of tape formulations where the dedicated record deck was set to record and play a specific formula.
Calibrating the machine is certainly the best way to go. But many people won't bother. And if you record on more than one type of tape, these selectors can be extremely convenient.

But there really isn't any need for a separate playback machine, as all machines that conform to the NAB EQ standard have the same playback EQ. Just to be clear: The sony features adjustable RECORD eq. settings. Playback EQ is consistent with NAB standards for the speeds.