Good Reel-To Reel Blank RecordingTape

@mitch4t ,  ATR Magnetics is the sole US manufacturer of recording tape. They even have cassettes.

In my first job at a HiFi store in 1973, the demo material was all recorded on a Pioneer RtR machine from a Dual 1229 with an Audio Technica AT15 (nude Shibata) using a Mac C28 preamp.  Playback through MC2105 into our favorite speakers…ESS AMT-1 Towers. Carly Simon No Secrets, There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, Loggins and Messina Full Sail…early Telarc classical, and for the owner, some Frank Sinatra.  All sounded really good to me.  Store wired with 14 ga. Brown PVC zip cord.  Noel Lee made the scene next year!

I have a large cabinet of reel recordings of lp's. No reason to roll any of them except the 4 channel ones.

RMG SM911, RMG SM456 are good new production tapes.

Otherwise NOS, at relatively high prices, like Maxell UDXLI, UD, TDK Audua, Sony FeCr, Basf SM911, Agfa 456, Scotch 206, 207, 226, 227. All of them are high output, low noise, and do not show sticky problems, if stored with care.

Better check also your R2R and welcome to an expensive format.

teo_audio

Thanks for the info, I'll check it out.

I'm only interested in brand new tapes...I don't need the risks associated witn new old stock tapes.

cleeds

I have ripped all 1500 of my cds to a hard drive and put my cd's in storage.  I have subscriptions to Qobuz, Amazon Music Unlimited HD, Pandora and Napster.  I have just installed Roon to my streaming rig, and I'm thrilled with it.  At 70 years of age, convenience is paramount, of course without sacrificing excellent sound quality.

I have maybe a few hundred or so LP's that were never released on cd or in any digital format.  A lot of those albums have only one song on the album that's listenable.  I'm not going through the trouble of retrieving and playing those LP's for one song.  I'm going to make a playlist of those LP cuts and record them to RTR.  Besides, I love the sound of open reel recordings made from LP's.  If you've ever heard an LP recorded to open reel, you'd know what I mean.

Oh, and one other thing, I own a black Teac X-2000R open reel deck, and it is beautiful.  I get to enjoy a beautiful audio sculpture while I listen to great music.

Of course, I will still play my LP's periodically, I have over 3,000 of them, but for convenience purposes, if I have that recording on my hard drive or on Qobuz, I'll probably listen to it there rather than play the LP.  Streaming music is now the overwhelming way I now listen to music.  That being said, I will never give up my analog rig...EVER!!

You say why "elliottbenewcombjr" ? Here's my take on R2R tape. 

Lyn Stanley; London With A Twist - Live At Bernie’s. As close to live music I have ever heard, albeit at a high price ($750 per tape). The music is wonderful and the recording, quite simply the best I have ever heard! Everyone who has heard this tape simply say, "Wow, like listening to live music". I can recommend other R2R tape recordings that are just as good. For example, The Tape Project  Little Hatch, Analog Productions Ultra Tape Muddy Waters Folk Singer etc. Why do you think a lot of high end manufacturers demonstrate equipment using R2R tape?

OP

I always encourage you and others to get into or back into R2R. Even though it is my lowest S/N format, some tape hiss: I and all my friends pick LP over CD and R2R over LP. My Pre-Recorded Tapes are my best source.

"I’m going to make recording of all of my vinyl that didn’t get released on cd or any other digital format."

I have to ask why?

I sold some, still have around 350 pre-recorded tapes, my best source. 60 years old, still sound terrific. Tapes made from tape masters (or copies of masters).

I have some R2Rs I bought that others recorded from their own or borrowed LPs. They are fun, but definitely a notch down from factory pre-recorded.

I have a few 10.5" reels that others made, a mixed bag. For me, it's too much work indexing to find a particular album/song, and you have to stand at the machine to find ___? I stick with 7" reels.

Your deck has to be in terrific shape/maintained to move/stop the weight of the larger reels full of tape.

I have a half dozen I recorded off FM live broadcasts, they sound better than the LP to tape copies and are otherwise unavailable. I wish I had done more of them.

as for cost, you could probably find very good condition replacement/backup LPs, buy them for less than what you will spend for tapes.

Also, putting wear on the heads to initially record, and subsequently play 'ok sounding' tapes made from LPs will have you looking to have the heads re-conditioned.

Speed: perhaps you will be using 15 IPS. You will double the amount of tape needed, and if copies from LP's, how much difference will the higher speed make? I don't know,  I stick with 7-1/2 IPS.

I certainly don't mean to be a downer, just my thoughts on your project.

Try  this company:

https://www.splicit.com/Default.asp

You have a few choices for new production blank recording tape, including ATR Magnetics and Recording the Masters.

What do you hope to gain by recording LP to tape?

New Old Stock.

Pays yer money, takes yer chances.

IIRC, there is maybe one new tape out there? Pricey as all get out, though.

There are places to get NOS and used tapes.

I have about 16 or so smaller 7" reels sealed and about 25-40 used scotch tapes sitting aside. maybe 8x 10.5" reels, various types. we collect what we can get or grab, is the deal.

Here’s two places, maybe some info on specifics, at each...