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What's up with the analog "echo" phenomenon?

I was recently listening to an Analogue Productions LP record: "The Intimate Art Pepper". I couldn't help but notice--particularly on the solo horn cuts--an anoying echo-type of phenomenon. Actually, it is more like a reverse echo with the quieter "decay" sound proceding the loud actual intended sound by about a half second. I hope this makes some sense. Actually, I've noticed this for years on other analog recordings. It is very noticable during very quiet passages just before a loud passage. I didn't expect to hear this on a supposed "audiophile" pressing.

Is this phenomenon a necessary evil in the analogue tape medium?
mstram

Showing 1 response by bob_bundus

bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
Please elaborate on print-through?
I always knew you should store your tapes "tails out" but only after being played? In other words if you fast wind, you're still storing tails out, but the tape is not packed the same way as if it was just played. Does that matter? Seems to me that whether stored rewound or forwarded would still exhibit this problem. Yet a played-back reel is packed even tighter isn't it? So how does that prevent print-through?
I know this is true because I have some tapes that are degraded while others aren't. What's up with that?
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