FAQs

  • RTM & our partners have built a worldwide network of dealers that provide technical services and advice. Dealers might only sell part of the product range we manufacture. We recommend that you contact a dealer near you, to limit shipping costs and for environmental purposes. Here is the list of dealers, ordered by country: https://www.recordingthemasters.com/dealers

    In the case that your dealer isn’t able to supply the tape you are looking for or if they don’t have the requested product in stock, you also have the option to buy on our online store: https://www.recordingthemasters.com/shop-categories

  • The appropriate reel diameter depends on your machine. The most common reels are 10.5’’ (26.5cm) diameter (for example: All Studers , Revox B77, Revox A77, etc) ; for smaller machines (for example: Nagra III, Akai 4000DS, TEAC A2340SX, Pioneer RT707…) we can also provide 7’’ (18cm) & 5’’ (13cm) tapes. 12’’ (30cm) reels can only fit specific professional machines.

    5’’ & 7’’ are only supplied in plastic reels (Trident hub); whereas 10.5’’ reels come in plastic reels (trident reel pattern), metal reels (NAB hub) or in the pancake version (no reel, NAB hub).

  • Common recording speeds are 3.75, 7.5, 15 and 30 inches per second (ips). 30ips are only used on certain professional machines.

    The higher the speed, the better the stability of high frequencies and sound quality ; however recording time will be reduced. For home use, the best compromise (speed/quality) would be 7.5ips.

  • Tape recorder calibration is a key process to make sure your machine is set to the tape formula (SM900, SM911, LPR90, LPR35) you choose. Please have a look at our dedicated section: “How to calibrate my machine”

  • In every technical datasheet (https://www.recordingthemasters.com/audiotapes) , you can find the recommended bias setting according to the tape formula you chose. Please check Section 2. Measurement conditions : ΔS10 sensitivity drop recommended bias setting.

    The recommended bias is set while recording an input signal of 10kHz at–20dB. Based on the peak of the sensitivity curve S10, the bias should be increased until the playback level is reduced by the given value ΔS10.

  • RTM owns the original formulas created by AGFA & BASF which have proved their high quality in the audio professional recording field for several decades. Product range has changed along years but the premium magnetic formulas have remained and are still manufactured : SM900 ; SM911 ; LPR35 ; LPR90.

    Our tapes are compatible with all machines and provide equivalent operating levels to traditional brands as BASF, EMTEC, RMGI, AMPEX, QUANTEGY and more to fit every usage and sound taste.

    Below is a non-exhaustive operating level compatibility chart :

    Chart

  • Calibration tapes are key to monitor your recorder and adapt its settings to the tape formula you choose.

    Here is a list of the calibration tapes producers we know :

    Magnetic Reference Laboratory (USA): https://www.mrltapes.com/

    Nagravox (Australia): https://nagravox.com/

    Test Tape (Europe): https://www.test-tape.com/

    Please refer then to our dedicated section (“How to calibrate my machine”), making sure you follow the manufacturer’s calibration tapes instructions.

  • Thanks to our partners, we’ve built an area on our website dedicated to tape recorder repairers & manufacturers. This list is organized per country, please have a look at it and feel free to contact them: https://www.recordingthemasters.com/reel-to-reel-machine-refurbishers-manufacturers