Bulk Cassettes - Has Anyone Tried?

[Scorpion8]

So as the tape supply gets smaller and smaller, has anyone tried any of the bulk tapes such as 751 High Bias or 747 Cobalt formulations from guys like www.nationalaudiocompany.com? See page 8 of their 2008 PDF catalog here .... http://nationalaudiocompany.com/2008-catalog.pdf

Anyone interested in going in on a group buy of an assortment and trying them out?

http://nationalaudiocompany.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1683

[NAD613]

So as the tape supply gets smaller and smaller, has anyone tried any of the bulk tapes such as 751 High Bias or 747 Cobalt formulations from guys like www.nationalaudiocompany.com? See page 8 of their 2008 PDF catalog here .... http://nationalaudiocompany.com/2008-catalog.pdf

Anyone interested in going in on a group buy of an assortment and trying them out?

http://nationalaudiocompany.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1683

It is something I've considered. Here's another option if we were to go in & buy 500 cases of tapes:

http://www.globalsources.com/manufacturers/Audio-Cassette.html

Get tapes direct from the source! Of course, I'd like to hear the merchandise before I buy 500 boxes of C-90 tapes.

[RWN]

Maybe if you call them ask for a sample tape? Offer to pay shipping of course.

I should be getting a sample tape myself from Tapeline.co.uk. I bought some stuff from them via ebay and the guy sent me an email if I would like a sample type IV cassette. Turns out he had some spools of Maxell Metal tape and he can make c45 cassettes of those. Of course I said yes!

[valman13440]

Has anyone emailed them to find out what brand of cobalt tape they load into these shells?

[NAD613]

I sent an email requesting information about this cassette manufacturer:

http://xinaolin.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008802527906/pdtl/Audio-tape/1000737033/Durable-Blank-Audiocassette-Tapes.htm

[NAD613]

I did a little research & that National Audio Company apparently has some of the best cassettes around. Very good shells, well made. I think I may buy a 100 ct. carton from them.

[Scorpion8]

I did a little research & that National Audio Company apparently has some of the best cassettes around. Very good shells, well made. I think I may buy a 100 ct. carton from them.

The Cobalt, or the Chromium? If you wanna split a tray of 100 to lessen the danger first time thru, lemme know. I'm interested in the Cobalt 747-C090's.

[Web Police]

I have never tried any, but I will be interested to hear how good they are.

[NAD613]

The Cobalt, or the Chromium? If you wanna split a tray of 100 to lessen the danger first time thru, lemme know. I'm interested in the Cobalt 747-C090's.

The Cobalt. From what I've heard about them, they may be the best tape to use for my easy listening music. I may get greedy and buy 100 for myself. Why not? For $62/100 for the C-90, I think it's worth a gamble. If I buy that many, I may put 10 or 12 aside to send out as samples if anyone's interested. I'll know for sure by this weekend if I'm buying any.

[Scorpion8]

Greedy b*stard! :D Actually I was thinking much along the same lines. But I'd like someone else to try them first or share some risk ..... <hint, hint>

[todd33rpm]

Just to add some insight to this, having used the company's products at work quite often:

I like the CrO2 and Cobalt tapes from these guys. A LOT. Normal's okay, nothing to write home about (probably because we usually buy voice grade to send commercials to clients and the like, which isn't as forgiving as I suspect the music grade normal is).

The one recommendation I can specifically make is to go for clear shells whenever possible - the white shells on the normal bias, at least, have been pretty finicky in my experience. Can't attest to the black/gray ones, as I haven't used them, but I think the white just can't handle heat from a car deck all that well, or something...they feel like they're wrapped too tight and dragging. I don't recall any similar issues with the clear ones that I've used.

Also, just to make sure everyone's aware of this: when they say 90 minutes, they absolutely mean 90 minutes, a flat 45 a side. If you have an album that runs slightly long, there is zero forgiveness from the tape...I usually get the CrO2 and Cobalt at 95-minute length just to be safe, as it's always nice to have a couple of extra minutes if you need them.

[NAD613]

Just to add some insight to this, having used the company's products at work quite often:

I like the CrO2 and Cobalt tapes from these guys. A LOT. Normal's okay, nothing to write home about (probably because we usually buy voice grade to send commercials to clients and the like, which isn't as forgiving as I suspect the music grade normal is).

The one recommendation I can specifically make is to go for clear shells whenever possible - the white shells on the normal bias, at least, have been pretty finicky in my experience. Can't attest to the black/gray ones, as I haven't used them, but I think the white just can't handle heat from a car deck all that well, or something...they feel like they're wrapped too tight and dragging. I don't recall any similar issues with the clear ones that I've used.

Also, just to make sure everyone's aware of this: when they say 90 minutes, they absolutely mean 90 minutes, a flat 45 a side. If you have an album that runs slightly long, there is zero forgiveness from the tape...I usually get the CrO2 and Cobalt at 95-minute length just to be safe, as it's always nice to have a couple of extra minutes if you need them.

Thanks for the info. I think I'll be getting the black shells. The reason you pointed out might be why most of the tape companies stopped with white shells in the late 70's-early 80's & went with black, charcoal, & clear shells.

[todd33rpm]

Thanks for the info. I think I'll be getting the black shells. The reason you pointed out might be why most of the tape companies stopped with white shells in the late 70's-early 80's & went with black, charcoal, & clear shells.

That hadn't occurred to me before, but it does make perfect sense as an explanation for the major labels and the blank tape companies getting out of the white shells. (The reason I never thought of it is that it seems counter-intuitive: "Black absorbs heat, so white shells should have no problems!")

Let me know how your luck is with the black shells, I may cave in and get some myself.

[Scorpion8]

Just to add some insight to this, having used the company's products at work quite often...

Sweet! Great insight. I happen to prefer the clear shells, or the sonic black ones. More food for thought.

[Marc Hugo]

[QUOTE=todd33rpm;8300]Just to add some insight to this, having used the company's products at work quite often:

I like the CrO2 and Cobalt tapes from these guys. A LOT. Normal's okay, nothing to write home about (probably because we usually buy voice grade to send commercials to clients and the like, which isn't as forgiving as I suspect the music grade normal is).

QUOTE]


Hi Todd33

This is interesting. What tape decks are you guys using with these tapes?

Cheers- Marc

[Mr. Lin]

Thanks for that info Todd, especially about the exact time. I occasionally do try to squeeze an extra few minutes out of side, so this tip will prevent any unfortunate miscalculation on my part.

[vinyldavid]

This is great!

When the results come in, I'll look into getting some myself. Getting enough tapes to last a lifetime would be easy now....

[todd33rpm]

This is interesting. What tape decks are you guys using with these tapes?

Currently, a bottom-of-the-line (or close) component dubbing deck from Sony, which we've had for maybe 7 or 8 years now. Also a couple of portable Marantzs, circa mid-1980s if I recall rightly, and a BIC that we had in the loop up until 1999. My home decks (a late 1990s Harman Kardon and a BIC ca. late seventies) also really hate the white shells. Other radio work situations for me have used those tapes with similar results.

Have had no trouble on the clear shells on any deck. Matter of fact, I'd started out using those basically to tape stuff to leave in the car, figuring that if they didn't hold up, I'd still have the undamaged originals at home - and then came to find out that they were fairly hearty.

Thanks for that info Todd, especially about the exact time. I occasionally do try to squeeze an extra few minutes out of side, so this tip will prevent any unfortunate miscalculation on my part.

Glad to help - I found that out when I recorded an album that ran something like 45:03, and clipped off the big ending. That's when I discovered it was 45 minutes exactly, leader-to-leader, and was careful from then on to dub albums which clocked in around 44 and a half.

I will note that National Audio Company (it occurs to me that I never noted which specific company I was referring to in my post) was very good about sampling us when we wanted to try other tape types and lengths - but of course we've also worked with them as long as I've been here, and more besides. (I would not be at all surprised to find out we've been ordering from the company since its inception.) My hunch is that they'd probably be happy to sample you whenever you order - so if you got a flat of 100 CrO2 tapes, they'd probably send you a Cobalt if you expressed some curiosity/interest, and vice-versa. By the time I requested four different samples out of the blue, we'd built up a lot of good will with them by ordering at least two or three flats a year - our AM sports guy goes through three 90-minute tapes every time he does a game, let alone what gets used in airchecks, commercial dubs for clients, etc.

Also a quick reminder that the tapes do not include cases - it's just a box with the tapes in five columns, the first tape in a column with the tape side facing out, alternating with the next facing in, the next out and so on. If like me you use a tape carrier in the car that can hold the tapes without the cases, it's not a big deal...but you may want to also order cases when you order the tapes. (When I got the samples, NAC sent a padded envelope, with each tape in a pliable plastic case, like you might use to mail an audio letter or the like.)

[el34guy]

Did anyone ever try the tapes from National Audio Company? What have you guys found out?

[braxus]

I'd almost be tempted to get a box of these if I didn't have so many tapes already.

[Scorpion8]

Did anyone ever try the tapes from National Audio Company? What have you guys found out?

I don't think anybody did. I think a group of us should split a "tray" of 100 either 4-ways or so....

[Web Police]

Ok who wants a tray raise your hands, I almost ordered some

[Scorpion8]

...raise your hands ...

Which ones? Count me in if they're the Cobalt Type-II in 60, 90 or so...

[Web Police]

I could go for the black 5 screw 90 minute cobalt ones.

[Mr. Lin]

How much would a tray be?

[Web Police]

I think it is $62 for a tray of 100 tapes, I am not sure about the shipping costs though as they do not list them.

[Scorpion8]

They're in Springfield, MO.... not too far in terms of MidWest distances if you coordinate centrally. Then divy up the tray and charge each participant 1/xth plus shipping.

[el34guy]

Whats the difference between the Cobalt and Chrome? The chrome sounds more dynamic? Sounds like a good deal though..

Mark

[el34guy]

ok,

Im in Iowa not too far away. Shipping is about 15 bucks for a tray. Im considering the chrome, but wouldnt mind getting some cobalt ones too. If folks are interested in either type drop me a line. Maybe we can order a tray of each and divide them out. I would do one tray for sure. My email is

EL34GUYataol.com replace the at with the @ of course.

Mark