Pre-recorded cassettes

[graffias79]

I have always wondered, what would the results be if one were to record over a commercially pre-recorded cassette? I would assume they would be type I tapes? How about A&M cassettes? All of the ones that I have say Chrome and CrO2. Would they be type II? They don't have the notches knocked out for Type II sensing decks. (of course they were never meant to be recorded over either)

Would it even be worth it? Of course the tape would have to be a common one, not something hard to find, rare or even good.

[Marc Hugo]

Hi Graffias,

It would pose no problem at all. The only thing about pre-recorded tapes is that the tapes themselves were recorded on high-speed bin-loop duplicators. Bias is extrememly high - many hundreds of Khz. But that doesn't make any difference to you or me who need to recycle the media itself. Just put some sticky tape over the record protection lubs (on both sides), if they have been removed, and go ahead!! I have done this - on CrO2 cassettes and they turned out very well indeed. The question is whether one needs to do this at this stage yet. Cosmetically, the cassette often is printed with artist information etc.

Cheers - Marc

[graffias79]

Ok, I was just wondering for the sake of knowledge. I don't have any pre recorded cassettes that I would be willing to erase anyway. I wonder if the tape formulations in pre recorded ones are superior to blanks in any way, or if it is the same stuff from the same manufacturers.

Another thing I was wondering about; now you will all think I have really gone off the deep end! If I were to wind the contents of an 8-track onto a 7" reel using my Roberts 770x deck, could I erase and record over that? I wonder what it would sound like.. Probably 2 mixed songs.

[Acoustic]

Another thing I was wondering about; now you will all think I have really gone off the deep end! If I were to wind the contents of an 8-track onto a 7" reel using my Roberts 770x deck, could I erase and record over that? I wonder what it would sound like.. Probably 2 mixed songs.

Now that sounds like a practical job for a bulk eraser if I ever heard one. One question... how many feet of tape are in an average 8-track? I never thought it was that much.... maybe around 200' at most(quick head calculation)?

[Marc Hugo]

Hi Gaffias!! Whatever you're smoking, it would be only fair to share it!! LOLs . On the cassettes, they would be pretty much the same that you would get in basic Maxell and TDK formulations. Think of the average pre-recorded tape depending on its age to be roughly parallel to the basic type of formalae that were around at the time (in the shape of Maxell UR, Sony HF and TDK D). That would the as good as they went - they would buy it in pancake form and load at the duplication plant. CrO2 that were used later on were usually BASF, roughly equivalent to BASF CEII. The mechanism were almost never as good as the "mother" tape types though.

Cheers - Marc

[graffias79]

Hey maybe I will try it if I come across an 8 track that is not good. They have a lot of them at goodwill here. I will see if I can record it and post the results. Maybe after I record on it, i will do an A-B with my Maxell UD reel for control. It will be after the first of september when I move though.

Ok it doesn't take much to push me over the deep end LOL

[Mr. Lin]

I've recorded over pre-recorded tapes in the past, a long time ago. Sure it works, but there's not really a point these days as there are plenty of good blanks available. Anyway, I know you've said you're just curious.

[todd33rpm]

I have always wondered, what would the results be if one were to record over a commercially pre-recorded cassette? I would assume they would be type I tapes? How about A&M cassettes? All of the ones that I have say Chrome and CrO2. Would they be type II? They don't have the notches knocked out for Type II sensing decks. (of course they were never meant to be recorded over either)


I routinely buy inexpensive prerecorded CrO2 tapes at the thrift store for just this reason, actually, and it saves my best stock for more archival concerns instead of just everyday playing in the car. For example, in this area, there were apparently a LOT of people who got rid of Extreme's III Sides to Every Story on cassette, and it was over 80 minutes long (the tape had a song that the CD did not).

The trick is that you'll need to manually set your tape deck to record it as "true" CrO2, i.e, 70 microseconds EQ. Most record labels, including A&M, recorded them with 120 microseconds EQ to take advantage of extra treble response, which is why the sensing tabs aren't there. If your deck uses sensing only and can't flip between types, you'd have to reload the stock into a case capable of recording it correctly. (Yes, it is somewhat self-defeating, unless like me you have access to a slew of spare parts for just such a purpose...working at radio stations has helped, as stuff's always getting eaten, manhandled, etc.)

In my experience, you can get similar results to what A&M did (the legitimately boosted treble) by having a deck with switchable equalization AND a tape-type switch. My old Nakamichi, bless it, had that option.

Normal bias prerecorded tapes can vary wildly, and quite often aren't worth the effort, unless you know that Columbia used a good Sony bin stock after a certain year, or the like. In other words, prior to, say, 1985, I wouldn't bother. I believe the Warner Communications tapes that had the Digalog logo (ca. 1991) had a somewhat better grade of tape, so I've occasionally used those if I can get them cheap. (I define cheap as less than a dollar for normal bias, at a dollar for CrO2.)

[graffias79]

Hmm I do believe my new/old JVC KD-55 has such option switches. I may have to find some chrome tape at goodwill to kill an afternoon with! *devil*

[Web Police]

Way back I used to crack open damaged prerecorded tapes and replace the tape with a decent quality type of tape and then re-record the tape from an album.

[Rodders]

I have been dabbling in using cheap type II tapes picked up in thrift shops. Being the last of the big spenders 20/25 cent each is the going rate. Only pre recorded classical cassettes bought at this time. Working on the principle that they would not have been played much and are usually in good cosmetic condition. Both my Akai decks has auto tape type sensing so I am playing with cutting the required notches in the cassette spine. So far I have just drilled holes in the required spots (tape taken out first) clean out all the bits and reassemble cassette. The mechanics of the process worked OK so I am now looking to produce the notches more easily. The current idea is to make a custom tip to fit an electric soldering iron and regulate the temp' to enable melting the plastic enough to be able to press the case in to form the notches without dismantling the cassette and hopefully not creating a hole to let in dirt etc'. Getting the heat just right is the tricky bit. As I have quite a few new tapes it's not an urgent process.
Rod.

[todd33rpm]

Hmm I do believe my new/old JVC KD-55 has such option switches. I may have to find some chrome tape at goodwill to kill an afternoon with! *devil*

It's very rewarding...the BASF stock was fairly good in those old A&M tapes especially, in my experience. And that treble boost from recording it as chrome, but with 120 microsecond EQ, is really handy in the car, especially if you don't want to fool with Dolby.

Matter of fact, a lot of "white label" promo-only cassettes I used to get in the late 1980s/early 1990s were recorded the same way (sans Dolby), and they sounded quite good.

Web Police, same here. Worked better with five-screw cases, of course, but it was nice to go back, add better pressure pads and tape stock, and amaze people with the final product. Home-brewed is pretty much always better than ultra high-speed dubbed stock product in my book.