twelvepoint wrote:Think I asked this before, had my question answered, and then didn't follow-up, but here goes again:I have an Otari MX5050 8 track and I gave it a little attention a few years ago (new roller, power issue) but I still haven't calibrated it and rolled tape. Anyway, what's a decent tape formulation for this machine, assuming it's recording rock and roll and noise is less an issue, comparatively?Also, what MRL do I get for calibration?I recently sold mine so I no longer have the manual, but if you can find (or already have) a copy it specifies the proper MRL tape product codes to use. In a pinch I could try contacting the guy who bought mine, he seemed pretty friendly.

Does there need to be one thread? A lot of questions have been asked and discussed in past threads - seems a little silly to not take advantage of the existing wealth of information already here.i.e.NAB vs IEC thread.= Justin

twelvepoint wrote:I have an Otari MX5050 8 track and I gave it a little attention a few years ago (new roller, power issue) but I still haven't calibrated it and rolled tape. Anyway, what's a decent tape formulation for this machine, assuming it's recording rock and roll and noise is less an issue, comparatively?I had a lot of great results with Ampex and/or Quantegy 499 on my MX5050.

this may be more for my benefit than anyone else's but i figured i'd start a blanket thread for all topics analog, and the idea is that the answer is never 'get a computer', but it's not for celebrating analog or panning digital. just a good old workhorse thread with a clear focus where it's okay to ask stupid questions. like this one:should i be using IEC or NAB? i only just realized this past weekend that my MRL tape is IEC. at the very least i should be making that notation on my master tapes (they never leave my studio, or haven't yet, so they aren't being played on other tape machines). should i think about getting a NAB MRL?

Think I asked this before, had my question answered, and then didn't follow-up, but here goes again:I have an Otari MX5050 8 track and I gave it a little attention a few years ago (new roller, power issue) but I still haven't calibrated it and rolled tape. Anyway, what's a decent tape formulation for this machine, assuming it's recording rock and roll and noise is less an issue, comparatively?Also, what MRL do I get for calibration?

Thanks Kyle and Adam. I actually do have the manual, so I ll look for the MRL info there. I m sure I can contact MRL directly and they d set me up, but figured I d ask here first.

Did not end up requiring a relap but I sent my Otari heads to JRF for a head report and the service was prompt and professional.

n.c. wrote: should i be using IEC or NAB? i only just realized this past weekend that my MRL tape is IEC. at the very least i should be making that notation on my master tapes (they never leave my studio, or haven't yet, so they aren't being played on other tape machines). should i think about getting a NAB MRL? Small format multitracks like your Tascam all use CCIR EQ so you have the correct tape. NAB would be incorrect. twelvepoint wrote:I have an Otari MX5050 8 track Anyway, what's a decent tape formulation for this machine, assuming it's recording rock and roll and noise is less an issue, comparatively?Also, what MRL do I get for calibration? MRL tape: 15ips CCIR EQ and it's your choice between 355 or 500 nWb/m (or whatever else you might want). I would get 355. ATR Magnetics Tape is excellent. Don't waste your time with old or used Ampex/Quantegy n.c. wrote:anyone use jfr magnetics for getting their heads relapped? Everyone else uses them.

Yeah everyone uses JRF. However, it's worth repeating John and Cookie's praises here. Frankly, I don't know enough about tape heads to tell you if John did a good job, but I think he did. I sent him worn heads (that he assessed to have a lot of life left on them), and they came back looking brand new. What's better is that John will talk to you on the phone and will answer a lot of your dumb questions without ever getting frustrated. Maybe two years after he relapped the heads and aligned the headstack I sent him, I had a question about one of the rollers in the headstack, and he was very generous with his time over the phone and emails. Also, when you get a package from them, there's a cute cat sticker on it so that's a big plus.Even if someone else can relap your heads for less, you should still send them to JRF.

anyone use jfr magnetics for getting their heads relapped?