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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!mcnc!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!houxm!hogpc!houti!ariel!vax135!floyd!saf
From: saf@floyd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Home studio
Message-ID: <2059@floyd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Apr-84 08:42:02 EST
Article-I.D.: floyd.2059
Posted: Wed Apr  4 08:42:02 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 6-Apr-84 01:03:55 EST
References: <2938@fortune.UUCP> <3195@brl-vgr.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Whippany NJ
Lines: 24

While it is true that "unadorned" reel to reel has better S/N than cassette,
currently ALL cassette units intended for serious use include some sort
of noise reduction.  As an example, the TASCAM 34 reel to reel is
good for about 68db (rel +13 vu) while the TASCAM 244 cassette claims about
92db using dbx (note that this figure is for the tape section only; the
internal mixing electronics don't come close to 92db - thus much of the
advantage is actually lost).

Of course adding a dbx to the reel to reel will cause it to outperform
the cassette - but dbx is included in the price of the cassette while it
is an add-on for the reel to reel.

Don't get me wrong - I dislike cassettes for home studio type work.  I
had one and it was nothing but grief both from a flexibility and
implementation standpoint.  Also, I perceived inaccuracies in the
handling of dynamics with the dbx.  (TASCAM in fact warns about this and
advises the user to keep levels at around -7vu rather than 0vu to "help" the
dbx since 0vu is the dbx pivot point.)  So, personally, I prefer the vanilla
reel to reel.  It's S/N is plenty given you don't want to overdub too many
times on one track.  There are good reasons for not doing that anyway -
like inability to correct early mixdown imbalances.  And balance always
seems to change later in the mix!

	Steve Falco