Mellotronists

I seem to have lost the post I want to reply to. I am
sure some one mentioned that Martin had enough tape to
last 10 years. Have EMI stopped making it? It's going
to be another 3 years before I can afford mine. How
long does a tape set usually last?

Mark

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Hi gang,

Martin used the EMI tapes because it gives 'that' sound. He told me for my Performing Musician mag review of the M4000 that when the EMItapes have all been used the 4000/5000 can be set up for more modern formulations. Maybe in the next ten years, someone can be persuaded to release a new/old tape formulation the same as EMItape. After all, the Beatles masters and multitrack recordings were on EMItape, and they haven't required baking or archiving to keep the recordings. (mind you, they are stored in a tempertaure controlled environment at Abbey Road)

As for how long an original set lasts -my first (Mk 2) Melly still had the originals in it when I bought it in the mid 80s, and they sounded fine, so allow at least 20 years life, and probbaly a lot more years that that!

Dave.

Hi Mark,

We do have a good quantity of EMI but we are getting through it at a fair rate of knots as the M4000 is hungry to feed and the demand is going to use up a lot of stock. EMI stopped making tape in the very early 80s. However, we already have a contingency plan so don't panic.

Although the M4000 will handle Quantegy and BASF formulations, M400s struggle. We've discussed this before but to clarify once again. When Chamberlins and 'Trons were developed, dull oxide tape formulations with shiny backing were the standard and suited the drive principle involved that requires the capstan to grab the oxide face of the tape with the pinchroller acting as a rotary pressure pad. Scotch and EMI were ideal to make this system work and were readily available. However, modern formulations are the complete reverse of this. They have an ultra shiny and polished oxide face that doesn't really want to be driven by a capstan and in addition, a dull backing that causes the pressure pad to act as a brake. We have tried every modern formulation with M400s and yes, they will work but the compromise in feel and adjustment is not acceptable.

Finding EMI stock has been a blessing. For a while we used BASF red and yellow back but it had it's problems in some machines. We are therefore archiving EMI tape for M400 clients and will continue to supply M4000s with this tape until the free stock runs out. We do have two other formulations being worked on and these will mimic EMI once the stock dries up.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Martin