I always thought the cassette was a miracle of analog miniaturization. For it's size and speed, getting a sound approaching high fidelity was revolutionary. I always had read after write decks and A - B ing the recording and the input on a properly aligned deck yielded a very close comparison.
As far as Dolby B or C was concerned, C was certainly quieter but unlike B, listening to an undecoded C tape was intolerable; an undecoded B tape just sounded a bit brighter. If NR is not indicated on the package, I find it's often difficult to tell if it's Dolby B or not. Once again I'm talking about the situation in the '70s, not working with old tapes now.
db
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> On Aug 15, 2015, at 4:56 PM, John Haley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Thanks, Lou, but my first exposure to cassettes was when they burst on the
> scene back in the mid-1960's. I lived thru each development thereafter
> until they were finally put to bed by digital recording. In retrospect, I
> can't think of any technology over which so much effort has been expended,
> that was so unworthy of the effort. I have dubbed a bunch of cassettes
> lately (in the last year), for the rare live performances captured on them,
> but I can't say I enjoyed doing it. Big PITA, and like a lot of things,
> they sure don't improve with age.
>
> Back in the day, I had decks with Dolby C on them, and I used it some. I
> didn't have your experience, but honestly, the difference between B and C
> was minimal. If it was an improvement, it was a small one, but of course
> it was big as a marketing gimmick.
>
> Do you remember how nasty the metal tapes could sound? You got a better
> high end, but often at the cost of harsher, nastier sound. I can still
> recognize the sound of a metal tape today.
>
> Best, John
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> On Sat, Aug 15, 2015 at 2:07 PM, Lou Judson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> Me too, John. However, I have never heard Dolby C play back nicely, even
>> when they were brand new on the same deck! After about a dozen tries, I
>> abandoned it completely back in the day… the day when cassettes were my
>> main recording medium… ya know? Maybe you don’t.
>>
>> <L>
>> Lou Judson
>> Intuitive Audio
>> 415-883-2689
>>
>>> On Aug 15, 2015, at 10:28 AM, John Haley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Having lived thru "the cassette era" and having messed with zillions of
>>> them (and I couldn't agree more with you, Tom, about cassettes in
>> general,
>>> as a format for music), the practical difference between Dolby B and
>> Dolby
>>> C is very little. Dolby C has slighter "truer" upper end, but if you
>> have
>>> to, you can often decode a Dolby C cassette with Dolby B, adjust the
>> upper
>>> end a little and come out OK. B and C are "somewhat compatible."
>>
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