RTM Industry News - August 2024
Tape Op give’s fantastic review of RTM Tape
John Baccigaluppi, publisher at Tape Op has written a fantastic review of SM900.
“I was favorably impressed by both the packaging of the tape and the sturdy metal reels that held it. The tape itself felt solid, not thin or flimsy.”
“I was impressed with the sound of the SM900. It does everything I want tape to do by imparting a bit of subtle compression, packaging the bottom end nicely, and adding some light coloration and glue to the mix. Moreover, it didn’t have any technical issues.”
The upcoming film SNL1975’s team choose SM900
Written by Chief tape technician, Mark Rucci:
On the recording and tech side, The SNL 1975 project was a collaborative effort with William Garrett (co-producer & engineer), Carl Bespolka (engineer), and our fantastic Power Station staff of Brett Mayer (Chief Tech), Matthew Soares (1st Assistant Engineer), Beth Scott (2nd Assistant Engineer), and myself as the Tape Tech. We had a little less than a week to figure out the tech requirements for everything. Jon was set on trying to stay authentic to a mid-70s sound, being in a studio from the 70s, using as many microphones, preamps, and outboard gear from the 70s, and of course, recording the whole thing to tape. When I was brought into the discussions as the house tape tech, I pushed to use RTM. RTM is consistent in sound and quality. I can rely on it for an all-day session like this. I know that it won't shed on me and will sound the same from one reel to the next. We opted for SM900 since we weren't sure if we would use our Studer A800sat +6/185 or our A827 going for +9/185. We knew that we wanted to hit the tape hard - another reason why we went with RTM, it can handle the high level, and still have a beautiful saturation. In the end, we went with a +6/185 on the 827, but we still hit that tape hard. We wanted to give Jon as much time as possible to record, so we landed on 15ips, NAB, all tapes leadered and prepped before the session, so we had just about 34 minutes of recording time on each reel, and Jon used it all! We had 12 reels prepped (in case we wanted to go for 30ips), and Jon went through 8 of them. We set up a camera so he could easily see the time of the tape running, and he would get the band to perfectly stop right at the end of the tape. Most of the day was improvised, but the room was on fire. By far, it is one of the coolest sessions that I have worked on.
For ease of use for the film, we were simultaneously recording to the tape, but also recording directly off of Repro live to do a transfer in the moment. We double-checked everything the next day, the sound was clear with some saturation, punchy, and 70s as could be. I haven't heard the mixes, but knowing William and Carl, I know it will sound unbelievable.
Written by Co-Producer & Engineer William Garrett:
Jon came to me with the idea of recording this film score live to tape. He and Jason Reitman, the film's director, had discussed keeping the sounds authentic to the era of the film (the film is about the first season of Saturday Night Live in 1975 and is being shot on 16mm film, another format of that era). Jon and I had previously done multiple sessions to tape so we knew that recording to tape combined with the Neve VR in studio C at Power Station and their great mic collection would be perfect for sonic aspirations of the film.
Jon is an analog aficionado so we decided 15ips would give us the desired sonics and noise. On short notice, the Power Station team sourced 12 reels of RTM SM-900. We printed hot at +6 and it sounded amazing. The RTM tape stood up for the whole day without any issues. In the end we recorded almost 5 hours of improvised music over 11hrs, with Jon and an amazing 13 piece band. This is what you can do with high quality 2" tape, a well teched 24 track machine and console plus a great artist and band! Everything ran flawlessly and gave us the ability to focus on capturing the incredible music as it happened.
With engineer Carl Bespolka and the brilliant, dedicated team at Power Station(Chief Tech Brett Mayer, 1st Assistant Engineer Matthew Soares, 2nd Assistant Engineer Beth Scott, Tape Tech Mark Rucci and studio manager Janice Brown), we were able to pull this off! I've done a lot of great sessions, and this was definitely one of the best.
Exciting News: Introducing the "Artist Master Reel"
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the "Artist Master Reel", an initiative designed to help the music industry rediscover the exceptional warmth and high-resolution sound of tape.
Initially partnering with studios across the United States, we will offer every artist the opportunity to preserve their master copies in the highest possible sound quality. This exclusive package includes the artist's artwork/album cover and certification from RTM and the studio, making each master reel a unique and invaluable copy of their album.
The "Artist Master Reel" is more than just a keepsake—it's a testament to an artist's achievement and a crucial asset for future use. Artists will have a definitive source of their music, capturing the purest form of their creative vision.
If you'd like more details, please contact tim.chapman@recordingthemasters.com
International Dealer Spotlight
This month we shine the light on Star Audio, Brazil. Guilherme & Tom have been a fantastic addition to the RTM family, and we look forward to working with them for many years to come. We asked Guilherme to tell you a bit about their operation:
"Tom and I are long time friends who have always shared the passion for Reel to Reel and analog. Ever since the first time we used RTM tape, we were shocked by how well it performed in every way, but were frustrated by how hard it was to get a hold of good tape in Brazil.
That's when the opportunity to become an official dealer came up and Star Audio was born. We've been representing RTM in Brazil for almost 2 years now, and it has been a blast! The public was glad to know now there is a steady and reliable source of new tapes in our area. We cater for both the home and pro users.
We are actively participating in different audio events and conventions, being able to showcase tape. The look on people's faces when they experience "magnetic magic" for the first time never gets old! Long live tape!"
Great to have you on board guys!
RTM attend Axpona in Chicago & High End in Munich
We have been making waves in the audiophile community recently, exhibiting at Axpona in Chicago and High End in Munich. Axpona, the premier audiophile event in North America, features over 500 exhibitors & 200 active listening rooms. As well as exhibiting in the Expo Hall we also gave visitors an entertaining masterclass.
RTM representative, Mathijn den Duijf played a selection of tracks and beautifully described the unique warmth and richness that music recorded to tape offers, and how the process is something to be cherished. He also showed how playing with tape loops is not only fun but hugely creative and rewarding.
Next, we were in amongst the action at High End in Munich, solidifying our place within Europe's Audiophile scene.
Making Vinyl Europe – We’ll be there!
We can’t wait to return to Haarlem, Netherlands Sept 30 – Oct 2, RTM will be at Making Vinyl to join the celebration of vinyl culture as well as seeing how you can partner to offer studio quality cassette duplication.
AES New York – We’ll be there too!
We eagerly anticipate our upcoming participation at the AES Show in New York, Oct 8-10 where we will join industry leaders to shout about all things RTM.
We're looking forward to engaging with the vibrant community at AES and demonstrating why RTM's products are the high-end professional recording medium that reel-to-reel tape always has been.
Exciting Partnership with Mix with the Masters!
We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Mix With The Masters that brings exclusive benefits to the MWTM community and showcases our commitment to supporting the music industry. This collaboration offers a 25% discount on our e-shop for Mix With The Masters members, valid until the end of 2024.
Mix With The Masters exclusively uses RTM tape for all their vibrant events, their varied courses as well as their recording sessions at the prestigious RUE BOYER studio in Paris. If Mix With The Masters is happening on tape, it's happening on our tape!
We Are Rewind and RTM Partner for Retro Cassette
MAGIC !
We’re thrilled to announce a fantastic collaboration with We Are Rewind, the innovative company bringing the classic cassette player back to life with a modern twist. Not only do they create high-end cassette players that we proudly sell on our website, but they’re also selling vibrant, 80s-inspired cassettes manufactured by RTM.
The cassette artwork from We Are Rewind is a throwback to the colorful and vibrant designs of the 80s. A splash of nostalgia that will bring a smile to anyone’s face. Together, we’re redefining the cassette experience for a new generation of music lovers.
USA e-shop to be operational from July
From the start of July, we will have a fullfilment center in the USA meaning for those of you buying direct from us, there will no longer be an international shipping fee!
A tribute to Steve Albini and his lasting impact on RTM’s 2” Reels
We express our deep sadness at the passing of Steve Albini, a true legend in our industry who will be greatly missed. Like all of you, we’ve been watching the numerous YouTube videos where he shares his knowledge and skills that remind us of his unique genius.
“As everyone knows, Steve was a staunch advocate of recording to tape. Thanks to his contribution to RTM, we’ve enhanced the quality of our 2-inch cores, resulting in improved performance throughout the entire tape. Thank you, Steve, and may you rest in peace.”
We’d love to hear about your experiences with our tape.
Cool projects, interesting experiments, etc.
Please send them to sales@recordingthemasters.com