Cassette types: can you hear the difference? Recording on type i, ii, and iv ||| MADE ON TAPE

in this video we record the exact same music, same settings, on the three main cassette types...
...and yes, I know the TASCAM Porta Two is biased for type ii only: it's addressed in the video. Artists don't like constraints.
here's some good reading:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassett...
www.nytimes.com/1981/12/26/st...
www.tapeheads.net/showthread.p...
electronics.howstuffworks.com...
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[@sexytasmin]

The type 2 cassette you showed (Maxell XL 2 ) is NOT chromium dioxide it is cobalt doped ferric tape made for type 2 settings and is what Maxell call Epitaxial !!!

[@MadeOnTape]

ahhhh there’s a rabbit hole you just sent me down! to be fair, the label still says Cr02 in the description box, so hopefully people can understand my ignorance 😂 i guess by that point Cr02 was equated with type ii?

[@NoOne-sn2si]

CrO2 is what Basf came out with, the original type II. Most type II tapes manufactured later on were cobalt based, like Maxell and TDK among others. BASF continued with actual chromium dioxide formulation for their type II tapes. BTW, BASF tapes don't hold up well with age, about the only time I can think of where the Germans came out with some crappy engineering.

[@BogoEN]

A number of type 1’s are “cobalt-doped” ferrics. Better highs and stability w frequency response. Including that UR, btw 😎 . It’s a bummer Tascam never made a tape transport with adjustable bias like home decks had, we all wouldn’t need to spend major dollars on NOS type II tapes. It’s worth mentioning, though, that you can actually adjust the bias in most of these machines, just means some surgery to do it.

[@MadeOnTape]

@@BogoEN i've found when there's a will there's a way!

[@terenceokelly3386]

@@NoOne-sn2si DuPont invented chromium dioxide. BASF had a manufacturing license and was the largest manufacturer. BASF invented magnetic tape, and almost all of its tapes hold up well. Some chrome tapes do have the problem that recordings made on them have not changed, but trying to record over them is a problem because tape sensitivity has dropped significantly. Ferric-cobalt tapes have their own problems: noise increases over time and high frequencies can be diminished by physical pressure of the capstan/pinch roller combination.

[@ponraul1221]

That was suprisingly easy to tell the difference, and I haven't listened to a cassette for at least 15 years.

[@aldali724]

Yeah same I’m always looking for a good treble roll off so the type 1 stuck out well

[@martianrobotics]

All these years, I've always been curious about the differences between these cassette types. My economic situation back then did not permit any experimentation, so I just let it slide. But now that I nailed the test from this video, all I can say is thank you for making me realize that I can differentiate among all three and I don't have to spend any money to satisfy my decades-long curiosity.

[@MadeOnTape]

if i helped you save money then that’s awesome! thanks for sharing 🙏

[@Albatraze_]

Nailed it. Not a musician here, I record mix tapes on Type 2 and Albums that I purchase digitally I convert to type 1. Type one still has good quality sound if you have the right equipment. I have a few metal tapes I don't know what to do with as they feel too extravagant to use.

[@MadeOnTape]

hahah yes on metal tapes! They are all good quality and it was fun to just record the same music on them and hear the difference. Thanks for checking out the channel!

[@erayozdemir4738]

The difference between the casette types was obvious. Thanks for the comparison and explanation!

[@MadeOnTape]

thank you for checking it out! i found it to be super obvious and fascinating, just the different metal/rust formulas can make such a difference! Physics is fun!

[@erayozdemir4738]

@@MadeOnTape and especially when it comes to vintage thingies, physics is a joy lol.

[@adee2569]

I love this channel!!! the Type III FERRICHROME delivery got me laughing pretty hard!!!

[@XanderRowlet]

Type 1 tapes can actually sound surprisingly good, with the right settings and equalizations imposed. Audiophiles will crucify me for suggesting Dolby HX Pro and Dolby Noise Reduction, but they can really help the high frequency response and tape hiss of type 1s. Setting the correct bias for each tape type is also a big deal, I did some experiments myself with my tape deck and recording onto type 1 with a type 2 bias preset just sounded extremely harsh. Once I adjusted the bias it sounded much more suitable for what that specific formulation was designed to handle. I still prefer type 2 tapes due to their ultimately superior high frequency response, but type 1s don’t always have to sound like garbage. If recorded onto properly, they can sound surprisingly good

[@MadeOnTape]

oh i agree 100% one day I hope to have a TASCAM 122 or some other professional cassette deck and show that it's MUCH harder to hear the difference with proper bias... thanks for commenting and watching!

[@leoncollins5932]

Type 2 is the best medium ever invented it is superior to digital.

[@XanderRowlet]

@@leoncollins5932 lol

[@LA6NPA]

That may well be, but I just tried two different type I's in my 414 II, and that didn't work at all (see my reply/followup to my own comment above). My guess right now is they either were super degraded (I have no idea why, they're not that old) or they can't handle double speed recording (414 II has no normal speed).

[@rogerking7258]

Yes, I think you're just about bang on with this.

[@adamcrafts3645]

Nailed it, interesting to know. Didn't know type I and II sounded so different

[@JoshuaPickenpaugh]

Nailed it. But then I'm old and grew up with this stuff.

[@MadeOnTape]

hahaha you’re not old yet. it was fun to hear the difference so clearly

[@JoshuaPickenpaugh]

@@MadeOnTape Back in High School, there was a big cardboard box always full of state band auditions recordings on cassette tape. The director would give us pick of any tapes we wanted to make mix tapes of records from the library, and Type IV was always a commodity!

[@MadeOnTape]

@@JoshuaPickenpaugh and this was back in the days with Prof. Andrew Bishop?!?!

[@JoshuaPickenpaugh]

@@MadeOnTape haha yep. different HS's, tho (same college). great guy!

[@gochurra5702]

Thaaanks a lot man !!! It helped me out 😃

[@MadeOnTape]

glad to hear it! a type ii shootout is coming very soon, too!

[@DFrencel]

I have nailed it 100%, used to be so much into them for a decade or so... :-)

[@johnoofsatchurch]

Nailed it. I recognize the sound of type one when playing. I knew 4 was the last one because it sounded clear and thumpy. I knew 1 was type 2 because it didn’t have the type one noise or the thump of IV

[@MadeOnTape]

thank you for watching! do you record on portastudios too?

[@yamashitacoversbyjulianroel]

Nailed it! Types 2, 1, and 4. Definitely going with type 1 for loops. I'm curious about what I can get from my 8-track. Thanks, great video. Going to clean the heads now.

[@MadeOnTape]

have fun and happy recording!

[@Tim3ru]

Totally nailed it! : )

[@erickbooster1]

Woah!! I nailed it, 2 years hence 😄

[@ryan2stix]

High school ruled, we all had walkmans and mixed tapes, when crossing paths with a homie, we would eject the tape and do a trade off, no words exchanged, it was code...you swapped tapes.. so needless to say, you made sure your mix tape was a banger... I have a feeling that will happen again with kids in 2023

[@octaviolealgeissbuhler843]

What a great demonstration man ! I'm interested in getting one of these portastudio tape machines soon !

[@MadeOnTape]

they are very cool and instant vibe!

[@SynthRay]

I'm finding that I love using Type 1 tapes to crush the hell out of drums. So filthy when you hit +6 or +7 on that meter. 🤙

[@TheDarkCow11]

Nailed it type 4 is great

[@adrianlyord5300]

Awesome job and I actually heard the difference between all three types! Your music sounded good too! I'm a drummer who records on CDRs but after watching this video I might go back to cassette tape ! Kudos and I'm to subscribe to your channel

[@MadeOnTape]

thanks for watching and the sub, much appreciated! I will try to do a video down the road about tape bias with a machine that can handle it...then the test might be much more difficult! (TASCAM has permanent type ii bias) 🤘

[@morphinenapkin]

I just bought a few metal and type ii cassettes on ebay over the weekend, I'm excited to do this test myself! I was surprised that I could so distinctly tell the difference in the 3 types.

[@MadeOnTape]

same here! again, the caveat is that the TASCAM is biased for type ii, but i can totally hear the other types for creative applications. rock on and enjoy!

[@morphinenapkin]

Made on Tape A Tascam or another variation of 4 track recorder is one of the next things I really want to invest in. Right now I record digital and transfer to tape with my JVC tape deck which has “auto calibration” for cassette types.

[@MadeOnTape]

that’s awesome! we like to explore limitations here, so work with what you got! music is music is music and whatever inspires you is THE best approach

[@morphinenapkin]

Absolutely! Working with tapes and physical media definitely gives me more inspiration than just interacting with a screen!

[@MyManDan]

Awesome video

[@MadeOnTape]

🙏 awesome comment 🤘

[@deanwolfechannel]

I nailed it! I own a couple type 3 and should do same comparison as you.

[@MadeOnTape]

yes! i’ve never even SEEN a type 3 in person!

[@BogoEN]

That type IV gave your PortaTwo a big boost in the highs! I partly blame your channel, but I decided to buy yet another tascam today, same model you’re rocking - the PortaTwo! I need to fix the transport but i did that on my 246 with good results so I’m psyched! I also recently fixed my Akai 4000DS MKII reel to reel to master/bounce to, so starting to get psyched about my setup!

[@MadeOnTape]

that sounds awesome! 🤘📼🎼

[@soundretarded]

I love that Type I! It’s Lo-Fi more & brings out that kick drum 🥁

[@MadeOnTape]

definitely! As a low-ender, can’t help but love that sound. it’s almost worth recording the bass and drums on type i then bouncing out and back into type ii for the remaining tracks!

[@miracabral]

Nailed it! Type IV had more highs (too much even?), Type II was the best here, very low hiss (compared to the others). Me, as a non audiophile music lover.

[@MadeOnTape]

yes! of course keep in mind the TASCAM is biased for type II tape, but it’s still fascinating to hear the different formulas in this context. thanks for watching 🙏

[@litgamer6205]

Type IV do have more hiss but because you can ride them so hot it becomes a non issue, type IV definitely give you the clearest, best sound reproduction, type 2 are ok but then they give you that sludgy, muffled sound

[@DaveZula]

Haha did you really say “Busty Springfield?” 😂

[@MadeOnTape]

hahaha i was wondering if anyone would notice! my brain mixed “Buffalo” and “Dusty” and i decided to leave it in 😂

[@nilespeshay1734]

lol... i was digging through the comments for somebody to mention it... and started to question my OWN hearing!

[@happydappyman]

Well the type 1 was immediately obvious. Sounded surprisingly quiet, but also had a very high sound floor. Type 2 and 4 were a little harder to distinguish. Maybe it was settings, but the 4 sounded overly bright. Maybe with more "oomf" it would sound better. It seemed like the highs came out the same volume as the type 2, but the rest of the track came out at a much lower volume. This is why i say it was overly bright. But again, maybe given the correct settings i could believe it would sound the best. As is though, i like the 2.

[@Bangulo]

Nailed em! Should have put the song at the end to A and B after. I am curious as to how the original song sounds and it already has a lo-fi style,

[@nym053]

Nailed it 😋 I prefered type 1 and 2 in this demo

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

Exactly, pure nostalgia.

[@nym053]

@@kensmechanicalaffair probably. I was born in 1991, so the only tape recordings I grew up with was childrens stories and those in school class in the 00's that was several years old. From somewhere between 70's and 90's maybe 😅 I think I prefered CD quality backthen. Anything new actually.

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

@@nym053 Growing up, the only difference i could tell was CD was much more shiny and polished, but lacked the feeling that cassettes gave me. Pure analog presence, i would cut off the lights off and put some Hiroshima or Kenny G in the Sherwood and float into space.

[@Senerski]

I got a lot of Maxell xl-II’s and I think throughout all my cassette usage, they have been the most reliable and best sounding imo.

[@QUIZFILTER]

yes nailed it

[@munch9923]

enjoyed the type 2, and i can see how type 4 needs more oomph, great video, thanks for the info

[@MadeOnTape]

thanks for watching! let me know if there’s anything you’d like to see here 🤘🏻

[@tomipojaghi]

Super interesting and informative! hahah :) i recently got a fostex x-55 and im reading and searching aboute cassette types. It surprised me that the TYPE IV sounded so good even in a machine with a bias calibrated for type II.

[@MadeOnTape]

it’s weird for sure! hoping to get a mixdown machine for type iv soon

[@nilespeshay1734]

@@MadeOnTape You've prolly already found a solution for yourself re: this BUT, even now, you can get a relatively cheap unit with a dedicated knob for bias. For 60$ (tops) - if you keep your eye peeled to all the usual places that sell used players. With a bias knob (rather than a switch) you can really "dial it in" for the particular tape (i.e. not all type IVs 'shine' with exactly the same bias). Cool video! There are many but many Onkyo units generally have the knob (they cal it "Accubias") and people seem to REALLY like them for recording.

[@judenihal]

I got it all correct!

[@JoshTurnerGuitar]

Thank you for this. I was afraid I was going to hurt my Porta 424 on some old type 4's I came into possession of. Seems like its fine tho.

[@MadeOnTape]

from what I've gathered by professionals, the "type iv will wear your heads" is an old myth, and it's incredible how pervasive it is to this day: I wouldn't blame anyone for being hesitant. Looking forward to hearing your music on the 424! Thank you for watching!

[@mihaiirimia7091]

I love those tapes, i has a C 120 Minute, where the band it's smaller in size when looked on the shell i thinked to add some band from a 90 min tape on it to make to side 1 something like 75 minutes. does is it best to rewind it or fast forward? What kind of tape is this so thin?

[@dannydaniel8975]

Using type 4 on my tascam 644 ruined it

[@Shrimpy08]

Yo new sub I love the video

[@MadeOnTape]

yoooooo! thanks for checking it out and thanks for the sub! are you a portastudio fan, too?

[@squirrelarch]

The type IV did well considering it was under-biased. I know there were a few Metal types that were intended to be biased at Type II (TDK HX-S?). Good to hear you using a portastudio, presumably without a noise reduction. Very best wishes to you. Keep on analogue-ing.

[@MadeOnTape]

thank you for watching! i’m doing a thorough type ii shootout by brand which should be fun 🤘

[@Kj16V]

I didn't try to guess, I just wanted to hear the difference. Great video, it's the only one I found where you could clearly hear the differences between them. BTW, my favourite was the Type 2 because it had the best high and bass. Would have recorded Hardcore Jungle Techno tracks on it back in the day :D

[@MadeOnTape]

love it! to be clear, the difference is emphasized because my machine is biased for type ii tapes... I would love to do it again with a machine that can switch bias, but I don't own one hahaha I still find it useful as a musician to hear the difference. I like the extreme vibe of type i

[@leoncollins5932]

Type 2 metal is the best it exceeds CD as far as sound quality.

[@cloud9tapes232]

Great comparison, I might do a similar thing. Maybe even throw a 'reel to reel' to the mix haha

[@MadeOnTape]

dig it! i’d love to see it!

[@OlavSFlaa]

I think this video mainly demonstrates why correct bias is important. The type 1 and type 4 tapes don't sound like this when correctly biased. Of course different tape types sound different, but the differences are much more subtle than this.

[@MadeOnTape]

100%! perhaps down the road when I have machines that are biased for each tape type i'll do a follow-up that's even more thorough.😎thanks for watching!

[@888cromartie]

@@MadeOnTape please do. It's not really a fair test, just shows you need to set up the record settings to the tape type if that's an option, or get the right tape for your machine if there isn't an option

[@Lightblue2222]

I recall i had a specific blank tape which i recorded on and i wasnt able to get the recording off. Sure i could record on top but then both recordings would be mixed, the original recording could still be heard in the background. When i asked mom why she said it was because it was a metal tape. I recorded alot as a kid for fun. I even had that Talk thing from Home Alone 2. It could change your voice on playback to sound older just like Kevin.

[@Bugstomper2]

The Type 4 cassette requires a high bias, because the particles on the tape, are less easily magnetized/are more difficult to move, and thus once the sound is recorded on it, it stays the same, being more stable, and better for long term storage. Any magnetic field can more easily affect a Type 1 tape. Thus it's more prone to the sound becoming distorted/corrupted.

[@markitux]

OMG for the first time ever i nailed it!! haha The difference is MASSIVE, btw Thanks for this test, mate! Greetings from Chile

[@MadeOnTape]

thank you for listening! Now I wanna go get some pastel de choclo! Remember, the tape machine is biased for type 2, so the differences will be less on a machine with adjustable bias. Cheers from NYC!

[@markitux]

@@MadeOnTape hahaha Pastel de Choclo is killer! but there are other lesser-known delicacies equal to or more impressive around here too! Let me know when you walk around here to guide you on the tour ;)

[@jn3750]

One a high end tape deck, the differences are clearly audible!

[@MadeOnTape]

big time! i’m saving and keeping an eye out for a TASCAM 122! hope to do some bias experiments down the road. thanks for watching and commenting 🙏

[@jn3750]

@@MadeOnTape get any top of the line deck from yamaha, nakamichi, Sony, Marantz, pioneer... from the 80s (not 90s) and refurbish it. You will have one that sounds better than a CD player (especially one with DBX). I have several

[@jn3750]

Obvious, my man, to an audiophiliac!

[@MadeOnTape]

thanks for watching and listening 🙏

[@ricardocardona2849]

Interesting text. I like type 2, plane sound. Sorry by my English thank you

[@StephanS]

Nailed it. That wasnt that difficult at all.

[@yadergarcia9245]

great video! Did you re-record the music for each cassette, or did it you send it from the computer?

[@MadeOnTape]

I re-recorded for each cassette! Computer was only used to bring the music to your ears via KZbin. thanks for watching!

[@leo.girardi]

"What happens on a Metal Tape, stays on a Metal Tape..." Or so they told me in Vegas.

[@MadeOnTape]

hahahahaha

[@MrROTD]

The recording signal had to be biased because the magnetic material is much less sensitive to the magnetic field at lower levels with the chrome and even more with the metal tape so that quiet signals don't register on the tape evenly with the loud ones, it can sound really bad and muddy depending on the material recorded. I experimented quite a lot with dubbing tapes from CDs and found if you EQ the recording correctly on a type one tape it will sound decent on any deck.

[@nicknico4121]

It's all about the clarity of the trebble and high pitch. The higher the quality (and type), the clearer are the cymbals. Buying type 2 tapes back in the days was worth every extra penny. Type 1 were the budget "I recorded something on the radio" type of tape. The types 2 were for copies from cds and you wanted to keep as much clarity as possible.

[@fartking2845]

Normally I don't gloat, but I got the test right. What deck did you record with and did you record with HX Pro, Dolby S? You can still get a decent sounding type 1 recording if mastered right. I want some type 4's to screw around with so badly. Wish someone would whip up a fresh batch and sell them again.

[@justbubba4373]

Type 4 sounded amazing... I've never heard that vast of a difference in cassettes.

[@MadeOnTape]

in this case, the TASCAM is the control subject because its biased for type ii tapes. i just find it fascinating in the 21st century how we can use these differences for art! 🙏

[@ianz9916]

You can always tell the type by the notches on the top of the cassette. The standard type I only has two record protect tabs, type II has another open notch next to the write protect tab and type IV has two more notches closer to the centre of the top edge of the cassette. As someone who started working in the seventies I can say that, even back then, very few people used metal tapes because they were massively expensive and a lot of decks didn't support them. I have one TDK MA-XG in my collection because I thought I'd see what the fuss was about. It has a lovely transport and an alloy casing but the increase in quality was never enough to warrant the price tag. My TDK Super Avilyn tapes have stood the test of time and recordings that I made in the 80s still sound great today.

[@MadeOnTape]

thank you for watching and sharing this story! 🙏

[@SiClopsThe1EyedMan]

Ian Z i have been using cassettes since the late 80s and it never occurred to me the correlation between tape types (type i and type ii) and there tabs sizes, ive noticed the tab sizes lots of times but it never twigged. i went straight to my cassette collection to check. .... so i too appreciate this!

[@vidtech2630]

It's a miracle I guess them all correctly

[@aftertheendtimes]

Yes i nailed it,..for sure the type II is the best option, but i experimenting with the type I,.. cos the type II,..is forbidden now ATR stop maiking them and the new cobalt coating has dropouts and sucks,..and cost a arm and a leg,...very much thank you for a great channel and vibe =) Love your energy man 💚

[@MadeOnTape]

thanks so much for the nice words! I definitely don't hate the sound of type i and I agree, the new type ii's are disappointing

[@LA6NPA]

Thanks for this! I was thinking of getting some blank type 1 cassettes from a duplication place for my portastudio, but that is completely out of the question now. Or is it? My portastudio is double speed, yours runs normal speed for this test. Maybe double speed helps?

[@LA6NPA]

Tried type 1. No hiss, due to the noise reduction in my 414 II, but the volume on the two tracks on TDK D60 kept altering slightly, like a dirty pot or something. This was an opened, unused tape. I have (had) 10 unopened still wrapped SONY HF60, so I grabbed one and tried that. Even at full blast, it only recorded half volume on one track and 1/10th the volume or less on the other, warbling a little. For info, my 414 is NOS, basically never used, and dust free. I tried an SA60, and that worked fine, only pushing the VU to 0db. Almost perfect playback. Music source was Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful, because deep bass, mouth noises and strings. Also found out the NR is not Dolby, but something proprietary. The HF60s are fairly new, bought them in a normal store that wouldn't bother with tapes at all now, so not a second hand store or a hipster shop selling NOS. Do tapes really degrade that badly? I can't remember even my dads tapes from the 60s that he got with his cassette recorder were that bad when I listened to them in the late 80s. Note: the 414 doesn't have feelers for the type II or IV slots on the top of the cassettes, so there is no way for the recorder to know you're not using the "correct" tape and sabotaging the recording. I guess my type I's are just too crappy for the double speed.

[@MadeOnTape]

thanks for writing! there’s a lot to unpack here, but it sounds like you’re TDK SA60 is working well, yes? TASCAM used DBX noise reduction, so that probably won’t work on a dolby playback ( although i haven’t tried it) you’re 414 NOS…might just need to be used a bit and/or cleaned. Check out the youtuber “Tetrakan” for great tutorials. to answer your original question: you can use type i tapes for creative applications, but if you’re looking to use the portastudio for duplications, it’s pre-biased for type ii tapes. How’s it behaving now?

[@LA6NPA]

@@MadeOnTape SA60 is working fine, correct. But the normal cassettes I tried just don't work properly. Just joined the multitrack cassette recording group on fb. I'll ask about using the normal cassettes there. If it was crud or something electronic, I'm sure the SA60 wouldn't work either, but that works perfectly. Better than all cassette recorders I've ever used except for a Yamaha one back in the day. (That was a very expensive deck on loan from a radio station).

[@Lenias7]

I got them all right, and I'm not even a cassette enthusiast lol. I just thought that the "best" sounding must be the most expensive, and it was indeed correct. But tbh it was fairly obvious, only type 2 and 4 were a little close. Type 1 I think everyone could tell easily.

[@Tekkytekky]

Would you recommend doing some pre-recording high shelves if I am making mix tapes for Type II, like say sticking a 4 to 6db boost at around 8k to help undull it a bit, or does this just do nothing due to the nature of the tape? Looking forward to your response, master of tapes!

[@MadeOnTape]

interesting thought! your tape machine already does this, just with a super high frequency above human hearing. But, if I were you, I would try it out and compare it to one where you didn't pre-record anything. cheers!

[@nilespeshay1734]

@madeontape was absolutely correct (I think) to advise that you try it out for yourself and "use your ears". At the same time, historically, cassettes ARE (were?) mastered with a high shelf that is not present for other media (e.g. CD/digital). (EQing for different media USED TO be 85% of the point of using a Mastering Engineer.) (Edit: TBF, most cassette mastering was for the sake of type I tapes.)

[@ramil90]

Atr Magnetics still produce Type 2 Cassette Tapes acquired form BASF 👍🏻

[@MadeOnTape]

yes! they're all sold out right now unfortunately. National Audio Company has been working on a new formula for years, but I think the pandemic slowed them down. We might see new tape from them soon! Thanks for watching!

[@shangyien]

If you want to dramatically increase sound quality, use cassette deck that records and plays at 9.5 cm/second, that's twice the conventional speed. There were twenty of so models with this feature manufactured in the nineties, including the Braun C3.

[@MadeOnTape]

oooooh that Braun 🙌🏻

[@j0an-07-arc6]

Got all of them right

[@MadeOnTape]

it’s crazy how different they sound, right?

[@Izou96]

Cassette 1 = overall balanced Cassette 2 = somewhat muffled veiled or seems like coming from afar Cassette 3 = kinda bright and cold sounding, easily fatiguing Listened from my phone speaker, i guess i will start buying the type 2 then haha, thanks

[@edmar.martins]

For best results on all type of tapes you should have a tape deck with fine Bias control to match the Bias amount specifically for the type of tape you are using. The master adjust (Normal/Chrome/Metal) is not enough to match the exact Bias needed for a particular tape. I have a Denon tape recorder (DRS-810) and by adjusting fine Bias I can record audio in very good quality besides the used tape type for record. Actually, they can sound very close. If your cassette recorder have Bias adjusted/tuned for Chrome tapes, just this type of tape will sound good (unless you can find an specific brand and model of tape I type which will work well with default settings). On my experiences, using fine Bias you can have records on different tape types sounding pretty close.

[@orfescuhoratiu]

Type 4 very low noise and high dynamics, i will buy only type 4 for ever.

[@MadeOnTape]

type 4 is AMAZING on a deck that can handle it. These portastudios cannot hahaha. thanks for watching!

[@orfescuhoratiu]

Akai gx 75 mkii, hk td 4600, technics rs bx646, metal win all the time.

[@oraz.]

I did nail it.

[@Smecerul08]

I subscribbed at Nerd Alert WARNING!!!

[@MadeOnTape]

🤓

[@user-mc1sr5ke7l]

I appreciate the comparison between tape types. If you added a second tape recorder to the mix, you would get more, different results, even within the same tape types, as you explained by saying the recorder you used was only set (biased) for one of the tape types (II). But I also think by you using the remote recorder, you didn't get the best out of ANY of the tape types, including the type biased to the recorder, since there are internal compromises based on the physical size of that recorder. I would say most people watching this DON'T have a remote recorder. I would also believe that 90% of the people still using and recording cassettes haven't ever had their recorder serviced! That would be the FIRST thing to do-service the deck and have it properly adjusted. I started out using a BOTL Pioneer CT-F500 in 1979, which is actually a great-sounding unit. When properly adjusted, it sounds as good as my AIWA 660, minus some minor musical textures. As far as remote recorders the Nakamichi 550 beats them all, and it can be biased for type I and type II cassettes.

[@MadeOnTape]

a thousand percent yes! i've had my eye on the TASCAM 122...some day when I can spare the money, that would be the deck. But, like you said, less expensive decks still have amazing sound and can be adjusted for your tape... this video was originally intended for musicians but I definitely attracted a lot of audiophiles and have learned a ton from you! thanks for watching!

[@Mixingmachine774]

metal tapes have higher bias .that means much more high end.

[@MARTIN201199]

@Made on Tape Hi Bro Will a tape cassette degrade should I re-record it several times?

[@MadeOnTape]

hey there! Technically, yes, it does degrade a little, but re-recording is normal and i personally don’t notice much difference after several passes. Happy recording! Part of the fun with tape for me are unforeseen characteristics of the machine and tape itself.

[@zooblestyx]

Hot Toledo! I nailed it! :D Also, if you're looking for that cozy lofi tape background noise, choose tape type carefully. You don't want to throw a hissy fit over a bad hissy fit. I'll see myself out.

[@MadeOnTape]

there’s snakes everywhere!!!

[@zooblestyx]

This raises the question, if you record snake jazz to a type I, will you even be able to hear it?

[@MadeOnTape]

😂

[@SrLobo90]

I have a Sony CDIT II Chrome cassette with a blue cassing with an equalization of 70us, and it is quite close to type IV, my songs are very clear. My decks receive very good maintenance, I clean the heads, adjust the speed, and adjust the azimuth, that is why I achieve a very clear and rich sound both highs and lows. What surprises me is that I was able to differentiate the sound of the 3 types of tapes, type 1 sounds very dirty, type 2 depending on how it is recorded and the quality of the tape, can offer an impressive sound, just like the type 4, although I have type 4 tapes, but I can't record them because my equipment doesn't support it XD.

[@MadeOnTape]

thanks for sharing! I'm hoping to pick up a TASCAM 122 down the road for ultimate calibration across the tape types. happy recording!

[@orfescuhoratiu]

Sometimes demagnetizers are requested.

[@dl0.0lb]

Wild - Glad to have a flat comparison - I wonder if I could mess with the mix on a type i to get it more to sound like a type ii - Mostly because I'm a cheapass

[@MadeOnTape]

😂 ultimately what sounds best to you is the “right” way! 🤘🙏

[@summer20105707]

Type 1 isn't bad sounding but it has a fuzzier sound. 2 is quiter and has slightly less bias. 4 is extremely quiet with a wide dynamic range of sound. I got all 3 correct.

[@MadeOnTape]

thanks for listening!

[@jhschmidMD4]

Type IV all day, everyday. TDK MA or MA-X and you have arrived. Glad you're not going to buy any more Metal tapes. More for me.

[@MadeOnTape]

hahaha yes happy they’re going to someone!

[@L.S.C.S.]

Like just to help offset the cost of a type iv cassette.

[@eduugr]

Nice! Type 2 sounds awesome. What I THINK is that you pushed the type IV a little bit more on the input ¿right? I think Type IV can sound better but who knows. Cool videos man!!

[@MadeOnTape]

this machine doesn't let you adjust bias, so type iv really doesn't work well. I didn't push the tape any more or less between types

[@nilespeshay1734]

The IV was 'underpushed' b/c the input remained the same between all 3 types. . For reference, one manufacturer (Nakamichi) recommends that you record into type II at +3 or +4 (tops) and record into a type IV at +7. Without that extra push, the middle and bottom end of the type IV don't 'fill out' -- while the highs stay sorta the same. The effect is, roughly, the same as high passing. (With that input adjustment alone, the difference between II and IV would have been much smaller.)

[@Andy801_dawless_music]

the difference so huge 😳

[@MadeOnTape]

I was surprised, too. I have a video coming out Tuesday comparing some things and it's WAY more subtle than this

[@litgamer6205]

Tape 4 definitely had the cleanest sound, tape 2 a little muffled and tape 1 was crap

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

Damn...type 4 actually sounds like the Waves plugin emulation I'm impressed, but type ii is where the magic is.

[@MadeOnTape]

type ii ultimate shootout coming this summer! thanks for listening

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

@@MadeOnTape I'm waiting, lol.

[@Seacat17]

I had type III cassettes... But my mom threw them all in trash.

[@MadeOnTape]

that's COLD!!!

[@albertocastillo7686]

So to make a master on type 4 and copies on type 1? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[@MadeOnTape]

if you have a machine with adjustable bias and can record on type iv, that’s absolutely a great idea!

[@mgmg116]

My guess, with rationalization, was A - Type I, didn't sound overly bright at first and had that tape punch driven by tape saturation, from the lower dynamic range B - Type IV, as the signal was much quieter and the noise floor was higher. My guess of Type IV was due to many saying that Type IV would reward you with more highs but you had to hit it with a hotter level, in order to keep your signal over the noise floor C - Type II, for the additional high end and the clear superiority in fidelity. Though, before the answers were revealed, I started to doubt myself. It's very interesting how my rationalizations made sense at the time of my judgements, but I was ultimately wrong on all counts lol. But it makes sense which is which now that I relisten. Type I has a higher noise floor because it's cheaper and lower quality material. Type II has a much lower noise floor and (slightly) more top-end, the distortion sounds about the same as Type I Type IV by far has both the lowest noise floor and highest dynamic range, as well as the best top-end response.

[@MadeOnTape]

thanks for listening and watching! i’m doing a deep dive into brands soon, and hopefully it’s not too nerdy for everyone 😂

[@mgmg116]

@@MadeOnTape Nah man, I live for the nerdy stuff lol. Been an audio engineer for about 15 years now, so I can appreciate geeking out over the gear

[@jimmypoe4707]

Mgmg....I chose the same. 1,4,2.

[@Takneeki]

PERMISSION: First of, great work, bro. May I please use parts of this video of yours in my project on KZbin (with credits, of course)???

[@MadeOnTape]

first, thank you and i’m not usually awake at 2:25am local time 😂 and yes take anything! thanks for asking 🙏

[@Takneeki]

@@MadeOnTape Thanks a ton, mate. Keep going. Good luck.

[@Takneeki]

Last question, that music you recorded on the tapes and played to compare, is that copyright-free?

[@MadeOnTape]

@Takneekie yes, that music I just pulled out of my head to use as an example in this video. you shouldn’t run into any issues with it!

[@Takneeki]

@@MadeOnTape Did you mean "shouldn't"? 😂😂

[@Lightblue2222]

CHROME "music that shines"

[@MGoolas]

I nailed it. It was so easy to tell and reinforced my distaste for Type 4 cassettes and their eardrum piercing highs. Type 1 is unfairly noisy. Is this because of a different bias configuration of the portastudio ?

[@MadeOnTape]

absolutely: the portastudio is biased for type ii, so it ends up noisier and with highs rolled off when you use type i. Type i is really great if you’re going for an even MORE lofi Lofi sound 🤘

[@nilespeshay1734]

Type IV is the only type that can accurately record CD (i.e. the entire audible spectrum). The other 2 types have NO frequency response below 30hz or, more importantly, above 16k (roughly). While this was a cool video I would say that you absolutely should not base your overall opinion of type IV on it. The "ear-piercing highs" were the result of not recording at a volume even close to what the tape was made for.

[@MrROTD]

i used to dub tapes all the time, Chrome and Dolby C had the best results if played back on the same deck. Not much difference between Chrome and Metal if you had the setting right, Type 1 tapes definitely had limitations.

[@JohnBassarcticsoundstudios]

All your 4 tracks should use Type 2 Chrome Tapes. I here they don't make them anymore. No longer than 90 min 60 better.

[@MadeOnTape]

yes! These machines are pre-biased for type 2 tapes, but you can experiment with no worries of course. Also, National Audio Company just starting manufacturing new type 2 tapes!!! Very exciting. Like vinyl records, cassettes aren't going to die... thanks for watching!

[@DragonAbode]

Me; guessing type 2 correctly but getting the “high fidelity” and “low fidelity” mixed up. At least I can be happy knowing I won’t mind buying the cheaper stuff

[@benkleschinsky]

I like the bass response on type II for some reason over type IV. IV is a little cold for me.

[@MadeOnTape]

for sure! Keep in mind that my machine is biased to record on type ii, so I'm sure on a properly biased machine the type iv is KILLER. this was a fun experiment that yielded more obvious results than i anticipated. Peace and BASS!!!

[@BogoEN]

@@MadeOnTape That’s actually a pretty common observation of type IV’s sound qualities across the board, regardless of machines. There are some rare formulations that fix that but it’s funny, you start to realize learning about these that it’s really more a sonic preference thing than “good, better, best” kinda deal

[@MadeOnTape]

@@BogoEN 💯

[@chris_johnson_music]

Does a Type 2 tape sound better than recording to your Teak reel to reel? I'm intrigued as I also own one too those....

[@MadeOnTape]

different vibe. the R2R I use mostly for mixdowns or a really clean tape delay

[@nilespeshay1734]

It's music so I understand there is no "better", BUT.... if a $400 cassette deck was as 'good' as a reel to reel, nobody would go through all the extra hassle, costs, and issues presented by a reel to reel.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

Can any tape recorder record on type 1, ii or iv ?? Do i need to have a type i or type ii or type iv recorder to record on that type ?

[@MadeOnTape]

any tape recorder will record on any tape type...I've even used type ii in those shoebox cassette recorders. As some people have mentioned here in the comments, if you want the best and most accurate results, then the bias settings need to be calibrated for that tape type. This experiment was interesting because you cannot adjust the bias (or at least not easily) on this portastudio, so interesting characteristics came out on the type 1 and type 4 tapes. These sorts of things were way more important during the time before computer recording, and people take tape bias very seriously. For me, I say experiment and go for the sound you like. happy recording!!! 🙏🤘

[@albertocastillo7686]

So make a master on type 4 tapes and make copies on type 1?

[@LostBeetle]

Being stuck with only a type 2 bias is very important here, all three tapes need to be biased correctly for a fair comparison. The type 1 sounded muddy (due to a loss in treble) because type 2 has a higher bias than type 1. And type 4 needs the strongest bias of all. If you recorded with a bias that is too strong, you lose the treble. If you record with a bias too weak, you can boost the treble (and perhaps lose bass). And that's what we got, using a type 2 bias made type 1 sound muddy, and type 4 sounded too bright.

[@MadeOnTape]

100% ! it's only interesting for an artistic application with a machine like the TASACM Portastudio with a fixed type 2 bias. Hoping to get my hands on a TASCAM 122 for more challenging comparison! Thanks for watching!

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

Let me ask you something. I just got a cheap jensen CD-590 radio and it has record ability. Do i need a type i or ii or iv to record on or does it not matter because its a junk radio ? If so and you were going to record on it, what type do you recommend for best playback ??

[@MadeOnTape]

@@ACommenterOnKZbin you definitely DON'T want type 4...those are expensive and won't sound right. For a modern cheap cassette deck, it's best to stick to type 1. thanks for asking!

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

@@MadeOnTape why not a type ii ?? Since its a better quality tape over type 1 ?

[@MadeOnTape]

@@ACommenterOnKZbin those types of machines are usually biased for type 1 tapes. Type 1 doesn't mean "lesser" quality. There are crappy type 2 and type 4 tape formulas out there. Maxell UD are a great type 1 tape. TDK is a good brand, too. hope this helps! Even if you used type 2's on that machine, it is a very poor quality cassette transport. Don't be discouraged by that tho! have fun! Check out this video on wow & flutter to give further insight: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZniVnIhnmp52ptE

[@Raidr5]

I looked it up, and apparently type 4 metal tape is made of pure Iron (Fe) particles.

[@MadeOnTape]

wow! didn’t know that! i guess the plastic coating keeps it from oxidizing? 🤔

[@Raidr5]

@@MadeOnTape Maybe, the ferric oxide tapes are "pre-rusted", while the metal tapes might have more care put into them during the manufacting process to make sure they don't rust. This might also be the reason they're way more expensive than other types.

[@RUfromthe40s]

i do not have prefered type but brands because in the 90´s only sony and tdk, still had some quality not refering to the tape but the quality of the built cassette, and i have good decks so if i record a TDK D might sound a lot better than a TDK sa-x recorded in a inferior deck but if talking about cassettes i record the most Sony ux-pro and tdk sa-x, also have some maxell XLII-S and XLI-S and SX I from late 80´s to early 90´s and had some old BASF sealed from 82 to 84, some told me they had lost properties and would not sound as good as they were but i did record some chromedioxid super II and some CR-S II also maxima II early 82 and till 85 after that was a gamble could be well built but in 5 maybe 1 was ok ,my first Dragon i destroyd it using basf cassettes after 85 but their tapes kept a very high quality but it´s casings were demanding extra power from the deck engine putting it out of tune as it happened with maxell when they releaSED IN MID 90´S MAYBE THOSE LIGHT GREY CASINGS,sorry for the caps lock it´s a chinese wireless keyboard with 6 years of use it cost me 3€

[@kerrymcmanus9188]

Try a TDK ARX type the species are the same as a metal,in fact many type 1 are excellent

[@MadeOnTape]

i’ll check it out! i’ve only used TDK SA and they sound amazing

[@mihaiirimia7091]

I ever prefer type 1 tapes with brand Electrecord, and a lot of 90 min cassettes. i has one in my life or two from market, a c 120 tape who always was degraded and sound never heared on it, 15 % hearing, so try record on it, she no sounds nothing! I looked on band and i seen that cannot never be repaired, and i no know where to cut the defects, are was too much of them.

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

If it doesn't sound like 86' i don't want it.

[@MadeOnTape]

😁😁💛💛