Future of analog tape production

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Hi --

If you missed the earlier thread on this group "Quantegy has closed ???" you
may not know that, at the very end of last week, Quantegy closed down it's
facility, which is the last facility in the world manufacturing professional
analog tape products.

See here:

http/www.oanow.com/servlet/Satellite?c=MGArticle&cid=1031779976767&pag
ename=OAN/MGArticle/OAN_BasicArticle&path=!frontpage

There is always the possibility that Quantegy survives some type of Chapter
11 restructuring and tape production will resume. Meanwhile, I have just
gotten off the phone with Mike Spitz of ATR Services and I have what could
be good news.

Apparently, long before this unexpected move by Quantegy, Mike had already
been quietly working on bringing a new analog tape product to market to
compete with them. He saw the need to develop a line of analog tape products
made and marketed by people who understand and care about the art of
recording.

In speaking with him, I got a sense that he has a good handle on the
situation and is well up the learning curve.

So, the key is not to panic. We will have to wait a few months. Mike has not
yet solved all of the problems of bringing up a tape manufacturing line and
he was counting on Quantegy to survive a bit longer. But, it didn't.

Of course, this project is now priority #1 on Mike's business agenda. If his
past record of quality, service and innovation is any indication, I think
the world may see some of it's best analog tape ever in the coming
months.

Mike was not at the point of development where he was ready to make a formal
announcement. So, there are no details yet, but I'm sure they will be
forthcoming as we learn more about the future of Quantegy and
Mike has a chance to re-assess how quickly he can bring his analog tape
products to market. I would suggest you resist the temptation to call him as
we need him to focus his time on solving this problem for us.

So, for right now, plan to recycle and reuse what's out there and keep your
eye on the horizon.

Cheers,

--Steve

=================================================
Steve Puntolillo
Sonicraft A2DX Lab
Ultimate Multitrack Analog-to-Digital Transfers
http/www.sonicraft.com/a2dx
=================================================

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

The future of analogue tape production depends on two things at least:

1) What is the current and future demand for such tape? I would guess
that one could safely assume the demand will drop over time.

2) What are the startup costs and economies of scale in the manufacture
of the tape? Even Steve Albini (or more to the point his clients) will
have trouble coughing up $1K for a reel of 2" tape, regardless of the
inherent value of the product....

Personally, I suspect that there is still a sizeable niche market out
there for analog tape, and will be for a few more years at least.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

On 2005-01-04, Haolemon <gary_flanigan@ce9.uscourts.gov> wrote:

> Personally, I suspect that there is still a sizeable niche market out
> there for analog tape, and will be for a few more years at least.

Don't lots emergency departments use 1" tape for recording
911 calls (Magnasync decks, and so on?)

I guess a high operating cost would light a fire under a city council's
ass to go digital.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <slrnctlqbu.978.fishbowl@radagast.home.conservatory.com>,
james of tucson <fishbowl@conservatory.com> wrote:
>On 2005-01-04, Haolemon <gary_flanigan@ce9.uscourts.gov> wrote:
>
>> Personally, I suspect that there is still a sizeable niche market out
>> there for analog tape, and will be for a few more years at least.
>
>Don't lots emergency departments use 1" tape for recording
>911 calls (Magnasync decks, and so on?)

Not many these days. Today those guys are mostly using logging recorders
that use videotapes for digital storage, because the media costs are so much
cheaper that they pay for the new equipment in a fairly short order. Also
the ability to locate a given point with the digital systems is much, much
better.

>I guess a high operating cost would light a fire under a city council's
>ass to go digital.

It did in most cases.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Paul Stamler wrote:

> Of course, I wish someone would bring back 468...

What he said.

--
ha