Q for Steve regarding master tape & LPs

[Paul L.]

Steve,

This Stereophile interview with Bob Irwin that feirstein talked about is really interesting. But it made me wonder:

How many times does a master tape get played in the course of making lots of pressings of a hit record? Could you give a capsule summary of the steps, like with mothers and stampers and all that? Especially, how many stampers can you get from one mother?

Thanks,
Paul

[Steve Hoffman]

Paul,

How many times does a master get played? Well, maybe 5 times, or 50-100 times. It all depends on if it is used to actually cut a record or not, and how old it is.

An example, would be Creedence's "Willie & The Poor Boys". That tape has probably been played a great deal. To cut LP masters, to make tape copies for other countries and greatest hits albums, to make the cassette master and the eight-track master, etc. Maybe 150 times in all. Still sounds great.

Regarding plating, it's really not my area, but first the lacquer is cut from the tape (called mastering in the old days), and the lacquer is made into a metal master. The master has mountains instead of grooves, because it is the opposite of the lacquer, right?

Well, from this master plate, the mother plate is made, with grooves again instead of mountains. From the mother, the stampers are made. From the stampers, the records are pressed.

How many stampers/mothers, can be made from each master part? Several, but depending on the factory, this could vary.

That of course is a child's guide to metal parts, but, compared to the plating expert Rick Hashimoto at RTI, I am indeed a child!

[Wie Gehts?]

The liner notes to the Mastersound edition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" state that "due to the unprecedented popularity of this title, the master tape is now in poor condition" (paraphrasing). I assume that over time the oxide coating begins to wear down or flake off, or...? What are the mechanics of audio tape wear?

[Steve Hoffman]

It was probably mixed on Scotch 201. Not as stable as tape in the cheaper Scotch 100 series. Prone to warping and oxide drop off (but still much better than 1970's era tape.)

[Bob Lovely]

Steve,

At present, what is your favorite reel tape? I have had really good experience with BASF SM-900.

Bob

[Steve Hoffman]

BASF.

[Bob Lovely]

Steve,

Thanks, your opinion is important to me!

Bob