Reel to reel tape disposal

[Guest]

Hi, I have signed up to this forum to ask just one question - does anyone know how you dispose of old reel to reel tapes (mainly Ampex)? I have spoken to organisations, friends who record music, and searched the web for hours - no one knows. So this forum is the last place I can think of asking for help. Unfortunately our local borough is no help and the recycling facilities limited.
(Please accept my apologies if this is the wrong forum and of course remove my post.)

[Mike Stranks]

Welcome!

It's a good question...

It's a long time since I was using open-reel tape, but when I disposed of it I just put it in the bin. In these more ecologically aware times I think you're right to ask the question... but I don't think there's a definitive answer... plastic reels are probable recyclable and metal ones could probably be salvaged... but as for the tape itself...

[Hugh Robjohns]

I fear it is destined for landfill. The options for recycling analogue recording tape are very limited indeed. I remember reading years ago of some small schemes recycling VHS video tapes, but not audio tape... and I've not come across anything lately.

Ideally, of course, it would get reused as recording tape, but the quality suffers with increasing use even for less-critical applications like echo-loops it's unlikely anyone would want to take on second-hand Ampex tape stock because it is very prone to the sticky-shed syndrome.

You could try finding a local Foley artist/studio that might want a load of analogue tape for making sound effects. We used to scrunch up piles of it all the time to simulate the sound of walking on bracken, or for animals moving in the undergrowth -- back in the dark ages when I worked occasionally in drama studios. So that's a possibility... Check out any local broadcast or independent post-production studios...

Or you could offer it to gardeners for use as plant ties or for scaring birds (if it is shiny, rather than matt-backed)

But basically I fear the tape itself is for landfill.

(Me on a bad editing day a very long time ago! )

The metal (aluminium) spools (and potentially the plastic reels) can be recycled, however -- and you may well find some analogue recording enthusiasts who would welcome some spare reels in good condition. As it happens, I acquired a handful from someone having a clear-out only last month!

H

[zenguitar]

A left field idea here. Have you considered contacting the National Sound Archive at the British Library? They may find the material useful, and even if they don't they might welcome it for other purposes like training or transfers. And I wouldn't mind betting that they have to dispose of old tape from time to time and probably have a policy for that.

Andy

[James Perrett]

My first thought is to ask whether there are any recordings on the tape that might be of interest to someone? The reason I ask is that I'm always transferring material from vinyl or cassette that must have existed as a reel to reel master at some point. People often sent their masters off to be pressed into vinyl or duplicated onto cassette and never saw them again. Even if the artist isn't well known, there could be someone looking for that material.

If the tapes are genuinely rubbish then I would save any metal reels - they're worth good money and you pay a premium of around £20 if you want to buy new tape on metal reels compared to the same tape on plastic reels or pancakes. Smaller plastic reels aren't so valuable but could still be useful to a reel to reel user for shorter masters.

[The Korff]

(Me on a bad editing day a very long time ago! )

OMG

[Mixedup]

You never see these two in the same place at the same time...

[Hugh Robjohns]

Damn you to blazes! My secret is out...

[Guest]

Many thanks for all your replies. I like your headgear Hugh, more Lady Gaga than Jamiroquai. Unfortunately the landfill seems to be the only option.

Good suggestion Andy, I have had a reply from technical services at the British Library and they also believe that landfill is the only option, although they do remember an environmentally friendly disposal company based in Bristol which closed down in 2015.

Also thanks for your suggestions James. Three of the tapes have early recordings by up and coming U.K. jazz musicians so could well be of archival interest. As I have sold my Revox I don’t know if they need to be baked or not. I could speak to the lead saxophone player and ask him if he thinks they would be of interest as he is now well respected on the jazz scene. Originally they were recorded on a Studer in a good studio and have that 1980s sound (those were the days when boys could wear eye make-up and there were lots of hand stapled fanzines around).
If I get any more ideas I shall post them.

[ef37a]

I have just sent two heavy bags of old VHS (and some Beta!) cassettes to landfill, nothing else to do here.

Tape spools are like gold dust! Certainly the metal ones can be recycled but far better to put on Ebay or just donate them to an analogue person. There is a complete section for these strange beings at Home Recording.com

Dave.

[Guest]

Tape spools are like gold dust! Certainly the metal ones can be recycled but far better to put on Ebay or just donate them to an analogue person. There is a complete section for these strange beings at Home Recording.com

Dave.

Regarding selling spools I was just wondering, assuming there is no confidential information on the strong cardboard boxes - just studio names, titles and dates - would the buyers prefer the spools with boxes?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Probably, yes.

You used to be able to buy ready-printed self-adhesive labels, but I can't find any suppliers now... but it's easy enough to make and glue on a new label if necessary.

H

[Media Recycling]

Dear All who have posted in this thread. There is no longer any need to send media to landfill.

We launched Media Recycling in 2014 to avoid precisely this. We offer the following service:

* Collection of media (whether a single box or an entire library).
* Sorting of media, with separation of steel cans and where possible polypropylene cases.
* Remaining reels, cassettes and discs are processed via an energy from waste process, wherein the materials fuel green energy generation.
* Remaining bottom ash is used with aggregate in road construction.

Please do contact me for a quote - we'd be glad to help.

kim@mediaservicing.co.uk
+44 (0)7807 597790

[Hugh Robjohns]

Good to know -- thanks for letting us know.

I'll sticky this thread for future reference.

H

[Martin Walker]

Good to know -- thanks for letting us know.

I'll sticky this thread for future reference.

Oh no - wouldn't that make it subject to sticky tape syndrome?

Martin

[Wonks]

Good to know -- thanks for letting us know.

I'll sticky this thread for future reference.

Oh no - wouldn't that make it subject to sticky tape syndrome?

Martin

Going off half- baked again.

[Sam Spoons]

I wouldn't put it past them to be cooking up some scheme or other.....

[Martin Walker]

Oh no, what have I started now?

We'll be talking about the relative merits of 90 and 45 degree splicing next

Martin

[Sam Spoons]

I always preferred 60º splices myself.....

[Hugh Robjohns]

Me too! Kids today huh?

[John Willett]

Oh no, what have I started now?

We'll be talking about the relative merits of 90 and 45 degree splicing next

Martin

Ooh...

90˚ splices were mostly for multi-tracks, so all edits were at the same point and not one track after the other. Though, even here, I seem to remember thet there was a slight angle on the edit.

Though, I never edited multi-tracks myself, onlt ¼" stereo.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Well, Martin... funny you should ask about that...

The traditional EMItape or Editall types of splicing block usually had three angles which were: 45, 60 and 87* degrees.



*The actual angle varied between about 80 and 89 degrees, depending on tape width, but was usually referred to (incorrectly) as a 90-degree slot (steeper angle on wider tape).

At the beeb we were taught to use the 45 degree slot for mono full width recordings, and the 60 degree slot for half-track stereo (both on quarter-inch tapes). The steeper slope was needed for half-track stereo tapes to minimise the chances of a 'flash edit' where the stereo image rushes from one side to the other at the edit point.

The 87 degree slot was generally reserved for joining leader tape, but was also used for removing clicks on tracks dubbed from records, or for particularly tight edits.

Physical cut-editing of multitrack tapes was relatively rare (because the tape reels were very expensive and so routinely wiped and reused after the mixdown), but when necessary was always done using the 87 degree slot to minimise the time lead/lag at the edit point across all the tracks.

The idea of the sloping cut -- whichever angle was employed -- was to provide a very short crossfade across the edit, and to minimise 'thumps' caused by possible magnetisation effects when joining tapes recorded on different machines.

Most modern DAWs replicated the angled cut by using very brief crossfades at edit points too.

H

[Terrible.dee]

Hi, I have signed up to this forum to ask just one question - does anyone know how you dispose of old reel to reel tapes (mainly Ampex)? I have spoken to organisations, friends who record music, and searched the web for hours - no one knows. So this forum is the last place I can think of asking for help. Unfortunately our local borough is no help and the recycling facilities limited.
(Please accept my apologies if this is the wrong forum and of course remove my post.)

WHAT!?!

Are we talking unused tape here?!!! SEND IT TO ME!!!! I'LL DEAL WITH IT!!

DON'T THROW IT AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!

[ken long]

The metal (aluminium) spools (and potentially the plastic reels) can be recycled, however -- and you may well find some analogue recording enthusiasts who would welcome some spare reels in good condition. As it happens, I acquired a handful from someone having a clear-out only last month!

I hope the ten inch spools are never recycled. They are still very much in demand. Even if one of the flanges is bent, the other parts may be useful.

The British Library Sound Archive will accept tape only on a spool but you need to make it clear it is for disposal or they may try to save the recordings!

[ken long]

Well, Martin... funny you should ask about that...

The traditional EMItape or Editall types of splicing block usually had three angles which were: 45, 60 and 87* degrees.

I have this block

*The actual angle varied between about 80 and 89 degrees, depending on tape width, but was usually referred to (incorrectly) as a 90-degree slot (steeper angle on wider tape).

At the beeb we were taught to use the 45 degree slot for mono full width recordings, and the 60 degree slot for half-track stereo (both on quarter-inch tapes). The steeper slope was needed for half-track stereo tapes to minimise the chances of a 'flash edit' where the stereo image rushes from one side to the other at the edit point.

The 87 degree slot was generally reserved for joining leader tape, but was also used for removing clicks on tracks dubbed from records, or for particularly tight edits.

Physical cut-editing of multitrack tapes was relatively rare (because the tape reels were very expensive and so routinely wiped and reused after the mixdown), but when necessary was always done using the 87 degree slot to minimise the time lead/lag at the edit point across all the tracks.

The idea of the sloping cut -- whichever angle was employed -- was to provide a very short crossfade across the edit, and to minimise 'thumps' caused by possible magnetisation effects when joining tapes recorded on different machines.

Most modern DAWs replicated the angled cut by using very brief crossfades at edit points too.

Very interesting. Thank you.