Topic: Use NR on playback for tapes recorded with NR?

[MarkyMark]

Hi everyone,

I have a cassette master recorded with Dolby B NR and I will be converting it to flac (24/96 and then 16/44.1). Do I want turn my Dolby B on on my tape deck when I transfer it or should I rather leave it off? I've heard both, but I'm hoping someone has a difinitive answer.

Thanks for any help!

[jpschust]

what's a tape

[rocksuitcase]

Hi everyone,

I have a cassette master recorded with Dolby B NR and I will be converting it to flac (24/96 and then 16/44.1). Do I want turn my Dolby B on on my tape deck when I transfer it or should I rather leave it off? I've heard both, but I'm hoping someone has a difinitive answer.

Thanks for any help!

I think MOkes idea is about right, whatever SOUNDS best to your ears.  Try it both ways, see what you prefer.  That said, IF you knew the types of Dolby circuits in the master deck and then in your current playback deck AND they are similar ( i.e, both Sony, one Sony and now a Denon.  IF you have a tape mastered on A SonyTCD5M and are now playing back from a NAK deck, then I would not use dolby as the NAK dolby circuits differ substantially from the Sony's.

For my transfers I always use Dolby if it was used on the master.
What MIke said about dialing in Azimuth is also very important (some say more important)

In case this isn't common knowledge anymore: Dolby used to license the USE of Dolby circuitries by other manufacturers, but didn't sell Dolby modules to all of them.  Therefore many designs, while compliant to the license still differed greatly in type of capacitors/resistors, signal chain choice etc.

oops, just re read your post- sorry nothing definitive about analog I guess

[Roving Sign]

Azimuth is the key - you want the tape to track on the same path it was recorded...this will have the greatest effect on high frequency output and stereo imaging...

I like to re-master without Dolby and fix it with a some noise reduction in post production...

The Noise Reduction function in Audacity works great for cassettes...as long as you can get a "noise only" sample.

But -yes- let your ears be the judge...