What is the best way to archive OTR programs?
A19. The most popular way seemed to be reel-reel tapes, using each of the four tracks to record monophonically. Modern reel machines are in the > $2,000 range, and used open reel machines are becoming harder to find. Purists claim open reel tapes are best stored “tails out”, in which the tape is played (not fast-forwarded) onto the take-up reel. This method of storage makes “print through” of the magnetic sound image a little less noticeable because the “echo” will come before the louder sound that caused it, and be somewhat masked by the louder sound. Cassettes are generally fine for portability / ease of use / exchange, but they suffer from several problems when used as a long-term storage medium. These problems include “overwinding” and splitting of the tape at the leader. Because of their thinner track width and slower speed (1 7/8 IPS), the density of the information is greater than with wider and faster (3 3/4 IPS or 7 1/2 IPS) reel tapes. This leads to a greater loss of signal (
