This is absolutely the best Bias Tune Video for 2 heads decks in TH-cam. I have a Nakamichi CR2 and I was looking for a faster and better method for comparing bias settings. I never thought that I could use the DAW!
Me too, but still not really understanding. I could never hear an audible difference when just playing a tape. So I guess it's only for recording, and before you make the final recording you have to test different bias settings.....?
@@theonemodifier It's only for recording :) The tape doesn't have a linear characteristic - both for amplitude and for frequency. BIAS setting makes the deck to use the linear part of the graphics of the tape where it works best.
so its just as simple as recording pink noise and matching it up with the source? i have a 2 head tape deck but the adjustments are all inside.. so it looks like ill have to make a map with my adjustment pots and just take my time. Thanks for the video..
It's also wise to try to record a carefully selected multi- instrument music track to see how the tape performs in a real situation, regarding both its static, as well as its dynamic behaviour (i.e if it destorts certain frequencies or transients/peaks). Test tones and single instrument recordings are great but, as i found in practice, are never enough.
Have had a Nakamichi Cassette Deck 2 from new and it's one of the things i never ever tested as normally used TDK SA tapes, sadly she started playing up the other week so got myself a DR-3 so off to do some testing
Is there a general rule to follow or does it depend on the tape and deck a lot? At least as a starting point? I guess with a 3 head deck you can just switch the monitor and do it by ear pretty easily with a pink noise loop.
+Shao Zhang Yes, with 3 Head Tape Decks it's pretty straight forward. Just with monitor and adjust the bias until it sounds the same. Generally, it really depends on the Tape Deck, so you will always have to try and manually bias your deck for a certain kind of tape formula.
Would it make sense to do fine adjustments using a freq. response graph? Like overlaying source and deck output graphs and doing the adjustment visually? Can you recommend software that can do that?
Thanks for this I just happen to have that same Nakamichi. So it's strictly for recording on the tape deck? And does not have an effect on playback from prerecorded tapes?
My late 70s JVC KD-65 does not have a BIAS control. Is this something located inside the deck somewhere? It used to be a top of the line deck so I assume it would have some way to calibrate it..
Thanks, you are right. I downloaded the service manual and it shows all the adjustments are inside the unit. Do you think I need a "calibration" tape to do this? Or can I do it all digitally as you seem to have done?
+DJ alt.rock Well yes and no. It depends on the tape deck. Some sound really dull with certain tapes cause they were aligned with a special tape which is often not available anymore. If that's the case you can try and use the bias to get the high frequencies back. What you can also do, and many people still do this, is to record with more treble than you normally would. Cassette tape recorders tend to smoothen the top end and transients which can sometimes sound dull. So going in with more treble can compensate for that.
Unfortunately, the stereo playback is 'monomized' in this YT video (or even when digitizing to the PC??). Then you get all the artifacts of mono-playback, including frequency loss due to tapehead misalignment... Very audible in the first part!
I don't want to sound rude but when you were going threw the pink noise playbacks, I could not discern which ones were good/bad, better... i mean hoq does one determine which noise sounds better???
The concept is to get more or less the same pink noise on tape as the original in the DAW. With the Bias you can change the frequency response of the tape deck. The pink noise on tape should have the same high- and low frequencies as the original.
Just use your ears and pick which bias setting sounds best to your ears. You might prefer an “under biased” or “over biased” sound. Have fun with it and make something that sounds good to you 🌈
If the sensitivity of the tape material used matches what the tape deck is calibrated to, Dolby shouldn't really be an issue. But in reality it is always better to not throw in any additional signal processing when you're calibrating.
This is absolutely the best Bias Tune Video for 2 heads decks in TH-cam.
I have a Nakamichi CR2 and I was looking for a faster and better method for comparing bias settings.
I never thought that I could use the DAW!
Thanks mate!
Excellent demonstration. The multiple recorded settings made it easy to hear the aim.
Excellent!! All these decades and I had no clue what bias was. But now I know. Thank you :)
You‘re welcome!
Me too, but still not really understanding. I could never hear an audible difference when just playing a tape. So I guess it's only for recording, and before you make the final recording you have to test different bias settings.....?
@@theonemodifier It's only for recording :) The tape doesn't have a linear characteristic - both for amplitude and for frequency. BIAS setting makes the deck to use the linear part of the graphics of the tape where it works best.
Thanks for the video. Straightforward and thoughtful. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! So it seems the Bias control is only for recording, and it doesn't affect playback.
so its just as simple as recording pink noise and matching it up with the source?
i have a 2 head tape deck but the adjustments are all inside.. so it looks like ill have to make a map with my adjustment pots and just take my time.
Thanks for the video..
+Matt K basically yes and careful listening!
It's also wise to try to record a carefully selected multi- instrument music track to see how the tape performs in a real situation, regarding both its static, as well as its dynamic behaviour (i.e if it destorts certain frequencies or transients/peaks). Test tones and single instrument recordings are great but, as i found in practice, are never enough.
Glad my tape deck does this automatically
Great job explaining and demonstrating.
Excellent!
Have had a Nakamichi Cassette Deck 2 from new and it's one of the things i never ever tested as normally used TDK SA tapes, sadly she started playing up the other week so got myself a DR-3 so off to do some testing
What speakers do I need for a tape dexk
Very useful. Thanks!
Great video, thank you so much. This will help me set some recordings with a Yamaha TC-520 on a brand new chrome tape.
Is there a general rule to follow or does it depend on the tape and deck a lot? At least as a starting point? I guess with a 3 head deck you can just switch the monitor and do it by ear pretty easily with a pink noise loop.
+Shao Zhang Yes, with 3 Head Tape Decks it's pretty straight forward. Just with monitor and adjust the bias until it sounds the same. Generally, it really depends on the Tape Deck, so you will always have to try and manually bias your deck for a certain kind of tape formula.
Would it make sense to do fine adjustments using a freq. response graph? Like overlaying source and deck output graphs and doing the adjustment visually? Can you recommend software that can do that?
+Shao Zhang Good question, never tried it this way. But it might work! I always do it by ear.
Thanks for this I just happen to have that same Nakamichi. So it's strictly for recording on the tape deck? And does not have an effect on playback from prerecorded tapes?
Ever thought of using an analyzer. Lots built in to logic.
My late 70s JVC KD-65 does not have a BIAS control. Is this something located inside the deck somewhere? It used to be a top of the line deck so I assume it would have some way to calibrate it..
Yes, some units have it inside - you‘ll have to check the manual for that.
Thanks, you are right. I downloaded the service manual and it shows all the adjustments are inside the unit. Do you think I need a "calibration" tape to do this? Or can I do it all digitally as you seem to have done?
It should be possible to do it as I have shown, but you have to listen carefully.
Where could I download the various test tones from?
You‘ll have to use a pink noise generator. I think every DAW should has one as a plugin.
How do you do this on a Nakamichi 680ZX?
Great video now i can set my bias inside my pioneer ct-400.
Thanks!
Great video!
Wouldn't you want to jack up the bias when using a type 1 to cram as much treble on the tape as you can? I always wondered that.
+DJ alt.rock Well yes and no. It depends on the tape deck. Some sound really dull with certain tapes cause they were aligned with a special tape which is often not available anymore. If that's the case you can try and use the bias to get the high frequencies back. What you can also do, and many people still do this, is to record with more treble than you normally would. Cassette tape recorders tend to smoothen the top end and transients which can sometimes sound dull. So going in with more treble can compensate for that.
Unfortunately, the stereo playback is 'monomized' in this YT video (or even when digitizing to the PC??). Then you get all the artifacts of mono-playback, including frequency loss due to tapehead misalignment... Very audible in the first part!
For regular playback I don't need to adjust the bias, right? Thats just for recording onto tape. Is that correct?
Right! Bias adjustment only affects recording.
@@ZedMartyProduction thanks for your answer!
very good video :)
Hello my deck is connected to receiver so how I can connect to laptop.an receiver,?thank you.MC
What level do you send the pink noise out of the daw?
+PJ Jackson around -18 dBFS
NICE i check this video and bam , exact same. tape deck :D Nak Rules
Thank you very much!
+10gaugesbelow Thanks for watching!
I don't want to sound rude but when you were going threw the pink noise playbacks, I could not discern which ones were good/bad, better... i mean hoq does one determine which noise sounds better???
The concept is to get more or less the same pink noise on tape as the original in the DAW. With the Bias you can change the frequency response of the tape deck. The pink noise on tape should have the same high- and low frequencies as the original.
Just use your ears and pick which bias setting sounds best to your ears. You might prefer an “under biased” or “over biased” sound. Have fun with it and make something that sounds good to you 🌈
the bias adjustment should not have been done with dolby enabled.
If the sensitivity of the tape material used matches what the tape deck is calibrated to, Dolby shouldn't really be an issue. But in reality it is always better to not throw in any additional signal processing when you're calibrating.
Can’t tell the difference between any of the white noise 😂
That's the way to go if all you have is a 2 head deck.