We still use some Blackface ADATs with different Tape Brands - all of them start to have Errors (LCD-Point in the Display is flashing from time to time) after excessive use (even the Emtecs). One thing though:

avoid long Tape, cause it's to thin...we use maximum 120 mins Video/ 40 mins on ADAT.

And always wind the Tape to the End once before formatting...

AND stay away from TDK !!!!!!!! one tape left a little hill of magnetic dust near the Tapehead - never used it again.

Ah did I mention the backup-copies of important material?;-)

I'll more or less agree with Pan - back when I used ADATs in a pinch I was able to record on just about any SVHS I could find. But if it's a brand you don't trust, transfer it to something else at the earliest opportunity.

Here's a trick that may help avoid the oxide dust problem. I would always keep an old VCR deck around purely for the purposes of fast forwarding and rewinding every new tape that was going to be formatted 2 or 3 times before ever inserting it into an ADAT machine. That way any loose particles would get knocked off before ever coming near my machines. Maybe it was part psychological, but it really seemd to work for me.

Here's a trick that may help avoid the oxide dust problem. I would always keep an old VCR deck around purely for the purposes of fast
forwarding and rewinding every new tape that was going to be formatted 2 or 3 times before ever inserting it into an ADAT machine. That way
any loose particles would get knocked off before ever coming near my machines. Maybe it was part psychological, but it really seemd to work
for me.

NOW you tell me... ;-)

Quick question - what does this guy normally use? Bop him in the head real good for not having good sony, basf, or hhb tapes in stock.

About ADAT... by definition, ADAT tape is S-VHS format tape. So any S-VHS tape will work, provided that:
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