Hi-
Been doing some mixing lately to 1/2". I have an ATR-102 thats in pretty good shape. If you've been following the EMT plate thread in the Whatever Works you'll know that I'm currently mixing a retro country record. Up til now I had been using RMGI 900 but for this project I am trying ATR's 1/2". They only make one version so this is that.
I will say that I like RMGI. It sounded very nice to my ears, and comparing it to GP9, I liked it better. Maybe I'm crazy but GP9 has a sheen to it that I am not crazy about. I used to like it but think i was hearing obliquely that day I compared or I just hear now what I didn't then. I'll say that the ATR tape seems to be less colored than the RMGI - again, to my ears. Please don't flame me because i didn't do a head to head comparison. I am running it at 15 ips and not slamming the tape hard at all. Biased for +9 but I am rarely peaking at zero, usually peaking at -2 or -3.
So for the review, I am very happy. It sounds like what is going in only better. Smoother, more glued up with all of the instruments more in the same field than without and more inviting. Its more expensive, about $20 more than RMGI, but it sounds very, very nice.
15 ips baby.
josh