Leader Tape Open Reel Audio Opaque White 1/4 Inch x 500 Ft with Splicing Tape and GEM Media Blade by TME AC1LWH500R-A

I'm relieved to discover that leader tape is still in stock. I have a lot of old tape reels, some of which were recorded all the way to the end and have no leader, and my current recorder loses tension several feet from the end, making that part of the tape unplayable. I could whine about the price for plain leader tape, but given what open-source software is capable of, I think it's a fair price. The price of reel tape has reached a level that isn't excessive, so I'm downgrading to a 4-star rating. Attempting to attach it lengthwise, getting good alignment between the 1/4 inch splice and the 1/4 inch tape is almost impossible, and if it doesn't land correctly, it can't be removed from the magnetic tape, especially the thin Mylar variety, without damaging the end, resulting in a splice. Although an accurate, perfectly aligned splice isn't required to attach a tape's leader to the ends, I wouldn't try any precision editing with it. There are no markings on the leader, which is plain white. It has a lot of "static cling," which helps keep the tape from unwinding but makes it difficult to find the end when threading it. This problem can be solved by adding a "Sharpie" to the end of the leader.

Fabian Rodriguez

| Oct 28, 2021

I got a R2R to play a bunch of old tapes, and almost all of them had their leader tapes fall off. After 30-minutes of use, the adhesive tape had worn out. 40 years. This stuff works great and has restored their ability to be loaded and spooled. Leader tape is becoming more difficult to come by, so I may pick up another pack just in case. It will take time to see if the adhesive holds up, but it appears to be of excellent quality. Getting a razor blade as well was a nice bonus.

Emmett Richard

| Feb 08, 2021

Back in the day, I always spliced with wider tape that was angled across the tape and leader. This narrow splice tape, on the other hand, works just fine. However, a proper splice block is strongly recommended to go along with it. br>The tape that serves as a leader is excellent.

Jordan Kane

| May 18, 2021

This is an excellent combination set for adding lead ins to open reel tapes. br>br>I have some old pre-recorded tapes that were becoming damaged due to the lack of a lead in. br>br>Not only do these protect the tape and make it easier to set on the machine, but they also stick to each other due to static, preventing the tape from falling off the reel when not in use.

Cameron Owen

| Aug 28, 2021

I've amassed a sizable R-related collection. I have R tapes from 40 years ago. Some of the leader tape had gone missing, and others needed to be replaced. For the minor repairs, these supplies were sufficient.

Virginia Kelley

| Sep 28, 2021

This is a must-have solution if you own an old reel-to-reel tape deck and want to edit your old tapes. It comes with a leader tape for use at the start of reels and between takes, as well as splicing tape and a razor blade for editing.

Marlowe Briggs

| May 23, 2021

I'm glad this is being made for an older media format. It's still used by a large number of people - Some are converting it to digital as a hobby or passion, while others, such as myself, are converting it to digital but need to repair the media in order to use or archive it. This product is exactly what you're looking for.

Maggie Shaffer

| Sep 19, 2021

These items are becoming nearly as scarce as hen's teeth. I got the package in a record-breaking amount of time.

Mylo Holmes

| Aug 29, 2021