MY TRADING TERMS

MES CONDITIONS D'ECHANGE

EN CONSTRUCTION. ENVOYEZ MOI VOS PROPOSITIONS POUR AMELIORER CES CONDITIONS. UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PLEASE SEND ME SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE THESE TERMS.

 

Introduction about these terms

These terms are almost all subject to negociation, on the behalf of common logic. But some of them are not negotiable, they are clearly stated as such.
I am working on this page and will adapt these terms while trading and negociating adaptations. I am also open to suggestions in order to improve these terms

1/ No sale, only trades

Don't even ask me to sell you something. I won't answer.

2/ The kind of copies I can (and cannot) make for a trade

I can do the following transfers :

• CD or CDR -> CDR (Digital material to CDR)
• CD or CDR or Vynil or Tape or VHS -> Tape (Analog or digital material to tape)

I cannot easily and with reasonable delays transfer analog material to CDR. In fact I can do this, but with lengthy delays, and I have a backlist of late works to do. So please don't even ask about any tranfer from analog to digital. I will do these transfers at my own rythm, and will add any such newly created CDR on my trade list.

3/ The equipment for tapes :

I have two audio tape decks, both high end or high middle end. One is a Nakamichi, the other, more recent and bought especially to copy tapes for trades is a TEAC. The Nakamichi is completely refurbished, and as good as new. There is no high speed dubbing on these tape decks, so don't worry about the quality of the tapes made with these decks.

I also have a HiFi Stereo PAL/SECAM/NTSC JVC VHS VCR. This one is linked to the HiFi system, and I can copy to audio tape the sound track of any video tape that I have, without any perceptible quality loss.

I'd appreciate if you could give me some details on how you record the tapes you trade. I don't really enjoy the high speed dubbing made on some systems.

4/ The equipment for CDRs

I have bought a CD-R writing machine (based on the famous reference burner Yamaha CDR 100), to be able to "burn" CDs. It is linked to a Macintosh, and I use two old (and then expensive) pieces of software, called Astarte CD-Copy to copy the CD to the Hard Drive, and Astarte CD-DA to create a perfect Audio CD.

In the long term I will be able to create CDs from all these marvelous collector tapes, or from vynil bootlegs I own. I will also use some software to be able to clean up the sound of tape / vynil in the process. I've done that, but it is time consuming. So rythm of issueing these CDRs is slow...

As for now I can only easily make CD-R from CDs. So I can already send you a copy of any boot CD or CDR I own, if you are interested.

NB : about CD-Rs : the copying from a CD to a CD-R is done by computer. Only digital copying is involved : no coding as analogic in the meantime. So no quality loss at all is going to happen because of the software I use. Quality is the same as the original CD (not always good for bootlegs, but...) My CD-Rs are playable as standard audio CDs, as the equipment and software I use are 100 % compatible with Audio CD norms.

5/ The noise reduction system for tapes (Dolby)

I can record with : Dolby B, Dolby C, no dolby. Just ask your preference.

Personnally, I'd like to get dolby B tapes, as dolby C systems don't seem all like to be completely compatible. And I think that copying without Dolby adds tape noise (hiss) at each generation.

6/ Trading rates for tapes

The trade rate I usually use is :

• One tape for one tape of equivalent length for audio material. Lengths can be 60, 90 or 100 minutes. I don't easily have acces to intermediate capacity tapes (70 or 80), and 120 minutes are too weak.
• One CDR for one CDR
• One full tape for one full CDR. Actual rate for exchange between CDRs and tapes will depend on the quality and quantity of the musical material, and also about the actual copying work involved. Feel free to ask.

I am also interested in getting videos, but can't record videos myself, for now. So I can offer audio in exchange for video. The rate I can offer is the following :

• Two video tapes (160 or 180 minutes) for three audio tapes (C90 or C100) or CDRs. As for now I can't copy videos, but am anyways interested in getting some. Good brands and types please. I can read PAL, SECAM or NTSC. But a special mention must be made about PAL M : I can't read them.

7/ Tapes brands, models and cases

I prefer getting Maxell XLII.

Ask me what brand and model you prefer, people are usually happy with Maxell XLII or TDK SA.

We have to agree if we send the cases with the tapes. I ususally do as it offers some protection to the tape, as I sometimes received tapes damaged by the transport.

I use mainly C90 tapes. I use C100 tapes whenever necessary in order to fit a whole concert or music work on a single tape, or in order to better fit some songs at the end of a tape. Please do the same. We can settle the price difference between a C90 and a C100 in different ways.

8/ Ends of tapes

When recording if there is not enough tape left on the particular side, instead of recording part of the song on one side, and then continuing the song on the other side, I think it's best to record the whole song on the other side. Please do the same thing.

About what's left of the first side I can leave side one area blank, or fill with another "loose" filler material. Let me know what you prefer. We have to do the same, because of the work involved.

9/ Trading rates for CDRs

I will trade :

One CD-R with bootleg content (including neatly printed cover) for :

• One CD (standard boot CD or digitally copied CD-R plus printed cover) with bootleg content,
• or One new unused CD-R plus two tapes with bootleg content,
• or Two new unused CD-R plus one tape with bootleg content,
• or One new unused CD-R plus one vynil bootleg.

Don't think me greedy, but creating CD-R is a heavy investment in money, and also each CD-R you write takes a lot of time to do in a good way.

10/ CDRs brands, models and cases

As for now the "approved" (tested) brands of CD-R are Maxell, Mitsui Gold, Sony, Memorex and TDK.

Maxell turn out OK, but are somewhat difficult to write sometimes. I will test more ASAP.

I use a 4x recording machine, so please check that the blank CDRs you send me are compatible.

11/ Labels

I can either :

- make inserts for the cassette case, or

-just number the cassette case, enclose a hard copy printout showing what is on the particularly numbered cassette, and also sending the same info in an E-mail once the package is shipped.

If you do send a printout AND an email text, no need for a special label.

I will do my own labels. Printed label inserts is appreciated, if you don't mind doing them.

12/ Packaging

We can wrap each cassette case in saran, sometimes called clear wrap. This prevents the cases from sliding around inside the package and getting chipped or cracked. Let me know if you agree to do that.

We have to package the material seriously : outside cardboard packaging, tapes fit together by a small plastic pouch or saran, empty space filled with balled paper or light plastic styrofoam.

13/ Postage

I send everything by priority airmail. I ask the same from you.

We have to post the packages at some time close (not necessarily the same day, but close to that) in order to wait undue waiting.

Thanks for your attention, and good trading.

Remmy