TME Recording Products: AC1STB94 Splicing Tabs

If you’re just making a few edits on open reel tapes, or attaching a leader to tops and tails, it won’t kill you to cut off a piece of leader tape from a spool. But there are times where I’m doing a lot of edits, such as repairing failed splices on post-baked stock or setting up several reels for a project. It’s an inefficient pain in the rear to stop, go to a different block, try to peel the tape from the spool, and grab scissors or razor or trust a dispenser to give a clean slice to work with. That’s not to mention the variable length or questionable angles that can be created this way. TME, a maker of editing supplies, sells their ubiquitous blue splicing tape with segments pre-die cut, so I ordered a 100 tab sample for 1/4-inch tapes. TME items come in double-sealed bags with freshness dates, but I’ve had rolls of their products last for years. Each AC1STB94 piece is a uniform 1.25-inch long, features clean 45-degree cuts, and dispenses easily. It’s not scientific, but I estimate I completed joins three to four times faster, not to mention much less splicing tape saved compared to the random length segments I make. I wish I had found this earlier, and I’m buying more.