Another Tape sound Question

Guys I've used 2" tape and I know the increase in Width it gives and how it makes a recording sound more "solid" (for lack of a better term)

My ? comes from the fact that I dont need 24 tracks. I really dont need more than 2 tracks at a time of recording/playback

Now I know that the wider the tape (assuming equal qualiy of machines) the better the sound. My question is; Is it possible to get close to that sound using 1/2 or 1/4" tape and only 2 tracks?

Since theoretically there's more tape width per track

Does this make sense?

[Apemandan]

Why yes, of course. Most 2-track 'masters' are commited to 1/2" tape.

I think you misunderstood my question. I'm thinking of using the reel doing tracking, but my question is would I be close to the equivalent of 2 tracks on a 2" machine

[wwittman]

For me it's DEFINITELY tape first.

I see digital as pouring the contents of a bucket into an array of glasses placed edge to edge... some of the liquid goes missing in the gaps between the bits.

So once that loss has occurred there's no point in going analogue...

[Han]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

I think you misunderstood my question. I'm thinking of using the reel doing tracking, but my question is would I be close to the equivalent of 2 tracks on a 2" machine

Do you mean is 1/4 tape two track the same width per track as 2" 24?

Originally Posted by Han

Do you mean is 1/4 tape two track the same width per track as 2" 24?

NO I know that its not. I'm asking how much of the warmth I'd get from tracking 2 tracks to a 2" tape would be achieved if I track 2 tracks to a 1/4 or 1/2" tape.


(Knowing that 2" 24trk tape is not a 1/4" per track is pretty simple math)

I'm asking about the sound since I've never printed to both to compare

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

NO I know that its not. I'm asking how much of the warmth I'd get from tracking 2 tracks to a 2" tape would be achieved if I track 2 tracks to a 1/4 or 1/2" tape.

(Knowing that 2" 24trk tape is not a 1/4" per track is pretty simple math)

I'm asking about the sound since I've never printed to both to compare

a 1/4" track is wider than a 24/2" track.. so if you want to simulate 2" on a track by track basis 1/4" is fine.

beyond that you prolly want a tape machine with some recallable settings and some things to tweak so you can setup some different sounds...

how much warmth? depends on the machine/tape/etc... just about any answer i give here would be dependent on 12 other things... so it's an impossible question to answer in a vacuum.

maybe get a fatso.. it's got a meter for "warmth"

[aevan]

Originally Posted by wwittman

For me it's DEFINITELY tape first.

I see digital as pouring the contents of a bucket into an array of glasses placed edge to edge... some of the liquid goes missing in the gaps between the bits.

So once that loss has occurred there's no point in going analogue...

Hi William, do you have the same approach for analog processing, things that generate a bit of 'pleasant' harmonic distortion...do you keep those in the analog domian, or run them as external fx on a bunch of converters?

[Mike Caffrey]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

NO I know that its not. I'm asking how much of the warmth I'd get from tracking 2 tracks to a 2" tape would be achieved if I track 2 tracks to a 1/4 or 1/2" tape.


(Knowing that 2" 24trk tape is not a 1/4" per track is pretty simple math)

I'm asking about the sound since I've never printed to both to compare

The very first response you got was yes and it's still the same answer.

He added a comment about mixing to 1/4 inch. His point was that 1/4 inch as a medium is just as professional and high end as 2 inch.

Machines will vary in quality.

[wwittman]

foe ME:

I record on an analogue desk going to tape when at all possible or straight to digital when it's not.

Then at the end of the project I mix back through the analogue desk and do all the processing in the analogue domain.

I do as little ITB processing as possible.. only things that are only really possible in digital (autotune, pitch shifting, time compression, etc) and the occasional delay.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by wwittman

Then at the end of the project I mix back through the analogue desk and do all the processing in the analogue domain.

I do as little ITB processing as possible.. only things that are only really possible in digital (autotune, pitch shifting, time compression, etc) and the occasional delay.

Same here.thumbsup

[Mike Caffrey]

Me too.

I guess us NY City folk are a little behind the times.