Give 'Em Half an inch???

[DHD]

Wondering what types of mixes have called for mastering to half inch tape???

Those of you mix enginneers sending your stuff out for mastering what kinds of music have benifited from mastering to half inch and what types of music ie RAWK, ACOUSTIC SINGER SONGWRITER etc. Anythought and comments welcome.

Peace,
DHD

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by DHD

Anythought and comments welcome.

Sure.

Everything.

[A27Hull]

Ive seen some come through a mastering facility in Nashville, the genre was country...Nashville, go figure .

If it sounds good, try it. A good mastering house will most likely have access to a 1/2" machine, not to mention good A/D.

[D.T. Jambor]

80 % by Tape Mastering with 1/2.

[u b k]

Originally Posted by DHD

Those of you mix enginneers sending your stuff out for mastering what kinds of music have benifited from mastering to half inch and what types of music ie RAWK, ACOUSTIC SINGER SONGWRITER etc. Anythought and comments welcome.

wait, are you asking what i *mix* to tape and then send to mastering, or what i have the mastering guy drop to tape after he masters it?

i'm still unsure whether hip-hop and r'nb want to be mixed to tape; sometimes spiky transients are your friend, and when i want that serious pump on the ass end, tape may not be my ally.

i've never had the mastering guy master to tape, though. that's SERIOUS old school.


gregoire
del ubik

[RoundBadge]

Tape all the waystike

[DHD]

Thanks for the replies so far fellas.

u b i k just to clarify what I ment... sending your mix to a half inch tape machine as part of the mastering process.

For instance perhaps you have recorded an acoustic guitar based performer to digital using pristine mics and pres. Maybe something complex such as a 12 string acoustic guitar but mastering to half inch brought out the emotion of the music.

That was just me postulating as I don't have the experience of tape. It could be anything, country, hip-hop, rock blues, electronica.... Just any instance where you yourselves have had had a master created to half inch tape that has brought out an to an emotional ellement to the music.

I think a half inch machine is more maintainable and affordable than a multitrack. I could experiment with sending a whole mix to it or just drums and electric guitars etc and have a real play with it. I could also try my mixes being mastered to half inch by a mastering house.

Over the years I have worked as a musician with funk, blues, modern metal, be-bop, singer/songwriters, and pop/rock players. I can envision different scenarios for half inch tape that might be useful to the people I know.

I've had experiences with a fatso and liked it!thumbsup I'm going to put a rack together to travel around with me involving 2 quartet II's and some king of nice programable fx mangler and maybe have a half inch dec at home as something I can bring to the party!!!Just some ideas for my own sluttiness as it's time for me to upgrade my toys.

Peace,
DHD

[ripper]

hey there

look, 1/2 inch is great to mix to.... i have a lovely ampex 102 w/ new flux magnetics extended response heads.

but i also have a cranesong hedd 192.

form your post, that would probably serve you better. flexible on amount you effect mixes plus you can track most or all overdubs through it.

and have you ever tried to rack an ampex 102?

btw/ not all half inches are created equal!

talk to louis at AWAVE in camberwell for a good deal on a Hedd 192. good first step towards better quality all around,

tell him eastern bloc studios sent ya.

[ripper]

but if you want the real deal in a half inch, talk to mick wordley at front end audio in adeilaide... i know he's just built up a couple ampex 102 half inches w/ new heads.

would be great decks!

[DHD]

Hey thanks ripper nice to see a fellow melbournian here. Thanks for the heads up to Awave and Front End Audio.

Peace
DHD