Cassette vs. Reel - Page 3

RadioMoo · 18th December 2005

"i'm a lazy bastard and i really would like to have some kind of device to put in front of my soundcard inputs to recreate the "cassette/tape-magic" without having to record/playback everything first...."

You could route the output of the tape machine to the input of your DAW, then roll tape and record in real time.

sleepwalker · 18th December 2005

I've done this with my Otari MX5050. I like the character it adds. I don't know if I'm liking the pres on the otari, or the sound off the tape heads. Either way, it sounds good enough to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadioMoo

"i'm a lazy bastard and i really would like to have some kind of device to put in front of my soundcard inputs to recreate the "cassette/tape-magic" without having to record/playback everything first...."

You could route the output of the tape machine to the input of your DAW, then roll tape and record in real time.

bcgood · 18th December 2005

I don't like either wave...

bcgood

everybody's x · 18th December 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepwalker

I've done this with my Otari MX5050. I like the character it adds. I don't know if I'm liking the pres on the otari, or the sound off the tape heads. Either way, it sounds good enough to do.

Ive been doing that with my 5050 and my studer and mt roberts and....and.and

cutting some acoustic guitar and vocal stuff like that and digging it alot

petsematary · 18th December 2005

If, theoretically, tracking to cassette, would you guys use Dolby or just leave it un-dolby'd altogether? I'm a little suspicious when it comes to B and C but Dolby S actually seems pretty decent, at least combined with the HX PRO technology.

pebis · 18th December 2005

you can get some really gorgeous cassette decks for NOTHING now. . Nakamichi, technics. . great full logic transport decks with so many bells and whistles. .

the dolby noise reduction on cassettes suck tho. . come on, it's not that bad in the first place, just use a clean tape and a clean deck. .

RadioMoo · 18th December 2005

BTW, my vote is for open reel. I agree with the poster who uses the Otari 5050; the pres are great.

petsematary · 18th December 2005

I've an open reel machine too, but it's a fairly simple one. An Akai GX-210D which works fine and sounds good but I've not seriously tried it for recording. Quarter-inch tape seems to be widely available tho.

benjikan · 20th August 2006

After listening to the two samples I will opt for 1 being direct to CD and 2 Cassette. It sounds more compressed.

Ben

Quote:

Originally Posted by petsematary

With the risk of embarrassing myself in public (wouldn't be the first time though), I think Mystery File no. 1 sounds more open and airy and better than Mystery File no. 2 which sounds more compressed and narrow in terms of dynamics. However, no. 2 also has a...well...nice quality to it despite the stuff mentioned above.

The cymbals also sound more airy and reverb-ish on no. 1. I've no idea which one is which but no. 1 sounds the best in my ears.

Although my laptop speakers here at work (yes, I work at 11 pm) are crappy. But the difference is there nonetheless.

This tune was way more commercial and compressed already compared to the Crosby stuff. I can't wait to find out which file is which! My guess though, is that no. 2 is cassette.

octatonic · 20th August 2006

You NEED this...

C_T · 20th August 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadioMoo

BTW, my vote is for open reel. I agree with the poster who uses the Otari 5050; the pres are great.

yeah, i think the advantage of using an older reel to reel over casette would be the vintage tubes and transformers.

edit: i mean, a casette player can't compete with an old ampex 440, right?

18th December 2005	#63
bcgood Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,952	Neither I don't like either wave... bcgood

20th August 2006	#70
octatonic Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,450	You NEED this... Attached Thumbnails

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18th December 2005	#61
RadioMoo Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 526	"i'm a lazy bastard and i really would like to have some kind of device to put in front of my soundcard inputs to recreate the "cassette/tape-magic" without having to record/playback everything first...." You could route the output of the tape machine to the input of your DAW, then roll tape and record in real time.

18th December 2005	#65
petsematary Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2005 Location: East Coast, Sweden Posts: 1,491 Thread Starter	If, theoretically, tracking to cassette, would you guys use Dolby or just leave it un-dolby'd altogether? I'm a little suspicious when it comes to B and C but Dolby S actually seems pretty decent, at least combined with the HX PRO technology.

18th December 2005	#66
pebis Gear nut Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Memphis Posts: 100	you can get some really gorgeous cassette decks for NOTHING now. . Nakamichi, technics. . great full logic transport decks with so many bells and whistles. . the dolby noise reduction on cassettes suck tho. . come on, it's not that bad in the first place, just use a clean tape and a clean deck. .