Simulation of Tape Saturation

[Adam Dempsey]

Originally Posted by Online-Mastering

I really like the HEDD but has its own sonic flavor and behaviour, which you should test if it suits your needs or not (Because you don't have many parameters to adjust. The question is: Put it in or not and with which strength of the effect, and that's it..)

Although it also totally depends on the input level feeding the process.

But I agree with previous points... for "that sound" I'd go, for example, for the transformer tone of an Ampex AG440, rather than an Otari, MCI JH.. or Studer A807 (although have used the all-tube C-37). Matt Gray did a few test samples.. I think the ATR 1/2" at 30ips came up popular vs no tape, but of course there are all the other variables as well.

Another worry is that some people have been known to unintentionally clip the solid state electronics of their machines way ahead of achieving actual tape phatness.

[Torg]

seems anamod gets the most votes.

however, is it really worth spending 3K on a tape emulation ?

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by Torg

however, is it really worth spending 3K on a tape emulation ?

If you can afford the risk of 10 USD you can read posts #4 and #13 of this thread
diy neve portico 5042 true tape

[Everbeatz]

Originally Posted by Beyersound

Bollocks!!! I don't know if it was you, heard the same thing about the Hydratone "fire" knob. Just because there is some frequency amplitude change showing on an analyzer, doesn't mean that it's the only thing happening. Stop "seeing" audio, use your ears!

That's really an argument there...

Spend some time analyzing plugs deeply and you'll see which one is doing saturation in useful manner - in this case tape saturation

Use your ears is the one thing that helps but in digital analyzing is equally important to separate nice GUIs and claims from what plug actually does..

[Bob Olhsson]

Just make sure you aren't being hyped by a few tenths of a dB. more level. It's really easy to pick louder and worse over not as loud but better.

[Silver Sonya]

These people were profiled in Tape Op. They are perfectionist tweakheads; the kind of people you can trust 'cause they're just such intense nerds about what they're doing.

They feature hi-fi transfers back and forth to tape. They even have a service for sending multi-track digital sound to a hotrodded 16-track 2" mm1100 and then back.

If this is the kind of thing you're into, these are your people.

- c

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

It's really easy to pick louder and worse over not as loud but better.

The story of 21st century audio so far.

- c

[lucey]

Steve at Sonicraft is a great guy with some great machines! They mostly do A to D transfers that are very nice using tweaked machines and Mytek converters.

[Silver Sonya]

Btw, to be clear: nerd is usually not a pejorative when coming from me.

In this case, it means: dedicated, obsessed, passionate, literate, focused on details.

[ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by cemski

Thanks for replying!
I agree in Full. Maybe i was just wishing technology has found the holy grail In my place nobody brings tapes for mastering anymore. So my machine is reduced to an effect processor...

if you want to keep your tape machine there's always this option...

ENDLESS ANALOG

there's a thread here

Tape is back! :-)

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

These people were profiled in Tape Op. They are perfectionist tweakheads; the kind of people you can trust 'cause they're just such intense nerds about what they're doing.

They feature hi-fi transfers back and forth to tape. They even have a service for sending multi-track digital sound to a hotrodded 16-track 2" mm1100 and then back.

If this is the kind of thing you're into, these are your people.

- c

I just read through the restoration and short history of the Ampex machine. That was interesting stuff thanks for the link. This would be a fun service to try out but I didn't see any rates posted.

Just from my own experience I believe this is a viable option for that analogue sound. It isn't as good as doing everything analogue, mixing to 2" and then at the very end at mastering going to digital but it is still a process with sonic merit and benefits. I did this quite awhile ago bouncing tracks to my JVC Super VHS one track at a time. It was a somewhat tedious process I must admit. The results where actually worth it though as it is still probably one of my favorite sounding mixes.

[feck]

Originally Posted by Fleaman

+1 for Anamod.
+3 for Anamod with the 350/351 card.

I have the Hedd and Fatso and while I like them both, they don't come anywhere close to the Anamod for that real tape effect.

I completely agree.

[studio57]

Originally Posted by feck

I completely agree.

i have had in test masterpiece, hedd192, anamod, portico tape.

hard to say witch is best tapeemulatio but the portico is the bad`st it dosnt come even close to others, masterpiece has the great option to add it to bottom only or to middle...treble... but it aint the best sounding to me. hedd192 is one of the best when you record stuff... you can add harmonic distortion to track and chaince the character of the sound a lot if needet, some times it works in mastering and sometimes it dont.... same thing with anamod (it is the best thing in recording bass) .

portico tape is for those who wanna save money and want to add... cheapness to sound i think Robert Neve aint famous for tapesimulatons but for something else

[ToddF]

Another Crane Song Phoenix vote here.
Peace Todd

[Beyersound]

Originally Posted by Everlast

That's really an argument there...

Spend some time analyzing plugs deeply and you'll see which one is doing saturation in useful manner - in this case tape saturation

Use your ears is the one thing that helps but in digital analyzing is equally important to separate nice GUIs and claims from what plug actually does..

I'm all for truth here, please cite your research and/or sources.