What options for a clean slightly harsh digital mix?

[Roman]

I am making beats with hardware samplers and MIDI modules etc. I record through an M-Audio Delta 44 soundcard.
I plan on getting an Apogee Ensemble in the future.
At the moment I am thinking of going to a professional studio just for a simple bounce to tape of my final mixes. I think I can mix pretty good and I think I can even master pretty well also.
I am wondering what boxes could be beneficial on the way to tape. I was thinking a box that adds harmonics and makes the mix sound bigger and warmer.
I am going to ask the studios what they think could be inserted before the 2 track tape machine.

I thought I may as well ask the anonymous masses here at GS just for food for thought. I am recording vocals over MIDI sequenced instrumentals. Mostly reggae and hip hop stuff. I definately like a slightly older thicker sound.
Thanks,
Roman.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Roman

I am making beats with hardware samplers and MIDI modules etc. I record through an M-Audio Delta 44 soundcard.
I plan on getting an Apogee Ensemble in the future.
At the moment I am thinking of going to a professional studio just for a simple bounce to tape of my final mixes. I think I can mix pretty good and I think I can even master pretty well also.
I am wondering what boxes could be beneficial on the way to tape. I was thinking a box that adds harmonics and makes the mix sound bigger and warmer.
I am going to ask the studios what they think could be inserted before the 2 track tape machine.

I thought I may as well ask the anonymous masses here at GS just for food for thought. I am recording vocals over MIDI sequenced instrumentals. Mostly reggae and hip hop stuff. I definately like a slightly older thicker sound.
Thanks,
Roman.

I'd work on your ITB mixes first - look at tape sims and saturation plugs to get some of that old sound in the first place. Or invest in a mixbuss chain (comp/eq or both) to give you some analogue sound whilst you mix.

going to be much more effective doing it at the time, rather than afterwards, IMO.

[Kadden Heart]

+1, agreed.

plenty of people make MIDI, digital, hi-hop, whatever mixes ITB and get utstanding results.

i recently recorded a few death metal songs myself, guitars DI into m mbox using amplitube as the amp sim,..then programmed the drums using an MPD.

i hit almost every track with vintage warmer, massey tape head, psp mixsaturator, anything to saturate and sound.

rolled off some highs on things, etc..

no matter how "good" your synths, drums sound, there's ALWAYS a reason to tackle them with compressors and EQ's, it will help to shape and manipulate the sound further.

or like suggested, investing in some analog 2-buss processing wil really help, and a summing amp.

no reason to go to the studio just yet.
:)

[Farshad]

Upgrade your converters if you are going outside the box.