Worth buying a 2 track tape machine?

[adoucette]

I record to digital, but oftentimes I am trying to make my mixes warmer and end up reaching for an EQ.. I know its common to print mixes to tape, does it have an over-all effect on the sound? Would printing my digital mixes to 2 track bring back a little tape warmth or would it not be enough for it to really matter?

I was considering one of those Anamod tape simulator rack units, if it sounded good might be cool to run busses through it to fatten them up.. anyone try one?

Thanks
Andre

[Chaellus]

yes tape can really do wonders for your mixes, one pass at tape will help your digital tracks but more passes willl reall give it a feel...what i do is i record tracks to daw and back out to tape...each indivually...i tihnk thats the better way than one pass at it... and the best option would be to recrd to tape then dump to Daw...these are some ways ou can get good sounds.....also sound varies betweeen tape deck, tape itself and tape speed...and always making sure tape deck is calibrated and running optimally

[Toasterboy]

Not only will you enjoy running your stereo mixes to tape, but try tracking to tape. If you've been tracking mainly digitally you will be absolutely floored at the sonic difference on recording such things as snare, acoustic guitar, cymbals, bass, kick drum, electric guitars, piano, and vocals. And percussion, strings, brass, synthesizers, drum machines, glockenspiel, and more.

Get a tape machine, you won't regret it.

[vernier]

Worth buying a 2 track tape machine?

It's not a "worth" thing ..its a way of life.
'

[MickeySmid]

It's been said before:

It's worth it... But... only if you can get it running at perfect condition. If it's not calibrated/biased right etc, it's not worth it. So, find a specialist (if you are not one yourself).

Try to find a Studer a80 or Revox PR99, get it fixed to the tape you want to use. I use new RMG (Emtec) SM911 1/4".

I must say bouncing tracks on it, individual tracks sometimes really works wonders. No other way to get that old soul CRACK in a snare (or I have not found it yet).


M.

[Beneficial]

I bought a 2 track MCI/SONY JH110C 1/4" recorder. Coming from an all digital background this was the best gear purchase I've ever made. Couldn't work without it now.

[skythemusic]

yes, you will not believe the difference a properly calibrated and well maintained tape machine will make to your sound. Magnetic particles that reflect back the way our ears hear versus a binary sequence of ones and zeroes? Even just summing down to 2 track and sending that to mastering will make your mixes much better. Pretty easy choice to me...

[Bryan Talbot]

How much are you folks paying for a reel of tape these days?

[skythemusic]

hey Bryan, I am wondering the same thing. Looks like RMGI is the only game in town and 2" is going for around $255. Please someone post if there is a place to get good deals on tape! I've been having fun with my little 8 track 1/4" lately. It sounds rad for garage-ey kinda stuff and reels are more like $12. I have so much fun having to actually get a solid performance all the way through. I would rather work for three hours getting a good take than do two takes in 10 minutes and spending three hours cutting and pasting them together only to have it sound vanilla and machine-like. And everytime I hear that track I know I actually played it with my actual hands and didn't exacerbate the process of crippling myself by relying on a mouse (thats what gearslutz is for!)

[vernier]

Whenever I need a roll, I just don't go to the pub that day. Luckily, its just 1".
'

[bcgood]

Yes it's definitely worth it. Tracking each individual track to tape is much better than just bouncing a mix to tape. If you are tracking, track to tape then transfer that to digital. Consider using a Korg MR 1000 recording at full resolution, (Then use the Korg software to convert to 24 bit 88.2 kHz). Then line up your file in your DAW. You'll enjoy mixing this soooo much more, the end result should sound much nicer.

[Mr.HOLMES]

Originally Posted by bcgood

Yes it's definitely worth it. Tracking each individual track to tape is much better than just bouncing a mix to tape. If you are tracking, track to tape then transfer that to digital. Consider using a Korg MR 1000 recording at full resolution, (Then use the Korg software to convert to 24 bit 88.2 kHz). Then line up your file in your DAW. You'll enjoy mixing this soooo much more, the end result should sound much nicer.

Yes and we have discussed this 1.000.000 times at gearslutz no need to discuss it again.

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by Mr.HOLMES

Yes and we have discussed this 1.000.000 times at gearslutz no need to discuss it again.

Easy there, I was just having fun in the DAW thread. Don't be mad, this stuff should be fun!

[Mr.HOLMES]

Originally Posted by bcgood

Easy there, I was just having fun in the DAW thread. Don't be mad, this stuff should be fun!

I am not mad but may it would be interesting to see new topics and not always the same questions.

[strewnshank]

I was lucky enough to hear Steve Albini talk last night at the AES Boston event, and he aluded to a lot of "used" tape making its way into the market from movie studios....I guess loads and loads of all sorts of tape was used during filming, and apparently a lot of that stock is coming into the market. I don't know how, or who to contact, but I guess it is there. He also talked about getting his new stock from a company in PA...I forget the name, but I'm sure you tape guys know it....hopefully I'm not just starting rumors.

[StudioKing]

I use RADAR as my DAW which in itself sounds great, but I do like to transfer tracks onto my 1/2" A80 then back onto the RADAR to get the tape sound.

The best thing about this method that I have found is that I can pick and choose what tracks I do it with, eg I love to do it with bass and drums, but normally not with synths and stuff, also not with tracks like BVs because it would start getting noisy.

Mixing onto it is also very nice, i wouldnt have it any other way. With modern tape and a well maintained machine it is reasonably quiet too.

[Tony Shepperd]

If you have the money and are prepared for the up keep of a analog machine... buy one!

[vernier]

[The Reel Thing]

Originally Posted by Mr.HOLMES

Yes and we have discussed this 1.000.000 times at gearslutz no need to discuss it again.

obviously you still haven't got it, so it needs to be discussed again.

wer nicht hören will...