recording digital or analog (prefference)

[Jason Poulin]

Do you have a prefference for an individual instrument? Or is it one thing all the way?

What's your style?

Jason

[tINY]

The old German tape machines with the DC bias always had a neat sound to them for voice....



-tINY

[NIGHT'SCHILD]

I love to record bass guitar and drums on to tape. Nothing can beat that warm open sound of analog bass and drums.

As for vocals and electric/acoustic guitar I have found there isn't as much as a noticeable difference. Of course the analog voice would be a bit warmer and same with the acoustic guitar but it is a very slim margin. Digital is just so much easier.

[TML]

There is no choice.....analog is the best period...I don't care...I don't care....
Thank god Studer is releasing a new 16 track 2 inch for under 3 grand..............yeah........right

[thethrillfactor]

Bass,drums and electric guitars recorded on analog.

Vocals on digital.

All types.

I wouldn't keep it all the way on one though.

[JohnMcD]

I may be a wierd one, but I record all digital. As the mic signal goes through the Capricorn mic pres, it then hits the Caps AD converters. From then on, it is digital. Including the use of outboard gear; it remains digital. Maybe once in a blue moon, I will go out and hit an analog Aphex exciter or Optical Big Bottom. I have contemplated using my Drawmer gate as a Ducking only device, but I've never run across a situation that wanted it. Otherwise, the only reason for me to go out analog would be for very special outboard gear that have only analog I/O. I haven't had the need to expand just yet, but you never know...It'll be worse now that I'm replacing the Radar with a Pro Tools setup.

Plugs galore!

-John

[Jay Kahrs]

BTW man, it's spelled 'preference' just one "F" in there lol

If the band and artists can play their instruments it's analog all the way. Comping vocals and solos is easier in digital, so is flying stuff around if you end up with schlocks who are changing song arrangements while your recording the song. With good converters and preamps digital can sound really good but it still doesn't have the same tone that analog has. And either way...analog or digital...to do it right and have it sound good it's gonna co$t.

[warhead]

Digital. I've worked my way up from my old Fostex reel to reel to a Nuendo 2.0 setup and I cannot go back. The right analog front end and a good DAW and you're smokin'. I have considered picking up a 2 track 1/2" though for mixdowns.

War

[denial]

Recording to 2" is a beautiful experience and one that brings much enjoyment and satisfaction.

The alignment, demagnitizing, cleaning and maintenance is all part of the ritual that brings respect to the music and people involved.

[Hiwatt]

If I have a choice, it's analog all the way! I love the sound of tape.

[Jules]

My style is to put all the money my studios clients would have to spend on 2'' tape - into my wallet.

My clients don't ask for tape.

They get more studio time for their projects with the money they save by not using tape.

Pro Tools all the way.

[Prince Alsihad]

Originally posted by Jules
My style is to put all the money my studios clients would have to spend on 2'' tape - into my wallet.

My clients don't ask for tape.

They get more studio time for their projects with the money they save by not using tape.

Pro Tools all the way.

AMEN!!!

Let's not forget the time and money it takes to service those beasts.

Either way, it doesn't matter what you use, it's how you use it. I've heard great sounding recordings made on a VS1680 and I heard pieces of shit recorded on analog and the other way around of course.

[warhead]

Originally posted by denial
The alignment, demagnitizing, cleaning and maintenance is all part of the ritual that brings respect to the music and people involved.

And defrag and scandisk are making me one with the music as well.

War

[OzNimbus]

Digital. I do not miss having the ol' 2 inch Studer with it's constant breakdowns.

That being said, I work with SawStudio, a very different kind of digital.

-0z-

[Han]

What's the point? Recorded a bigband to 2", sounds great.

I've bought the machine in '96 and it never breaks down, aligning is a piece of cake.

Recording jazz music on 30 ips sounds better than any DAW, period.

A decent board, great mics, no EQ during tracking and very little here and there when mixing and your sound will be awesome.

And even mixing to a Studer 1/4" at 15 ips sounds better to my ears (and my customers' ) than 24/96.

But I love the editing possibillities nevertheless of digital.

Soundwise I prefer hi end analog.

Merry X-mas