Recording to Quantegy 1" 499 Gold

[hollowteeth]

We`re going into a studio to record an album. We can record to either a Pro Tools set up or onto a 24 track tape machine using the above tape. I`m tempted to track the drums / bass with the tape and then drop the tracks onto the pro tools, but do you guys reckon there would be a noticable difference between the 1" tape and digital ?

[Ollie]

1 " on a 24 track head stack? What kind of machine is that? I have heard of people having 16 track head stacks 8 track head stacks. How many tracks do you have on the tape machine and what kind of machine is it.

[not_so_new]

I assume you are talking 24 track 2 inch yes?? Most of the time I would say that you should track bass and drums to the 2 inch and then just make a transfer, it will sound better. To my ears drums and bass get the most benefit of the analog treatment...

but...

Analog only sounds better when you use a good analog machine that is well maintained and setup correctly. If the ATR is not of good quality or well maintained they I would skip it and go with ProTools, that way you at least know what you are getting into. ProTools may not sound good to many people (I don't hate it like some do) but it is consistent in it's sound quality (as long as it is using newer software versions and it has some good / newer converters).

Good luck.

[NathanEldred]

Put the guitars on the tape too if you have enough tracks.

[not_so_new]

Originally posted by NathanEldred
Put the guitars on the tape too if you have enough tracks.

Good point, yes do it if you have the tracks (if you don't then you have other problems... )

[Ollie]

I also agree with Nathan on putting guitars to tape. It seems to glue things together better. Have fun and good luck!

[chuckj]

I agree with Michael that the tape machine needs to be in solid shape to make it worthwhile. See if the studio has an alignment/calibration tape at a minimum and ask if the unit has been calibrated and aligned recently. There are still 1" 24 track machines still floating around out there. Both Tascam (MSR24) and Fostex (G or E 24) made one in the late to mid 80's and possibly up to the early 90's. Due to the limited track width and operating at a -10dbv level on the one inch tape it is beneficial to run some type of noise reduction. Most of the units sold with a Dolby S noise reduction which was based on Dolby's SR noise reduction. I had the opportunity to use the Tascam unit in the past and it fared rather well. I'd say go analog for at least drums and bass if the unit is in good shape and then transfer it to PT. That's the way I do most of the rock stuff now and it works out great. Or if the studio is willing, you could always do a quick comparison. Track to analog then track to PT for just a snippet and have a listen.

[muziqfreek]

...and then the vocals... any keys and fx you wanna stick on there.......






oh hold on.....





you've just finished the record...might as well mix it now ...and not bother with Pro-Tools...!!!!

ok... it means you've got to get things right... and punch ins etc..that have GOT to be right.. but you'll end up with an nicer sounding product...

but yeah - there is the issue of calibration & state of the machine... check it out carefully dude.. & good luck!!!

[hollowteeth]

Thanks for the replies guys, all very informative as ever. I should of told you that it`s a Tascam MSR -24 track using 1" tape. I`m wondering what the quality would be like squeezing 24 tracks onto a 1" tape ?
Chuck - Do you remember how it compared soundwise to a 2" machine ? I`m worried that the drums / bass won`t sound "meaty" enough.

[chuckj]

Never had a chance to do a direct comparison, but logic would most certainly dictate that if you are seeking the maximum benefit of using analog tape, you'll do better with a 2" machine. More physical tape for that analog goodness! Taking that thought process a step further, one may conclude that the 1" 24 tk would still offer you what you may be looking for, but perhaps just not as much. I wish I had a better answer for you. As always, let your ears be the judge.

[dreamark]

I run the transfer service here at Dreamhire in New York. We do not have a 1" 24 track machine and I've never known where to send my clients who are in need of this format. It would be great to hear from some folks who have functioning 1" 24 tracks. I may have some work for you!

Mark Berger

[chuckj]

Mark,

I don't know of anyone specifically now that owns a 1" 24 track machine. You might try to Google on recording studios and the specific name of the machines, "Tascam MSR24, Fostex G24", etc. You might get lucky. Although my guess would be that you will find a fellow gear slut on this forum that has one or knows of one. Good luck.

[dreamark]

I followed Chuck's sage advice and found a studio in our area that claims to have a functioning Tascam MSR24. If anyone is interested, the studio is Granite Alps Recording in Wayne, NJ (http://www.granitealps.com/).

[soundwarrior]

I have a fully operational Msr24s. It sounds pretty good to me compared to some of the cheaper stuff I"ve had. The only thing about these units is that the dolby s cards go bad and there are not any replacements out there. I had to pay some good money to get them all fixed. Maybe I sould have just bought some good co nverters. I prefer hitting the tape first with guitars compared to just going straight to digital. In my comparison with the the masterlink at 24/96 and my kurweil rumour at 24/48. Hitting the tape first them going through the kurzweil to the masterlink digital in sounded the best then going straight to digital. This was only a test I did with a heavy distorted guitar riff. Do you think if I got some apogee converters it would sound better than recording to the msr24 first. I am playing with the idea of going all digital only if it the converters are going to sund better. I hope I didn't start an analog verse digital war. I just want someone who has experience with both formats to give an honest opinion. Thanks

[gb-jazz]

How big an investment is adding a decent "budget" tape machine to a studio? That would be incredible but I imagine an expensive step no matter how you slice it. Right now I can drop a stereo track on a decent cassette deck and run it in but that's about it.