Early 90's sounds ( Nirvana / Mudhoney )

[audiogeek]

There's a great documentary, HYPE!, which has a number of shots of Jack Endino in the studio, so you can garner some knowledge from that if you like.

There are probably better ones out there, but it'd be a good starting point, not to mention very informative to the whole musical culture of the area during the exact time you're talking about.

Endino's got a website out there too, not sure off the top of my head what the addy is.

Try a GS search of his name yet?

[balaperdida]

Yep -- Endino figured out how to make his 8-track sound better than just about anyone else's for a few years in that he was able to get home-made stuff to sound heavy . Before that, most of the so-called "college rock" labels like Twin-Tone and SST were putting out trebel-y, charmingly amateurish stuff, but just failing completely at sounding heavy. Exhibit A: Black Flag's "Slip It In." You can hear how bad Ginn wants that shit to be heavy, but it just doesn't work.

Anyway, keep your eyes peeled for reel-to-reel 8-tracks. I think he used an Otari, but don't quote me on that. Also seem to remember there was a picture of his mixing board on the inside tape-sleeve in Mudhoney's EGBDF.

Don't sweat reproducing the sound slavishly, thouhgh -- people couldn't even do it when the whole world was wearing flannel.

[jmikeperkins]

Lots of Studer and Ampex 2" 24 track tape decks in the early 1990's. Those exact same machines are probably still being used today since new ones are no longer being made. One major thing that did change in the early 1990's was the introduction of the blackface Alesis ADAT which recorded 8 tracks on SVHS tape. You could digitally lock up 3 ADAT machines to create a 24 track system. The Alanis Morissette record Jagged Little Pill was recorded on blackface ADATs. Although the ADAT got a lot of criticism from engineers used to working with 2" analog tape, it was a breakthrough product and started the home studio revolution which is still going on today. Back then, an 8 track ADATs cost about $1,800 each (3 of them, for 24 tracks, being about $5,400), but this was still a lot less than a 2" 24 track analog machine and the cost of SHVS tape was much less than 2" tape. Mackie also introduced low cost mixers and many a small studio had a 24 track ADAT system and a Mackie 8 bus board.

"Big Drum" sounds got bigger and louder in the 90's and started the loudness wars we are still trying to recover from. Most professional vocals were recorded with Neumann U87 mics and much of the prized outboard gear was the same it is now.

[skythemusic]

Sounds like you are talking way more mid to late 80's than early 90's. Husker Du didn't make any records past 87' I believe. Bleach is an MX5050 8 track 1/2". Lots of Big Muffs and MRX Distortion+'s. Mould used modded 80's Fenders when I saw him live early 90's. I would go more API than Neve. On a budget a Ramsa console or lower end Otari, a 8 or 16 track 1/2" or 1" tape machine, heavily rehearsed bands playing loud in the studio using mostly live takes (and not many of them). Most of those records were made very quickly. I might check the gear list at a studio like Fort Apache.

[audiogeek]

Fort Apache sadly bit the dust long ago, not sure if there's a site anymore... But you might be able to dredge up something...

[BuildaFriend]

Wow great advice. Ill definitely watch the documentary.

I have this old tascam 38 with 1/2" tape. Do you think this is worth a shot?

I don't know much about tape. I don't even know where to buy tape! where would I go to get this thing calibrated if i live in north jersey near NYC? Its been sitting around for years. I have a mackie 1604, 2 DBX tube pres, and 2 1176s. I just dont know how to go about using the tape machine.

How would you mic the drums? What about syncing this thing to a computer and dumping an 8 track drum bounce and then coming back to the tape machine for recording the guitar and bass at the same time?

I would want to throw some drum samples underneath the tape drums to give them that extra umph.

I could get the bass from the amp and through a sans amp DI.

This is going to be fun!

I have a finalizer unit that is a lot of fun when it comes to loudness. I def have the power to throw things over the top, getting this thing working will be a lot of fun. I'm sure i know people who will pay to be recorded this way.

[decocco]

Originally Posted by BuildaFriend

I have this old tascam 38 with 1/2" tape. Do you think this is worth a shot?

Yes!

As far as calibration, you are most likely capable of doing this yourself. You need a calibration tape (you can buy these from MRL) to help you calibrate the electronics and align the heads.

However, it may be helpful to hire a tech to do the initial calibration. Just have him show you what to do, and next time you'll be able to do it yourself.

Tape is good!

[robertshaw]

Originally Posted by audiogeek

Fort Apache sadly bit the dust long ago, not sure if there's a site anymore... But you might be able to dredge up something...

they are in VT. now

[ScumBum]

I'd get this pedal Buy Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion Pedal with Remote Jack | Overdrive, Distortion, Fuzz & Boost | Musician's Friend

Boss DS-2

Its what Kurt used live , maybe studio too like on Bleach .

[Kris Bang Boom]

Inner Ear did so many of the big DC 90's and late 80's punk hardcore records
there gear is quite of the era and the sound
Inner Ear Studio
Its to me the 90's sound of the east coast
Jawbox Fugazi Rites of Spring
Dag Nasty etc.
KBB

[BuildaFriend]

There she is!

[Turdadactyl]

You should check out the Nirvana Classic Albums DVD. Butch Vig goes into some detail on there.

[decocco]

If you really want that 90's Mudhoney sound don't dump any tracks into digital land. Record everything on the tape.

Use a mixer to do submixing of drum tracks before you hit the tape. You can also sum multiple tracks together and bounce them down to a single track, freeing up more tracks.

8 tracks is a lot if you're creative.

I'll PM you the contact info of a tech in the area who knows Tascams.

[skythemusic]

Tascam 38's are cool. I would dump the Mackie and get a different mixer. 1176's will definitely help, especially in nuke mode. I would do mono overhead, kick and snare (maybe even on 1 track).