Recording Analog - then bouncing to digital

[Kapo_Polenton]

Seems like there is a rising trend of bigger bands scaling back from large million dollar pro tools driven studios to smaller garrage like settings and using tape for part or all of their recordings. Assuming that at some point this will be converted to digital so it can be pressed into CD's and distributed around the world, how can someone at home get that tape feel in their own recordings? A lot of metal bands now really do sound similar post production. We all know drum sampling runs rampant. When I listen back to an album like GNR's appetite, I love that fat , round raw tone you can really hear when you listen to the isolated drum and bass tracks for Welcome to the Jungle or the Izzy and Slash guitar parts. Anyone play around with this? Obviously drums would still bennefit from some editing and digital help but has anyone had luck with older cassette units and then transferring that to their DAW for integration into the mix? I'm interested if they notice anything.. I know recording guitars can be frustrating, a lot of folks on here never really get something they are satisfied with.

I now wish I never let my dad throw out or sell that reel to reel tape machine I used to use to slow down YJM solos!

 

[Jordon]

Tape = more money than digital. That's just the way it is. I don't see many bands tracking to tape unless they can afford the crazy prices for it.

I'd check out the Sneap forum or GearSlutz. But please use the very nice custom Google searches first, or you'll have your ass handed to you and won't get any help at all....Audio engineers are some ornery guys.

http://reeldealpa.com/shop/index.php?ma ... 27410b97d5 for example.

 

[daveg62]

I wouldn't bother with casette or even DAT machines. If you can afford a decent 1/4 or 1/2 inch 2-track that is in decent condition it would be worth trying to track with, in certain situations. You will have to learn how to maintain and calibrate it or pay someone else to do so. Otherwise, decent converters nowdays will give you better results. post production editing has come a long way. You're probably better off investing in a good DAW, preamp, compressor for tracking. Opinions will vary.

 

[1big1]

when i was working in radio it was a pretty common practice to record in analog and transfer to digital. one of the things you've got to watch is your levels. with analog you get a -3db drop every time you transfer to another tape.. so your noise floor will come up and you'll hear tape hiss. also with analog you can clip.. which you can't do with digital. lots of drum parts used to be recorded with the snare or other drums clipping slightly. tape saturation can be your friend in the analog world.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Thanks for the responses.. I'm pretty much set up to track right now with my DAW I was merely looking for some ways to infuse a bit more life into my tracks. Everything digital or plug-in seems to be a nice way to polish recordings but also robs them of a bit of soul. I thought it would be cool if my guitar tracks could be raw with less editing. I listen to some of those old VH isolated tracks and it is awesome to hear where diff parts of the solos are punched in and out or where he is a little less consistent in his rythm playing. It is almost as if with analog, you hear that saturation or that additional noise which colors the tone, but it does so in a good way where as with digital from my guitars, the sound is flat and becomes fizzy from clipping or if you are using too much distortion.

I might go poke my head over at that forum.. however, like most of you, I'm also not interested in spending 100 of hours just trying to get old gear to work. Just toying with the idea right now.. you know like most of us, always seeking..

 

[1big1]

for broadcast purposes most of the noise reduction systems in use at the time were dbx and not dolby. dolby re-amplified the high and low ends to reduce noise and tape hiss.. dbx didn't. so in that sense dbx was true reduction without signal or frequency loss. dolby was fine for pedestrian uses.. but not so great for broadcast.

 

[Jordon]

I personally think the whole "no soul in digital" thing is a big farce. There are a lot of totally ITB releases out there from well-known producers and engineers and I wouldn't say they are lifeless.

It's all about how you use your tools. You can use a great 1176 plugin and make it rock, but you can also use the best specimen of the 1176 hardware and make it sound like shit.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

going digital is cheaper.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Drums kick total ass on tape...alas, too many mechanical issues and $ to do it right

 

[daveg62]

Drums kick total ass on tape...alas, too many mechanical issues and $ to do it right

Sticking one of these on my drum buss was the best thing I ever did for my drum tracking. Works pretty well on the master buss also.