imo..... don't buy a tape machine unless you can afford a 2-inch (or 1/2 inch for masters)

iznogood wrote: imo..... don't buy a tape machine unless you can afford a 2-inch (or 1/2 inch for masters)

Why? I get 1/4" all the time. probably more than 1/2". To me, 1/4" 15ips sounds great.

I've had my machines for 8 years and they don't require that much maint. maybe 1 hour a month total (cleaning the heads and alignment). I have 1 machine with 1/2" and 1/4" headstacks. sits in the corner when not used. looks cool.

iznogood wrote: imo..... don't buy a tape machine unless you can afford a 2-inch (or 1/2 inch for masters)

So if not going for a tape machine, what are your alternatives then?

just my taste.....

i'm a snob you know! :lol: :lol:

If not tape, then try transformers. I love the sound of transformers. CLASSIC gear is all about the transformer. Maybe is a pair of vintage neve's. You can also try the new portico. I haven't listened to it yet, but it's designed around the same principle as the legendary audio tape simulator in the mastering console that I have listened to. that sounded pretty good.

I use 1/4" 2 track. I lucked out and got a deal on an Ampex machine that had NOS heads. There is something about tape that you can't really simulate with outboard.

For outboard, I'd recommend the Chandler TG-1 to warm up tracks. It's what I'm using lately on mastering projects. I have't tried the Charisma, but SPL makes great stuff. I have several clients who are running line level signal into OSA preamps to use the transformers to warm up their signal.

I still like IK multimedias T-Racks. It can an a lot of that analog tape sound for around $399US. It is a standalone program for PCs or VST/RTMAS or Macintosh. Some people don't like it because they are too purist to use it. Adds similar nonlinear tape like distortion and clipping.

Thanks for all your helpful comments!

Michael Fossenkemper wrote: CLASSIC gear is all about the transformer.

After reading a bit about transformers and the pre-amps and channel strips that use them I guess you are right.

It's exactly that "roundness in the bass" and the "silk in the high frequencies" what I am missing in digital masters.

I'll think I have to raise some money to get one of those analog beauties...

thanks again,
Thomas

atlasproaudio wrote: I have several clients who are running line level signal into OSA preamps to use the transformers to warm up their signal.

How valid is this technique really? I gave a mastering guy some tracks recently and he ran them through a couple Neve 1073's (or were they 1081...?) for "the sound." Seems a little crazy to me; I would think the tracks would need to be originally recorded with the Neves to reap much benefits of "the sound." Plus I think there was some kind of added low-level hum problem in his chain somewheres. :(

Reggie wrote: [quote=atlasproaudio] I have several clients who are running line level signal into OSA preamps to use the transformers to warm up their signal.

How valid is this technique really? I gave a mastering guy some tracks recently and he ran them through a couple Neve 1073's (or were they 1081...?) for "the sound." Seems a little crazy to me; I would think the tracks would need to be originally recorded with the Neves to reap much benefits of "the sound." Plus I think there was some kind of added low-level hum problem in his chain somewheres. :(

Quite valid. Of course, if you do it on the track level versus the final 2-bus level, it can be far more effective.

For tracking, I avoid plugs a lot of times and use external boxes. Hitting a box with a transformer is often all that is needed to add some iron or "girth" to the sound.

On the mastering side - running the 2-bus through a box with trannies can have a similar effect, but it's often not as desired as say running stems or individual tracks out. As with everything mastering or 2-bus related, any change you make affects something else.

J.

Depends on a lot of things. Type of transformer, type of instrumentation, level. Sure there are some drawbacks but if a track needs it, then i'll do it.

All of this stuff is so minor - if the song is great, and the performance connects, then you can record it using the worst 16 bit converters on computer (assuming some decent ears behind the controls) and music fans will stay get married to it. Let's get real folks. Oops, here come the insults ...

Stuart_Stuart wrote: All of this stuff is so minor - if the song is great, and the performance connects, then you can record it using the worst 16 bit converters on computer.

OK, will do. Thanks for saving us a lot of trouble trying to further our recording abilities. We'll just have to cut down our clients to those who sound magical no matter how they are recorded. 8-)

Stuart_Stuart wrote: All of this stuff is so minor - if the song is great, and the performance connects, then you can record it using the worst 16 bit converters on computer (assuming some decent ears behind the controls) and music fans will stay get married to it. Let's get real folks. Oops, here come the insults ...

Nope, no insults here. You're dead on. A good song with a good performance and a good recording engineer equals a good mix. These little minor items (and you're right - they are VERY minor) are the nuts on the otherwise good hot-fudge sundae.

They shouldn't ever be considered necessary or essential.

J.

I SECOND THAT!!!

axel.

Don't go chasing shadows trying to find some sort of tape simulation device and go for the reel deal.I use tape on about 95% of my mastering sessions and everyone loves the final results.I can't wait to get update to 1 inch 2 track.Nothing sounds like tape.

i run my sounds through tascam388 and send it to the computer to touch it ^ with wavelab .

I used to live near a studio outside of New Orleans, La(now gone) that did Alt Rock Bands and the Majority was EDM. This was around 1 1/2 ago when I was getting into that "I need that warm/fuzzy sound" phase of recording and production.
He said that ALL of his tracks in one way or another got ran through his Empirical Labs Fatso. He said that it gives that "Warm" sound to anything you run through it.
This might be worth a looking into instead of getting a analog tape machine.....

-Russell

fatsos a great alternative to the tape machines i cant believe this is the first time mentioning it. for two k . think about all the reels you save on