some basic analog questions

[Rocket Boy]

would there be any advantages in mixing down to a 2 track reel to reel after recording to computer?

also, would there be any advantage in going from a 8 or 16 track recorder into computer? or am i unlikely to hear any real difference? thanks. what would be some good machines to look at for these purposes?

[The Ghost of FM]

The key advantage to mixing down to a two track open reel recorder running at 15 or 30 ips is that you would be offering a mastering facility a format they like to work with for creating production run ready masters for mass producing CD's or LP's.

If you are coming from a computer multi-track recording onto an analog recorder, you will have the opportunity to fatten up your sound on the recorder and make use of some tape compression effects which are pleasing to most ears in the know and even those that don't!

Some good machines out there to consider would be the TASCAM 32, 42, 52 or, BR20T.

I master onto a stand alone CD recorder because I start out in the analog domain with a 1", 16 track TASCAM recorder which gives me all the analog qualities I desire and because I don't plan on selling millions of records and be in need of a mastering friendly format.

Cheers!

[Rocket Boy]

im not really interested in the mastering facilities part, but the analog thing i like. What are some good 8 and 16 track machines to look at for someone wanting to start out in the analog realm...

this would be dumped into a computer through a Delta 1010 - btw. So atleast 8 balanced ins and outs would be nice.

thanks

[The Ghost of FM]

Well, I am mostly familiar with TASCAM stuff so, I will stick to advice or recommendations of their stuff.

8 track models they have made that offer balanced in and outs are the 48, 58 and the ATR60-8.

16 trackers with the same feature include the MS16 and the ATR60-16.

Working in analog in the multi-track mode will offer the benefits of extended clipping headroom or soft clipping and zero latency issues as well as the natural great full sound that good analog has always offered.

Cheers!