R2R Halloween show results! 2 track stereo

[analog aaron]

Ok the rock show/costume party was a blast, though I FEEL like a monster this morning. So I ended up recording the show using the Rheem Roberts reel to reel model 1725 & 2 sm57's stereo left and right. Probably not the best unit to use in this case, but I have sooo much gear I don't use or haven't used much, I just like using some of the gear I bought a while ago just to use it... The Results..........: Surprisingly AMAZING! I played the tape back this morning and it sounds great in my opinion. This R2R for those of you who aren't familiar with it, is tube powered and has built in speakers. Here's the problem.... It sounds soooo good through the built in speakers on the unit, but then I ran the outputs to my home stereo unit and the sound quality was not what I had expected. Kinda muddy/crappy lo fi sound. It doesn't make you not want to listen to it, but it certainly sounds 10 times better listening to it through the speakers on the recorder. I'm guessing it sounds soo good through the built in speakers because of the tubes, and then not nearly as good through the outputs because the sounds not running thru the tubes??? I'd like to put some sound clips and pics up here for all to hear and see, but I'd like to "clean it up" some before doing so. If the clips come out sounding like they do thru my home stereo,,,, It's doesn't do our band or the recording justice.. Any suggestions????

[Beck]

What kind of home stereo do you have? What kind of speakers?

[analog aaron]

Kenwood sv6050 amp and Technics sb-cr77. Certainly not a pro set up, but I guess I was expecting the recording to sound a little better considering that's what those older Roberts reel decks were designed for anyways.... Home use. We had a friend videotape the show too. What's funny is the audio that the crappy little mic on the camera picked up wasn't too bad. Almost just as good if not equal to the audio from the reel tape. How did that happen???!!! I transfered one tune from the reel tape to my cd burner today. I'll try and put a clip up soon. Probably tomorrow.
Going to sleep... later guys,
A

[Vagodeoz]

Maybe if you put a sample we can listen in different speakers and give you a hand.

[A Reel Person]

this was my best friend! Still is!
(Realistic 33-1065 Stereo Electret Condenser Mic)

[analog aaron]

WOAH! That thing looks crazy! I bet it sounds pretty good! It looks like a 2-headed monster-phone!

[A Reel Person]

it does sound good! It seems really acurate (realistic?) and stereo imaging is good. The mic angle is adjustable.

[analog aaron]

That thing's killer! I looked it up on ebay.....No luck, Oh, well, .................................I WANT ONE! Ha.

[analog aaron]

Here are a few pics from the show. I'll try to put up audio clips (which are more important in my opinion) but I'm still trying to figure it out.....Enjoy!!!






Check out the R2R (in the background) in this pic!

[A Reel Person]

cool!.........

[Cosmic]

aaron,

Looks like great fun was had by one and all.

I would suspect that the reason the tape sounds better through the built-in speakers is that they mask the deficiencies of the recording by not being completely hi-fi themselves.

They probably will deliver a decent mid/low-mid range which would emphasize the 'good ear-friendly part' of the sound without giving you the rumble or hiss because they can't reproduce it.
I have heard some older units with built-in speakers and they will have a deceptively pleasant sound for those reasons.
But hey, if it's good through the speakers, you could always experiment and re-record the tape using mics in front of the built-in speakers, then eq to taste. You never know what can happen

Best,
C.

[amra]

Originally Posted by A Reel Person

this was my best friend! Still is!
(Realistic 33-1065 Stereo Electret Condenser Mic)

I have one of those, they kick ass!

[FALKEN]

some eq might help.