reel to reel recording literature

[burymyteeth]

i've looked through this forum to see if there's any threads about books on reel to reel recording that people would recommend, couldn't find a thread on it, hope i'm not duplicating another post.

i have so many different recording books and read so many websites and magazines and the like, but they are all too current for me to get what i want. I would really like some type of literature that walks you through the recording process of recording reel to reel, not a manual, not a "home recording" book that mentions analog recording as a passing thought like: "some people even still use old reel to reel recorders to record bands! wowweee!" The Tape Op book provides insight but does not go deep enough into the technical part of the process. Maybe some book from the seventies I could find at a library or something when computers weren't even an option. Any recommendations? Thanks!

[The Ghost of FM]

I remember reading a book written somewhere around 1975 that was completely concerned with the standard recording procedures of the day and went into depth about all manner of gear, including of course, working with analog recorders.

Unfortunately, it's had been some 30 years since I read it and can not remember the title exactly but it did have a fairly obvious one, something like; The Modern Recording Handbook or something similar to that effect.

It had a picture of some hippie with a beard sitting at a console, posing for the camera but beyond that, I can't offer any more...sorry.

Have you been to your local library to see what they have on hand? If not, pay them a visit!

Cheers!

[famous beagle]

The Musician's Guide to Home Recording by Peter McIan is the closest thing I know of.

http://www.amazon.com/Musicians-Guid...7726308&sr=1-1


I'm not sure what the current edition is, but I'm pretty sure it's the same one I have (the one with Peter Gabriel on the cover), and it's all about tape recorders and analog mixers. It mentions digital in passing, remarking briefly about the brand new ADATs!

It's a great book that covers mixing techniques, effects, miking, bouncing, you name it. I think this is the book you need, and the price is right!

Good luck!

[sweetbeats]

That's the one I was going to mention...I own it. Haven't read it all yet but it is a great balance of technical and real world and focuses a lot on analog gear. Tips, tricks, what works, what may not. It assumes you don't have 6 figures worth of gear, though I think if I did it would help me. It also doesn't assume you are only working with an entry-level analog multitracker and yet it'll help a lot with that too. Get the point? cjacek was the one that brought it to my attention it I think it is a gem. It is nicely laid out too and IIRC encourages you to jump to the section that helps now so you don't have to read the entire (fairly large and dense) volume first and then try and make sense of it all.

Originally Posted by famous beagle

The Musician's Guide to Home Recording by Peter McIan is the closest thing I know of.

http://www.amazon.com/Musicians-Guid...7726308&sr=1-1


I'm not sure what the current edition is, but I'm pretty sure it's the same one I have (the one with Peter Gabriel on the cover), and it's all about tape recorders and analog mixers. It mentions digital in passing, remarking briefly about the brand new ADATs!

It's a great book that covers mixing techniques, effects, miking, bouncing, you name it. I think this is the book you need, and the price is right!

Good luck!

[Victory Pete]

I have had that book for 15 years, I have learned alot from it. I have found a contradiction in it where he is describing the effects of under and overbiasing. I dont have my copy right now so I cant list the page number. I have always thought the picture on the cover looked like Peter Gabriel, but I assume it is the author.
VP

[Richard King]

I read this MANY years ago. It can now be had used for $0.97 plus shipping. I highly recommend it .

http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Stud...7752627&sr=1-4

I also read the first edition of "Modern Recording Techniques", now in 6th edition:
http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Recordi...7752813&sr=1-1

For what you are looking for I would get the first book I mentioned.

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

I remember reading a book written somewhere around 1975 that was completely concerned with the standard recording procedures of the day and went into depth about all manner of gear, including of course, working with analog recorders.

Unfortunately, it's had been some 30 years since I read it and can not remember the title exactly but it did have a fairly obvious one, something like; The Modern Recording Handbook or something similar to that effect.

It had a picture of some hippie with a beard sitting at a console, posing for the camera but beyond that, I can't offer any more...sorry.

Have you been to your local library to see what they have on hand? If not, pay them a visit!

Cheers!

Are you referring to the "Multitrack Primer" that Teac published?

[famous beagle]

Originally Posted by Victory Pete

I have had that book for 15 years, I have learned alot from it. I have found a contradiction in it where he is describing the effects of under and overbiasing. I dont have my copy right now so I cant list the page number. I have always thought the picture on the cover looked like Peter Gabriel, but I assume it is the author.
VP

It's definitely Gabriel on the cover. There are several pictures of the author inside the book. Besides, I don't think the author could afford the studio pictured on the front cover! (Maybe he could; he did hint that he'd had some songwriting success at some point in the book.)

He discusses bias on pages 43-44. I just re-read it and can't find the contradiction you mentioned. I guess I'm missing it?

[westgate]

try mix. look for, click on 'mix books', look for book title 'classic tracks'. might help.

also, look for any archived material. they ought to have a bunch of stuff.

[SteveM]

I think the Craig Anderton ones are good for that. I have another one with Sting on the cover. I forget the name of it.

[pianodano]

Modern Recording Techniques. Robert E. Runstein. Published by Howard W. Sams. Lib of Congress cat card number 73-90292. Copyright 1974. I have first edition, 12th printing, 1984. I have owned it since then. It's a keeper.

Regards,

Danny

[Victory Pete]

Originally Posted by famous beagle

It's definitely Gabriel on the cover. There are several pictures of the author inside the book. Besides, I don't think the author could afford the studio pictured on the front cover! (Maybe he could; he did hint that he'd had some songwriting success at some point in the book.)

He discusses bias on pages 43-44. I just re-read it and can't find the contradiction you mentioned. I guess I'm missing it?

I let my drummer borrow that book, He wanted to learn about what was so hard about getting a good drum sound. I really wish I had it back. Did the credits mention Peter Gabriel? That is interesting, I know the author mentions that he had recorded The Men At Work. The contradiction was something to the effect that he said if you are overbiased you will have less bass. It had always confused me, but now I know it was just a simple mistake. Maybe it was just in my edition.
VP

[trancedental]

Paul White Recording & Production Techniques by the Sound on Sound writer / editor

http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Prod...7787423&sr=1-7

How to Set a Home Recording Studio David Mellor

http://www.amazon.com/How-Set-Home-R...7787746&sr=1-1

Both of these books I bought in the late '80's but they appear to have been updated since. I assume that the analog / tape sections are still relevant & included in these books exactly the same as the earlier versions

[Dr ZEE]

found this on the www:
http://books.google.com/books?id=ByJ...age&q=&f=false, look not too bad
************
huh, I have that McIan/Wichman's book too, mine is 1994 revised and updated . Bought back then when I was working on setting up my "advanced" all digital studio to produce some "killer-techno" tracks and such , and that damn book have not done a squat for me ...LOL,
That cover sucks ..heh heh (noted: cover photography by Retna Ltd. ...and that's it), the inside "studio-shots" are priceless though, attached

[burymyteeth]

wow, how awesome to check back on this post and find all of your replies, thank you so much, i am definitely going to check out the books you guys mentioned, thank GOD i have internet once again!

[SteveM]

Originally Posted by Dr ZEE

found this on the www:
http://books.google.com/books?id=ByJ...age&q=&f=false, look not too bad
************
huh, I have that McIan/Wichman's book too, mine is 1994 revised and updated . Bought back then when I was working on setting up my "advanced" all digital studio to produce some "killer-techno" tracks and such , and that damn book have not done a squat for me ...LOL,
That cover sucks ..heh heh (noted: cover photography by Retna Ltd. ...and that's it), the inside "studio-shots" are priceless though, attached

Hey, he has an a3340.

[Beck]

Yep, the best bet is to look for old books, preferably no earlier than mid 70’s and through mid 90’s when analog was still king. They just don't write recording books like they used to... and I don't mean just the lack of info on analog, but piss poor treatment of recording fundamentals in general.

Here are some from my library. You can find a lot of these titles on ebay and Amazon, though they are out of print:

- Practical Techniques for the Recording Engineer – Sherman Keene, 1981
- Multitrack Recording for Musicians – Brent Hurtig, 1988
- Sound Recording Handbook – John M Woram 1989
- Modern Recording Techniques – Huber & Runstein, 1989 3rd Ed
- Magnetic Recording Handbook – Mee & Daniel, 1990
- Practical Recording Techniques – Bruce & Jenny Bartlett, 1997

[lo.fi.love]

This book is more recent, but it covers the basic principals of just about everything: Mixing Audio