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willmoore
New member
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The Ghost of FM
Banned
The easiest way to think about analog multi-track is to think of a multi-lane highway. A multi-track tape recorder has multiple lanes that run along side of each other. And on each lane on the tape, different parts can be recorded. This is accomplished by a set of multi-track heads which each have separate electronics to deal with each pathway individually.
Once the recording has been made, you can transfer this analog recording to a computer via a multi-channel analog to digital converter unit which will plug into an available USB port on your computer and will also have multiple analog inputs where you can plug in your mixer or reel to reel deck directly.And then you can run your computer recording program to transfer, edit and mix the parts.
And yes, if you make a mistake, you can re-record the part over again without affecting the other parts of the tape.
You should also know that for doing the initial recording on the reel to reel deck, you will also need a multi-channel mixer which will allow you to plug in your microphones and instruments as well as give you the means to to route each of those parts to the tape recorder and set up a cue mix so that you can hear each part alone or combined with the other parts.
Many of the people here who record with analog reel to reel decks don't bother with a computer at all and record and mix their entire project in the analog realm, just like every recording studio on earth did up until about 20 years ago when digital recording started to come into being.
You should try to do more research on the topic as hundreds of books have been written on the subject and many on-line resources including videos are also available. Do a search on google or you-tube and be prepared to learn.
And please remember that while its possible for us to answer each of the hundreds of questions you may come up with, its really an unproductive use of our time to re-write out what has already been said in other threads here or elsewhere. So if you do start asking a lot more questions and no one is answering them, that is the reason.
Cheers!
Once the recording has been made, you can transfer this analog recording to a computer via a multi-channel analog to digital converter unit which will plug into an available USB port on your computer and will also have multiple analog inputs where you can plug in your mixer or reel to reel deck directly.And then you can run your computer recording program to transfer, edit and mix the parts.
And yes, if you make a mistake, you can re-record the part over again without affecting the other parts of the tape.
You should also know that for doing the initial recording on the reel to reel deck, you will also need a multi-channel mixer which will allow you to plug in your microphones and instruments as well as give you the means to to route each of those parts to the tape recorder and set up a cue mix so that you can hear each part alone or combined with the other parts.
Many of the people here who record with analog reel to reel decks don't bother with a computer at all and record and mix their entire project in the analog realm, just like every recording studio on earth did up until about 20 years ago when digital recording started to come into being.
You should try to do more research on the topic as hundreds of books have been written on the subject and many on-line resources including videos are also available. Do a search on google or you-tube and be prepared to learn.
And please remember that while its possible for us to answer each of the hundreds of questions you may come up with, its really an unproductive use of our time to re-write out what has already been said in other threads here or elsewhere. So if you do start asking a lot more questions and no one is answering them, that is the reason.
Cheers!
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mixsit
Well-known member
Here's a decent picture
Google Image Result for http://www.skidmore.edu/academics/music/att/headstackbig.jpg
The tape head is divided into a stack of individual record (or playback) channels.
A multi channel (track') analog to digital converter can take any signals –in this case the outputs from your multi-track playback tape signals and send them to your digital recorder –computer recording, stand alone recorder what have you. Vise versa the digital to analog converters play those digital sources back out- to a mixer, to a tape deck, monitor speakers..
Google Image Result for http://www.skidmore.edu/academics/music/att/headstackbig.jpg
The tape head is divided into a stack of individual record (or playback) channels.
A multi channel (track') analog to digital converter can take any signals –in this case the outputs from your multi-track playback tape signals and send them to your digital recorder –computer recording, stand alone recorder what have you. Vise versa the digital to analog converters play those digital sources back out- to a mixer, to a tape deck, monitor speakers..
VESSEL2020
Somewhere in Space
Tape is able to record multitracks due to the headstock design in which it is lapped with electromagnetics that are placed strategically to separate the tracks. Though,..this is something you should probably Google, because there's a hell of a lot more to it than that.
Via digital interface integrated with a DAW.
Yes, you can record over tape several times. Another Google.
What are you trying to achieve?
VESSEL2020
Somewhere in Space
Looks like Ghost beat me to it while I was typing this above.
He gave you a much better explanation.
There are books out there on this topic that might better serve your curiosity.
As Ghost said in his reply,..there are several threads here in this forum on this topic as well.
He gave you a much better explanation.
There are books out there on this topic that might better serve your curiosity.
As Ghost said in his reply,..there are several threads here in this forum on this topic as well.
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WarmJetGuitar
New member
If you want to record on tape I recommend getting a multitrack reel-to-reel tape recorder and a mixing desk with direct out. Direct out means that each channel will be sent directly to your tape recorder or DAW. When it comes to the desk Fostex, Tascam and Studiomaster can be bought for cheap and will usually sound good and they can also be used for digital recording if you're out of money for tape.
If you're serious and patient about analog I think you'll archieve a better sound from mixing on the desk and then make mixdowns to your computer. If you get a tape recorder with a smaller number of tracks and want to do advanced recordings you can either do pinging (google this) or mixdown to your computer in order to make overdubs on it. Remember there are no rules and when you get the basics tape isn't that hard to work with.
What kind of setup do you want? Do you have any equipment already? Do you expect to record one instrument at the time or a whole band playing live? And what is your budget?
If you're serious and patient about analog I think you'll archieve a better sound from mixing on the desk and then make mixdowns to your computer. If you get a tape recorder with a smaller number of tracks and want to do advanced recordings you can either do pinging (google this) or mixdown to your computer in order to make overdubs on it. Remember there are no rules and when you get the basics tape isn't that hard to work with.
What kind of setup do you want? Do you have any equipment already? Do you expect to record one instrument at the time or a whole band playing live? And what is your budget?
diggy_dude
Now 169% diggier!
It's really not so amazing that tape recorders do the same things a DAW or digital multitracker does. There was already an established paradigm and workflow in analog studios (accomplished by incredibly sophisticated mechanical means) that was later emulated by digital.
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willmoore
New member
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