CrowsofFritz
Flamingo!
That doesn't mean we shouldn't correct what we can.
What does that entail? I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as Ethan Winer is, but I have a pretty good grasp on what's what and I try to only state objective facts.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't correct what we can.
What does that entail? I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as Ethan Winer is, but I have a pretty good grasp on what's what and I try to only state objective facts.
Telegram Sam
New member
So, you prefer tape because it's slower to work with?
Or because recording on it is destructive?
I can relate; sometimes I just go get a cup of coffee for the hell of it after I hit the space bar.
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
Naaaa...I don't think it's that basic an answer.
I work with tape and analog gear a lot, and while it certainly is a slower process (I mean, you have to wait for the tape to RW/FW and tubes to warm up, if nothing else)....and what is nice about that isn't just the "slowness", but the deliberate focus it forces on you about what you are doing, and the extra time it gives you to think about the details of the production.
IOW....you get a lot of "natural" pauses with analog and tape gear...and you can still go for that cup of coffee.
Telegram Sam
New member
Just joking with you Miro, I understand.
We still get asked by the old folks that come in if they can use our phone book.
We still get asked by the old folks that come in if they can use our phone book.
B
Beck
Guest
Right, but what it does mean is people should not pick on any one forum as being more erroneous than another.
B
Beck
Guest
Just joking with you Miro, I understand.
We still get asked by the old folks that come in if they can use our phone book.
Old folks! LOL If you're really 53 you're older than me.
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
Really? Technological considerations are in my opinion just one very uninteresting aspect of home recording. I don't particularly care how or why gear works...I only want and need to know what it actually does, and that can come simply through experience / trial and error. Amass enough of that, and I think one is capable of offering very helpful advice without any real grasp of the technology behind it.
Maybe you meant something more specific there, but it reads like a very broad statement that I certainly disagree with.
Bobbsy
Boring Old Git
Naaaa...I don't think it's that basic an answer.
I work with tape and analog gear a lot, and while it certainly is a slower process (I mean, you have to wait for the tape to RW/FW and tubes to warm up, if nothing else)....and what is nice about that isn't just the "slowness", but the deliberate focus it forces on you about what you are doing, and the extra time it gives you to think about the details of the production.
IOW....you get a lot of "natural" pauses with analog and tape gear...and you can still go for that cup of coffee.
Anecdotal tale time:
Back in my TV days, the company I worked for had two video editors who did the high end stuff with lots of effects etc.
One of them, when he got to a "hmmm, what should we do here?" moment would rapidly push buttons, twist knobs and basically try stuff. The other was a pipe smoker (back in the days when smoking was allowed in the building if that dates this story) and he'd slowly and deliberately tap his pipe, fill it, tamp it and all the other bits and pieces...all the while thinking about his next step.
Among the producers using the edit suite, Mr. Pipe Smoker had a reputation as a better editor because of his calm, laid back attitude. In terms of results, Mr. Stab at Buttons actually turned out the better product quite often--but had a reputation of being nervous etc.
I wonder if this is sort of an allegory for analogue vs digital. Analogue is smoking a pipe; digital is nervously punching buttons?
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Digital guys are coke-heads, Analog guys are stoners.
That should be the title of the next drawn out digital/analog debate....
Maybe the digital guys are meth-heads, as there was more coke in the 70's-80's, when analog was the only way. Hmm. I have no insight to this thread anymore as it is not ever going to get anywhere. Not without some LSD. lol.
That should be the title of the next drawn out digital/analog debate....
Maybe the digital guys are meth-heads, as there was more coke in the 70's-80's, when analog was the only way. Hmm. I have no insight to this thread anymore as it is not ever going to get anywhere. Not without some LSD. lol.
Bobbsy
Boring Old Git
Digital guys are coke-heads, Analog guys are stoners.
That should be the title of the next drawn out digital/analog debate....
Maybe the digital guys are meth-heads, as there was more coke in the 70's-80's, when analog was the only way. Hmm. I have no insight to this thread anymore as it is not ever going to get anywhere. Not without some LSD. lol.
Yeah man. Painting spirals on your tape reels and staring at them for hours should prove the superiority of analogue.
Like wow.
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Whoa! My fingers are like twizzlers only like more twizzly...
LOL!
LOL!
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
When I'm on an editing/comping binge in the DAW...I can fly fast, and it's just non-stop until I drop. 
But when I'm tracking....I work very slowly and deliberately, taking very long pauses between actions. Often I'm also still flushing out some aspects of the production when tracking...so the whole tape SOP is just perfect for that...then I also limit myself to the 24 tracks of the tape deck, so that too adds some more thought process.
Someone may think there's a lot of wasted time in there....but it's actually very beneficial to the production, the time in-between actual *recording*, and I find it to be quite enjoyable.
When I'm just sitting at the DAW, it feels more like pure work...not to mention, it gives me a pain in my neck, back and ass from sitting there and only moving my hands and my eyes for hours on end. I find I have to get up out of the chair often just to loosen up...but I don't need to do that when I'm working with tape and my console, etc...'cuz I'm rarely in the chair.
But when I'm tracking....I work very slowly and deliberately, taking very long pauses between actions. Often I'm also still flushing out some aspects of the production when tracking...so the whole tape SOP is just perfect for that...then I also limit myself to the 24 tracks of the tape deck, so that too adds some more thought process.
Someone may think there's a lot of wasted time in there....but it's actually very beneficial to the production, the time in-between actual *recording*, and I find it to be quite enjoyable.
When I'm just sitting at the DAW, it feels more like pure work...not to mention, it gives me a pain in my neck, back and ass from sitting there and only moving my hands and my eyes for hours on end. I find I have to get up out of the chair often just to loosen up...but I don't need to do that when I'm working with tape and my console, etc...'cuz I'm rarely in the chair.
Telegram Sam
New member
In all honesty, one of the main reasons I don't use tape / mixing board is lack of space to work in.
My amateur home studio is minute by comparison and all direct record with the exception of vocals.
My amateur home studio is minute by comparison and all direct record with the exception of vocals.
C
chuckduffy
Well-known member
I know a 20 something year old guy whos playback system is an old 60s plastic transistor battery operated portable turntable with built in single speaker. The only music he listens to is his collection of original 60s garage , surf, R&B and pop 45s. I thought it was the most ridiculous thing ever, still do for the most part. I will say that they must have been really considering these devices when mixing, cause the stuff (especially the garage and surf) sounds amazing on the damn thing, especially when cranked. Certainly not hi fi, but must be the nostalgia.
C
chuckduffy
Well-known member
I think I know exactly what he means. There are a lot of people who aren't really interested in analog, who jump and start threads in this forum, a forum that was specifically created for analog lovers/users. The firestarters have a tiny bit of bad/misinformed knowledge about digital (people who think 24 bit means 'less stair steps' for example. Then they couple it with even LESS knowledge about analog and base really long, tired argument threads around analog versus digital, and it is completely obvious they have NO idea what they are talking about.
So I understand what the OP was writing about when he started the thread, and I understand his latest response. This forum is for folks who like and use analog. If that's not your bag, there is no point whatsoever coming in here and riling things up with digital is better arguments. At least that is my thinking.
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
I'm not sure if that was what he meant, but it certainly isn't what was written.
The title states "any thread in the forum - analog v digital"...clearly not true. The vast, vast majority of the threads in here are about people trying figure out how to fix/maintain their old analog gear. My own single biggest contribution to this site was probably a thread I started with step by step instructions (plus pics) on how to change a belt in my cassette multi-tracker. I did this with no background or understanding of the technology behind it.
To this day, I still get PMs every month or two from random new members thanking me for that and asking follow-up questions.
What he said was, "No one should be trying to explain anything whatsoever on these forums unless they have a background and grasp of the technology." So...I shouldn't have created that thread? Again, I'm guessing he meant something much more specific, but as general statement, it makes no sense. It's also a little bit insulting to someone like myself who could care less about technology, but still feels they can make valuable contributions.
As for the broader analog v digital thing...who cares? I like both. There shouldn't be any "sides" to this and to the extent that there are "sides", both are way too thin-skinned imo.
C
chuckduffy
Well-known member
Thanks Heat - I get your point. He made a generalization, one that I have seen play out here a few times. If you have specific knowledge that is helpful, of course you should post it. In your case you must have had a grasp on something, because you were able to fix your deck and supply instructions others followed.
C
chuckduffy
Well-known member
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
So I was reading my current isssue of Tape Op magazine (#96) today, and in it there is an interview with Ken Caillat, a producer/engineer who has worked with some big names, to also include recording Fleetwood Mac's biggest selling album, "Rumours", about which he wrote a book, "Making Rumours".
Anyway, one of the responses he gave in the magazine interview pretty much echos what we were talking about here, that working with anlog/tape gear is a more slower, deliberate and rewarding process. Here's a quote from the Tape Op article from page 23.
While he specifically refers to Pro Tools....it would apply to working with any DAW.
Anyway, one of the responses he gave in the magazine interview pretty much echos what we were talking about here, that working with anlog/tape gear is a more slower, deliberate and rewarding process. Here's a quote from the Tape Op article from page 23.
While he specifically refers to Pro Tools....it would apply to working with any DAW.
witzendoz
Senior Member
And that whole thing you get nowadays where the guitar player (example not picking on guitar players) plays a good verse and chorus followed by an average one and say to me "can you cut and paste the good ones in?" in the tape days we would just drop it in and have him play it again, which in the long term is more satisfying. Instead of me recording an album (editing and making them sound good), they are recording an album.
Alan.