analog/digital hybrid recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter darwin
  • Start date Start date
D

darwin

New member
OK, I am a digital person, but I have become interested in the (not-so-novel) idea of using a combination of digital and analog tape recording to record a live band in the home studio environment. I really am interested in the tape compression effect that I feel enhances rock recordings. However, I have a pretty decent PC daw that affords me a large number of tracks for mixdown. Specifically, I am looking at the technical challenge of recording a live band with 8 inputs of analog tape. The most important instruments (kick, snare, overheads, guitars, bass)would go to the tape while the ones that would do OK in the digital world would go direct to digital.

Supposedly, the A/D converters in my DbX 386 are supposed to be pretty good at converting analog to SPIDF digital output. My Delta 1010s then have an SPIDF input that could accept the converted signal so that I can play with it in the digital world.

The biggest issue that I can think of would be that of timing. I would need to make sure that the digitally recorded sounds and the sounds recorded to tape would align correctly. Does anybody have any recommendations for an economic 8-track tape machine that could accomodate this challenge?
 
OK, I think I have cleared some confusion. I am looking at the Tascam 38-8. Now, how do I record the SMPTE code to track 8? More specifically, would Sonar or Cubase generate such a code?
 
Hey there was some buzz about that a couple months ago. I was particularly interested in it to..... Here's a link that I think will direct you to a post called "reel recording" that should help answer some questions.
Reel Recording

I looked it up, sonar will sync to your tape deck with what's called FSK (or was it super FSK) or something like that. Read your help files. THe way it did so was kinda scary for me, and I decided that my cash was better spent elsewhere at that point in time... But the idea (dream?) has never left me...
 
Hello Darwin, say, there are some really informative threads here and at Tascams analog forum.
A ton of them. From my understanding you don't want FSK. Myself, I have two MSR-16
with a midiizer for synch and midi interface. I havn't actually tried synching the Computer with it yet(my computer sucks, but my new one is almost done). I'm not an expert at this, and I have actually read its far easier
to use the computer as the master and let the tape machine synch to it. I don't know if the 38 has any ports for timecode or synch lines though. I beleive you have to have a TSR-8 for that. But don't quote me. See Tascams forum. They have it all. Do a search for SJJohnston(he'll probably answer here-too good too!) or bookemdano. They got it down. Same with Larry Robinson. These guys know it for real. No bullshit. I'm just a novice:rolleyes: good luck
fitz:)
oops, sorry guys, there are soooooo many of you here that know this stuff. I can't remember all the names. Ah...Longsoughtfor, pipeline, SMM, ..frederic, regebro, ah..
Sennheiser knows all about the 38...oh yes...where is sweetnubs when you need him
Ha! hmm..I know theres plenty more too!! hey knightfly! You got this down too! give a holla.
 
Last edited:
Me too! Just got my new computer and am trying(arrrgggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrr!!)
to load and configure now. (fuck it, wheres the record buttonLOLOLOLOL) Ha, oh well, I have nothing against digital, just everthing you have to do to configure the shit! What a ^%*&^)*&^)^&^$@#$%&*) NIGHTMARE! 2 DAYS and I'm back at square 1.
fitz
 
The feelings that you are experiencing are exactly why this method will never fully fly with everybody. One has to actually really like troubleshooting and debugging a computer to make it work. (Call me weird, but I consider myself one of these people) This is especially true if you are working with a PC-based system instead of a ProTools system.

What kind of DAW are you running? I may be able to help with some of your issues, if not, I can probably direct you to some very helpful forums where you can ask some questions.
 
Hello Darwin, the feeling I am experiencing comes from the lack of ability to place my hands on the neck of the CEO of Lexicon. They dropped all support for the Core 32, and took me two full days to discover that it will NEVER run under 2000. Neither will cubase. I received a computer as a gift with Win2000 installed. I had a Lexicon Core 32 Studio, and Cubase 5.1 sitting in the closet for a year before I was able to get a new computer. Oh well, back to 98'. No big deal. I just wanted to use what I have, and its for fun anyway, but this has been NO FUN!! I'm not a novice with computers,. and have lots of network specialist help in the family(they built my computer) so its just a matter of time. I do have Nuendo 1.5.1 and it works, but don't know if it will work with the lexicon yet. Probably will toss the Lexicon on ebay and take what I can get. I don't really know what to replace it with though. Certainly not PT. Thats a money pit. And I don't need it. Probably Motu. What do you think? I'd like to be able to hook up a digital mixer eventually that will work with the DAW. Got a tmd-1000 but its a toy. Doesn't work with the daw anyway. Maybe a DM-1000, or something. I really don't have a lot of experience with the digital stuff but no hurry.
fitz:rolleyes:
 
If you just want to try the digital/analog hybrid recording method that was mentioned at the JimmyEther site, I suggest formatting your computer with Win98 and using the tools that you have at your disposal. If you really want W2K also, you might be able to set up a dual boot machine. Now, as far as finding compatability between a digital mixer, soundcard, software, and an OS, that will involve a little more research. If you give this hybrid idea a try, I would love to know what you find out.
 
Hi darwin, I completely reformated my drive and loaded win 98, works great. Now I reloaded all the programs and at this moment I am ready to install the Lexicon card. But now I have a question about keeping the Soundblaster in with it. Can you have 2 cards? I like the soundfonts on the SB. Well I'll read the manual about that and get on the net. My needs are only for fun as I like to fool around with this stuff. Always have.
Like I said, I have two synched MSR-16's so this is icing on the cake:D I'd just like to learn some of the digital stuff. Burn a CD, or upload a MP3 etc. Nothing serious. Don't even really have a good room. Just my little ole bedroom "woom". Ha! Thanks for your input, I need all the help I can get.
fitz
 
Well, that sounds great. First, I would kind of give everything that you have going some time. Work with it, and see if everything is cool before installing the SB. You don't really want to have a problem with your system and not know if it is because you installed the SB or not. Once things seem pretty cool after using the system in a variety of different ways, including some processor intensive mixdowns, I'd say go for it. Put it in, and see what happens. I suspect that it'll probably be fine. That core-32 looks like a pretty cool card. It's too bad they aren't going to make it work with W2K or XP.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top