analog question...

[hrwmusic]

------ok, i posted this in a tascam forum and i think it would be better here----
"I guess i havent really seen much on analog recording except the 50$ musicians friend sets, which im guessing dont cut it. Ive been doing my own thing on my computer and i really just need to take the crappy sound out of my recordings, and since im low on money i was thinking of what i said earlier (insert> Ive been looking at the TASCAM US-122 USB Audio/MIDI Interface and other things of the digital nature<insert), which was a suggestion from someone in the newbie forum. But me screwing with the tape and everything, yes i really do think it is an art but i just seems too complicated when my main focus in playing-then recording.
Im sure i sound like an idiot, because i really dont know anything about analog...

am i just clueless? Maybe this should be in the beginer section, but how could i even do analog without cutting sections of tape off a reel, or using a cheep tape deck? Just woundering i mean, seeing as i am about to make an important decision with recording."

Im basically asking could i record analog and then put it on my computer to edit, and what are the good options i have with this whole thing?

I just need some help on which path should i take?
---thanks alot---

(another insert> should this be in analog only?)

 

[sixways]

Yes, you could record analog and transfer to digital to mix/edit and the transfer back to analog, but...why the hell would you want to? In theory, you could put a boom box in from of your guitar, record it to tape, then play the tape and use your line outs into your AD/DA to get it to your PC, then line outs back to tape (very simplistic method)...but again, why in the hell would you want to? Every step you take in analog results in signal loss...maybe I'm misunderstanding the question.

6

 

[hrwmusic]

Yes, you could record analog and transfer to digital to mix/edit and the transfer back to analog, but...why the hell would you want to? In theory, you could put a boom box in from of your guitar, record it to tape, then play the tape and use your line outs into your AD/DA to get it to your PC, then line outs back to tape (very simplistic method)...but again, why in the hell would you want to? Every step you take in analog results in signal loss...maybe I'm misunderstanding the question.

6

no no, thanks for responding, i think i am going to stick to digital, it was just a matter of the warmth of analog, which, what i hear is irreplaceable by digital.
But ive had no problem with digital, and i think i would work for me, for atleast right now.

But thanks,

 

[TuoKaerf]

You can get great sounds either way. I know plenty of people who track to tape, then dump it into their computer to edit. The crappy sound comes from using crappy gear, or using crappy recording techniques.

 

[sixways]

To me analog recordings are kind of like wine, they tend to get better with age. There are things you can do to warm up digital recordings...as evidenced by some of the great digital recordings out there now.

6

 

[Farview]

If you can't get a good sound digitally, it's not going to be any better analog. The 'warmth' of analog that everyone is talking about isn't found on a cheap 4-track, that sound comes from high end equipment (analog or digital) cheap garbage sounds like cheap garbage.

 

[Kasey]

If you can't get a good sound digitally, it's not going to be any better analog. The 'warmth' of analog that everyone is talking about isn't found on a cheap 4-track, that sound comes from high end equipment (analog or digital) cheap garbage sounds like cheap garbage.

i tend to think that quality analog can be had cheaper than digital of a relative quality.

 

[Farview]

i tend to think that quality analog can be had cheaper than digital of a relative quality.

I would think the opposite. How much is a 24 track 2 inch tape machine, and tape for an entire album. Put that up against a motu 24I/O and a 40 gig hard drive. Or even the RME interfaces (24 tracks worth)

 

[Dani Pace]

For remote location recording I often use analog, it's a lot easier to haul a small recorder than it is to move the pc, then transfer the recording to the pc for editing and mixing. It's easy to do and sometimes I discover things on the recordings that i didnt hear while recording it. The little bits of hiss are easily cleaned up too.

 

[easychair]

For remote location recording I often use analog, it's a lot easier to haul a small recorder than it is to move the pc, then transfer the recording to the pc for editing and mixing. It's easy to do and sometimes I discover things on the recordings that i didnt hear while recording it. The little bits of hiss are easily cleaned up too.

O/T question- what analog recorder do you use? Right now I have a digital trifecta- I record to a Masterlink with DAT and minidisc backup, I'm just curious what you use.

 

[Farview]

For remote location recording I often use analog, it's a lot easier to haul a small recorder than it is to move the pc,

For remote recording, I still use digital. With ADATs and DA-88s going for almost free on ebay, you can multi-track live dates pretty cheap.