I have been recording large male choirs and a solo classical pianist. I'm currently using the Behringers T-47 tube mics, Behringer 100 tube preamp and Behringer 24bit A2D through fireware to my laptop. I am trying to get software which will allow me to burn DVD-A.
I think wihtout going to a tape machine I'm stuck with digital. Even if I record to tape I have to make CD from the anyhow. So what is the gain? And how much for a decent tape machine??
OK, so it sounds like you're just doing fairly straight forward live performances and not doing multi-track overdubbing so you should be able to get by with a higher end 2 track open reel deck running at 15 Inches Per Second or "IPS" for short.
There are many professional quality open reel decks from TASCAM, Otari, Studer that you should be able to find on the used market ranging in price from 300-3000 dollars depending on model and condition.
You'll need two mono preamps to do this or one stereo one. I'm assuming your existing one is a stereo, two channel unit and that it has analog balanced and unbalanced outputs to feed the input on the tape recorder.
You're going to need to do some reading and self education on analog technology as its beyond the scope of a single thread such as this to tell you everything there is to know about analog recording, all the different formats and manufacturers, how to use them and what to look for when purchasing them used. And why I say used is because essentially all factory production of reel to reel recorders has stopped at this point so you couldn't buy new even if you wanted to and were willing to pay full retail prices.
If you've been recording in 24 bit digital, you're going to need a very good quality analog deck that can keep up with those kind of specs that digital can give you, especially in the realm of noise as even decks running at 30 IPS will still produce audible tape his if you're not using noise reduction. The type of music you're recording is probably also going to show off the tape hiss more so then conventional pop/rock/rap/country music as what you're recording will have very quiet parts where the tape hiss and even the electronics's noise will come right through onto the recordings.
What you might gain by going analog is perhaps a smoother tonality with silkier sounding high frequencies but this will not be a night and day difference to the untrained ear so be prepared to be unimpressed if you had some wild expectations about what the differences would be. That said, a high end analog deck, properly calibrated and with careful recording levels can achieve drop dead beautiful sound and is worth using provided you and your clients are capable of hearing the difference. Why that's important in today's age is because so many people end up listening to music in highly compressed MP3 formats and on 5 dollar ear buds so one might wonder if it's all worth it if the end presentation is being done so poorly. Then again, history shows us that teenagers back in the 50,60 and 70's were perfectly happy to listen to their music on 5 dollar AM transistor pocket radios and yet that didn't deter recording studios from recording on state of the art gear!
Cheers!
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