Calibrating during the recording of an album

[WarmJetGuitar]

I've got a bit of a dilemma.
Our little studio is getting kindda busy and some friends have just moved in. As our G16 is running a bit much they're thinking about getting another 1/2" 16 track so we don't have worry too much about wear and breakdowns.

We've found another G16 for a good price. I'm just thinking that proper calibration would be wise. However we're three songs into recording a new album and our G16 havn't been calibrated since getting it - the question is if calibrating both machines for SM911 would ruin or improve the recordings we got so far? We always record without noise reduction so that is supposed to make the machine more forgiving, right?

So the question is; calibrtion right away or wait till we have finished our album?

 

[toddyjoe]

I've got a bit of a dilemma.
Our little studio is getting kindda busy and some friends have just moved in. As our G16 is running a bit much they're thinking about getting another 1/2" 16 track so we don't have worry too much about wear and breakdowns.

We've found another G16 for a good price. I'm just thinking that proper calibration would be wise. However we're three songs into recording a new album and our G16 havn't been calibrated since getting it - the question is if calibrating both machines for SM911 would ruin or improve the recordings we got so far? We always record without noise reduction so that is supposed to make the machine more forgiving, right?

So the question is; calibrtion right away or wait till we have finished our album?

Assuming you are talking a full calibration or at least a playback calibration, your existing recordings will sound different. Probably impossible to say if it will be better or worse as you have no idea how far off the calibration was during recording. Are the three songs you have recorded so far basically done as far as the tracking stage? If so, I would probably mix the three songs I have done before calibrating the machines, do a proper calibration of both machines, and then record the rest of the songs and album with calibrated machines. I say that because I like to have my equipment aligned to some sort of objective baseline for future reference or if something needs to be fixed later on. However, if your three recorded songs sound fine on playback on machines that have not been calibrated, you could certainly try to finish the album that way if you are not as nit-picky over equipment details as me. If you go that direction, just keep in mind that you probably will not be able to take your tape and get it to sound the same on any machine other than the one it was recorded on.

Edited for bad grammar.

 

[miroslav]

...I would probably mix the three songs I have done before calibrating the machines, do a proper calibration of both machines, and then record the rest of the songs and album with calibrated machines.

DITTO ^^^^

I know you guys were eager to record...but you should have calibrated it to begin with.

I've pulled old G16 tapes and played them back on a freshly calibrated machine...and yup, things are different.
Not by much (unless the deck was WAY out prior, which mine wasn't)...but at the least, you'll see level differences, though maybe even EQ differences.

 

[BradL8068]

I would try to calibrate the second machine to match the first. You could record tones on your current machine then play them back on the second to see how close they are.
You are correct turning off the noise reduction will make them more forgiving. Honestly though on that format I would use the noise reduction. I don't believe you stated what tape you are aligned for currently. If you change the record alignment now to a different tape you will mike it difficult or impossible to overdub and get the proper sound on the songs you have started.
Brad

 

[Beck]

Yep, I agree you don't want to recalibrate mid-project. On another note, I would not use the G16 without noise reduction. The Dobly C on those things works well.

 

[WarmJetGuitar]

How do I test the frequency response on the G16? Printing sine waves from the tone generator in Audacity at five different frequencies and see how playback correspond to aiming at 0 while using "input monitor" mode?

I honestly don't like the sound of Dolby C, at least not on uncalibrated machines. To my ears it ruins some of the treble and the room sound - usually don't have trouble with hiss, just recording on really high levels and rarely using compression.

I assume the machine is calibrated for SM911/456 as it sounds most transparant with those, thin and kindda lifeless with +9 tapes like SM900 and lovely though a bit "effecty" and saturated with some +3 Maxell tape. Sounds cool for 60's ish stuff.

 

[miroslav]

Watch the low end without the Dolby C.

I used mine with Dolby C and thought it sounded good for what it is....a small format deck, but mine was calibrated.
You can always boost the HF going in....and then roll off as needed later.
Those small format decks need the Dolby, and you can only hit them so hard before they crap, unlike large format decks without any NR.
I run my 2" Otari without NR at 15ips, and for Rock/Pop is great like that, but I'm using 499 and I can slam it and it doesn't shit the bed, and the deck handles it fine.