Cassette Recording Experiment - Song

[ksounds]

This is an experiment of mine. I gave myself 2 hours to write, record and mix one song. I recorded this on the tascam 424 mkII cassette recorder (which is why I'm posting this in the analog forum) and used only it's 4 tracks.

It's a very basic and simple song-3 chords. I still think it came out o.k. in spite of all these limitations.

Recorded using a Rode NT-3.

It's called "They All Look the Same".

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=805880&content=music

 

[Herm]

I think it came out Great! Smokin sound out of a cassette unit.

 

[Dr ZEE]

sweet

Hey, that sounds pretty awfully sweet to me.
I dig it, (because it leaves me enough space to fill). And the lyrics and the mood is cool

 

[Instroverb]

Great recording. . .

but even more great song. Melody and lyrics are right on. Could easily be a released professionly!!

 

[ksounds]

Hey, thanks for the kind words guys!

 

[famous beagle]

Great job. Yeah it sounds great. Is there a way we can make a link to this song for anyone who says you can't get a great sound out of 4-track cassette?

 

[ksounds]

Thanks famous.
One of the reasons I post in the analog forum and not the mp3 clinic is because I think this group in particular appreciates the capabilities of the cassette 4 track recorder. Personally, I enjoy seeing people post their analog recordings in this forum so that I don't have to go digging through the mp3 clinic to find people working in the same format I enjoy working in (not taking any sort of jab at DAW's and what not). I have an abnormally weird fascination with cassette recordings, and enjoy listening to others analog recordings as well (especially casssette recordings).

 

[themaddog]

I'm glad more of the analog people have been posting their work as of late. In my opinion, it takes a lot more skill to record with analog equipment (punch-ins rather than a zillion tracks that can be recorded and mixed and matched) and certainly more skill during mix-down (very little if any automation).

Now, personally I think it's easier to get things to "sound good" on analog equipment, but that doesn't make recording or mixing any easier! So hats off to you new guys who are demonstrating your work, keep it up!

-MD

 

[cjacek]

ksounds: This is one hell of a nice recording! I totally agree with the guys above. Nothing to add nor subtract. Keep it coming man!

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[cjacek]

I'm glad more of the analog people have been posting their work as of late. In my opinion, it takes a lot more skill to record with analog equipment (punch-ins rather than a zillion tracks that can be recorded and mixed and matched) and certainly more skill during mix-down (very little if any automation).

Now, personally I think it's easier to get things to "sound good" on analog equipment, but that doesn't make recording or mixing any easier! So hats off to you new guys who are demonstrating your work, keep it up!

-MD

I think you nailed it MD. Well said.

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[cjacek]

One of the reasons I post in the analog forum and not the mp3 clinic is because I think this group in particular appreciates the capabilities of the cassette 4 track recorder.

Yup, you're right and, honestly, I don't want to dig through a zillion tracks on the mp3 forum hoping for one or two tape recordings when I can get 'em here!

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[cjacek]

Just a note of observation that most people would be shocked and astonished at how good a cassette can sound.

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[ksounds]

Just a note of observation that most people would be shocked and astonished at how good a cassette can sound.

Especially with the fidelity a condenser microphone provides. I'm very pleased with the Rode NT3. Perfect for 4 tracks IMO.

Gotta give big ups to the Lexicon Alex on this one too. Does a nice job...

And I can't forget the little dbx 163x compressor...super easy to use and does the job well.

Thanks for the kind words Cjaeck

 

[famous beagle]

Especially with the fidelity a condenser microphone provides. I'm very pleased with the Rode NT3. Perfect for 4 tracks IMO.

Gotta give big ups to the Lexicon Alex on this one too. Does a nice job...

And I can't forget the little dbx 163x compressor...super easy to use and does the job well.

Thanks for the kind words Cjaeck

I think this brings up a very good point as to why cassette 4-tracks are seen as so low quality. Usually, they're the first machine someone starts on (or, at least that's the way it was 10 or 15 years ago), and that usually means the recordist doesn't have much else in the way of quality gear, such as mics, preamps, compressors, effects, etc., and pretty much zero experience.

When I started on my first 4-track, a Fostex X-26 I think, I know that's the way it was for me. I was using whatever cheap dynamic mic I had at the time, and that was about it! I had no idea what I was doing, and all those factors contribute to our association of 4-track cassette with low quality.

As we update guitars, mics, processors, and other gear, we think we need to update the 4-track. The problem is, they're usually never given the opportunity to provide the quality of which they're capable.