Cheap mastering options *First post*

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AnalogHare

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Greetings! This is my first actual post even though I have looked around on these forums A LOT with help on several things. Everyone seems friendly and helpful!

I am setting up a reel to reel recording studio and I was curious on thoughts about what I should use for the mixdown/master. I have a two track I was going to use for a possible mix-down unit. However, for getting the songs to a digital source, I have been looking at either the Fostex MR-8 mkII 8-Track Digital Recorder or the TASCAM DP-004 or DP-008.

The idea is that I hate using a computer for recording (I've used them in the past) and so I'd like to keep it at the very end of the chain. I figure I could use the Fostex or the Tascam for my mixdown/master because I can do simple things like adjust levels and such out of the box, get the songs on a flash drive, sd card, etc and directly move the songs to the computer for any MINUTE adjustment and burning the songs to a cd. I thought either of these machines would be good for that. Also, I don't want a multi-track with a built-in burner or hd system. The memory source needs to be removable.

So what do any of you think? I'm open to ideas and I'm not really set on either machine. However, I am pretty much set on the process i explained. I was originally going to go with the Fostex but I hear those Tascams are VERY nice products. I should suppose it could handle the job I am asking it to do. It just seemed like it was meant for demos and song ideas and my be difficult to use for what I want... or maybe I just like surfing faders?

Thanks to anyone who dignifies this with a response!
 
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(Not seeing what this has to do with mastering... But...)

I don't track / mix often anymore -- But when I do, I like to track to tape and immediately pull off the repro head. If you're looking for "tape sound" and the ease and reliability of digital, that's the way to do it.

It's also *BY FAR* the least expensive way to utilize tape... As long as the machine is calibrated to itself, you're golden. And you don't need to munch through reel after reel of tape (as you can just rewind and record again once the reel runs out because you're just pulling off the repro heads).
 
and for every overdub, you'd drag the track back into time in the computer?
How do you go about quick playbacks in that scenario?
 
The recording is going "through" the tape (for lack of a better term) on the way to the computer. No different than the rest of the head chain. You can record whatever source you like (I tend to do "all or none") and just degauss the tape when you're done for next time.
 
I think you misunderstood my question. If you're going thru the repro head, you'll have a delay going into the computer. Therefore if you are monitoring already recorded tracks ON the computer, your new track will be out of sync when plopped into the computer. Not a show stopper, but then you'll have to drag that [new]track into time (forward). For a quick playback, that might become cumbersome.

and to clarify, I'm talking about "going thru the tape" for overdubs.
 
Ah - Gotcha. Slate everything. Yes, monitoring playback is a bit of an ordeal, but nothing big.
 
How is a slate tone going to help you line it up? If anything, I'd split the signal and go straight into the computer also and then visually line things up.

Slate tones were for finding your way around on a tape a high wind/transport speeds.

Any rate, I think your suggestion is good for doing "one take" band stuff..or solo stuff or doing drums first, like many people prefer and then start adding directly to the computer and put the r2r aside at this point.
 
That's an interesting idea and I've thought about doing something like that before. I don't want to use a computer except for burning cds and perhaps taking down a peak if necessary. I suppose I could to the same technique with the Fostex.

I realize now this wasn't necessarily a "mastering question" per se. Perhaps I should repost elsewhere? I don't want irritate the mastering gurus. It was a bit of a mixed bag question and I thought it most related to mastering. Perhaps it was more of a mix-down question? Sorry guys.
 
alls good.. my apologies for going down a rabbit trail :)
 
AnalogHare said:
I realize now this wasn't necessarily a "mastering question" per se. Perhaps I should repost elsewhere? I don't want irritate the mastering gurus. It was a bit of a mixed bag question and I thought it most related to mastering. Perhaps it was more of a mix-down question? Sorry guys.
Click to expand...
No one's irritated -- Just want you to get the most bang-for-your-post. And the mastering forum is - Well, it's not exactly a 'high-traffic' area...
 
If your DAW and hardware support it you could record a SMPTE track on tape and lock your DAW to that. I used to do this with a 2" machine and Pro Tools way back when the studio I was working at had a 24 track tape but only 16 channels of Pro Tools.
 
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