Graduating from Tascam 424 to real home studio... help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter dashofchutmeg
  • Start date Start date
D

dashofchutmeg

New member
Due to a lack of funds, I've been recording on rinky-dink DAWs and my Tascam 424 for the last five years or so, excluding the occasional studio visit, which, as you all know, can be quite expensive.

Well, things change. Papa's got a new cushy job, so I'm allotting myself $10k over the next year to build a modest home studio to enter the world of "real" recording.

I could read all sorts of articles and threads on here about building a home studio, but I want to hear about options for a particular recording philosophy. To be short: I don't use MIDI, and I plan on using as few digital effects as possible. For reverb, I plan on using piping and reamping and remicing exclusively. For vocal effects, I will be using a vintage Boss analog delay and, yes, room reverb. I don't punch individual words or phrases in songs, and I really believe in the power of a good, solid take. As such, I'd like to have the "vintage" sound as much as possible. I'm pretty sure this means at least a couple good ribbon mics, but I'm not sure yet. I prefer a nice 4-mic drum sound to the 13-mic setups I've seen in some studios.

Here's a sample of my music, all self-recorded, to give you an idea of what I'm trying to do:

424 demos | reck harpering

Things I already have and do not plan on upgrading:

studio monitors
isolation headphones
headphone amp

Where do I start? What preamps and A/D and interface are worth the money? Do I need a dedicated Mac Pro, or can I get away with an iMac if I am not going to be doing CPU-intensive stuff like stacking and automating plug-ins?
 
Just checked out some of your stuff, and I like it a lot. You've got a cool thing going there for sure! It's a little heavy on the verb, IMHO, and I couldn't understand most of the lyrics because of that, but I like the writing/your voice/the arrangements. Cool stuff.

I'm not terribly knowledgeable on CPU recording (I'm mostly an analog guy), so I'll let others tackle your questions. Just wanted to let you know I dug your stuff.

Good luck :)
 
famous beagle said:
Just checked out some of your stuff, and I like it a lot. You've got a cool thing going there for sure! It's a little heavy on the verb, IMHO, and I couldn't understand most of the lyrics because of that, but I like the writing/your voice/the arrangements. Cool stuff.

I'm not terribly knowledgeable on CPU recording (I'm mostly an analog guy), so I'll let others tackle your questions. Just wanted to let you know I dug your stuff.

Good luck :)
Click to expand...

Thank you! Very kind words. And yes, for some of my stuff I throw reverb in. I want the voice to be more of an instrument than a vessel for lyrics. I still don't know the lyrics to most My Bloody Valentine, Talk Talk, and Bark Psychosis songs, but I think they're (the bands) among the best of their generation(s). If you got a feeling from the vocal performance, it doesn't matter. I think of bands like The Pixies, too, who made up nonsense and openly admitted it. Mick Jagger and Thom Yorke each wrote songs by picking individual lines of lyrics out of a hat for Exile on Main St. and Kid A, respectively. If it works for them...

Again, thank you for listening! Free download!
 
But while we're at it: I'd like to record to tape, and then transfer it. Any advice?
 
Dash,

There a many analog 16 track machines available for cheap. Or get a 24 track with 16 trk heads. A fatter track width = Beef. - I'm only talking about 2" machines.
If you are thinking 2-track mastering with analog tape - get an ATR100 that is modded for 1/2" tape. That's the bomb -- and use Dolby SR and run it @ 15 ips. IMHO, that's the best analog available.
You can send the tape to be mastered directly to CD. Let those guys use their 'best' converters to make it happen.
Be forewarned that once you have been bitten by the analog bug... it IS terminal (that means you'll die with it) ~facepalm~ LOL!!

Cheers,
John
 
There a many analog 16 track machines available for cheap. Or get a 24 track with 16 trk heads. A fatter track width = Beef. - I'm only talking about 2" machines.
If you are thinking 2-track mastering with analog tape - get an ATR100 that is modded for 1/2" tape. That's the bomb -- and use Dolby SR and run it @ 15 ips. IMHO, that's the best analog available.
Click to expand...

:eek::eek: Maybe in your parallel universe of unlimited funds John.:p

Took me YEARS just to collect what I have now. Which is prosumer grade. But it's all I can afford and will have to do.


Be forewarned that once you have been bitten by the analog bug... it IS terminal (that means you'll die with it) ~facepalm~ LOL!!
Click to expand...

Terminal indeed. I'm living proof. Having just moved into my LAST home forever, where the only room available for my studio is only 9'x12, and my core analog gear consisting of an M3700 mixer, two synched MSR16 tape machines which took me 5 years to collect, my terminal obsession with analog has come down to stuffing this stuff the best way I can into this little old room. I can't give them up. EVER. I even built a console 15 years ago that I've modified at least 6 times over the years, and I can't give it up either. So, what this means is, because of my love of analog, and the size of the console/mixer vs the room, it will force my listening position to be almost exactly at the middle point in the length of the room. Oh well...this is truely the one part of home recording that most people experience..you USE what you HAVE. In this case, my console fits EXACTLY wall to wall. And the dual tape machine fixture fills most of the other end of the room. Here is what I'm ultimately dealing with...
Michigan Top View 1 Plan 1.webpMichigan Rear Wall2 Plan 1.webpMichigan Console Closeup Plan 1.webp


Just installed the tape machine fixture yesterday. I'll start my own thread real soon John.
 
So... thread hijacked...
Click to expand...
I'm sorry you feel that. That wasn't my intent. My INTENT was to support Johns statement ...
Be forewarned that once you have been bitten by the analog bug... it IS terminal (that means you'll die with it) ~facepalm~ LOL!!
Click to expand...

Since I'm 68, I think I qualify as an analog lifer and only tried to illustrate the point..you'll die with it. Besides..your thread was boring. Been there done that a million times on this whole forum. All you had to do was read.

Now, here's your thread back.
 
dashofchutmeg said:
So... thread hijacked...
Click to expand...

You can consider a DP24 or 32 unit.
AD converters sound good, plenty of tracks, has virtual/alternate track recording within each track too.
The DP24 is easy to use and records on SD cards, here's my rig.. so far.

6.webp

7.webp

8.webp

Was thinking of going with a MOTU/computer rig, but didn't want to fool around too much with a mouse when tracking ideas.

The plan now is for me to finish up the acoustic treatments, hang some cloud panels and track lighting.
Next is convert a walk-in closet to vocal/amp booth. Working on a budget too. Good luck
 
Last edited:
chronicle said:
I'm sorry you feel that. That wasn't my intent. My INTENT was to support Johns statement ...

Since I'm 68, I think I qualify as an analog lifer and only tried to illustrate the point..you'll die with it. Besides..your thread was boring. Been there done that a million times on this whole forum. All you had to do was read.

Now, here's your thread back.
Click to expand...

So you hijacked my thread, and then criticized it. Okay. Cool guy; thanks for coming!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top