Help required: Why tape saturation sounds good

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xrayspecs

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Ahoy there...

Does anyone know any good sources of information regarding the reasons why tape distortion 'flatters' music? As I understand it the introduction of third harmonics is central, but are there other factors to be considered i.e. frequency selective compression e.t.c? Also, what is it about our ears/brains that causes us to respond so positively to the introduction of third harmonics?
 
Tape saturation

I just think that over the years we have gotten used to the analog sound of tape recording. The sound get's squashed and compressed and the instruments mesh together somewhat. With digital recording, there is a sterile clean separation of instruments and vocals. I believe that high quality digital recording may be "Too accurate" for our old ears!

Just my oppinion;

Sincerely;

Dom Franco
 
Yo Radiation from XRays and Bifocals:

You know man that I still remember, way back in the 50's when I heard my first stereo radio broadcast of music. It was indeed wonderful even if the station's signals kept drifting and required turning knobs to adjust.

Now, that was then, and we still are involved with stereo; the only thing is that the electronics have evolved to such a degree that we sometimes don't believe what we hear, especially if we are recording and mixing. "How the hell did that sound get there?"

If you listen to some of the old movies that were musicals, how did the engineers get such a very good sound; how was that sound amplified in the theaters? Inventiveness and creativity and, "let's put a speaker over there...."

So, enjoy the technology as it will keep on growing but our levels of human audio translation will need a transplant if we are to "hear" beyond hearing methinks.


Green Hornet
 
What is tape saturation?

What is tape saturation and what does it deal with?

What is the most critical part of the transport system?
 
xrayspecs said:
Ahoy there...

Does anyone know any good sources of information regarding the reasons why tape distortion 'flatters' music? As I understand it the introduction of third harmonics is central, but are there other factors to be considered i.e. frequency selective compression e.t.c? Also, what is it about our ears/brains that causes us to respond so positively to the introduction of third harmonics?
Click to expand...

Not sure but if you find any let us know.

My only guess is it's a spatial thing. The tape creates a realistic sense of space. The third harmonics act to put it all together in the same place. Of course this is all just a guess.
 
t-romy said:
What is tape saturation and what does it deal with?
Click to expand...
Similar to digital which has a maximum level that can be captured before nothing louder can be heard, analog tape recording also has a wall too but unlike digital which has a brick wall at 0db, analog gives you audible warnings that you are getting nearer to the wall in the form of distortion in the sound as you get very near to its limit. Within the last few decibels before the ugly distortion shows up, there is a "zone" of a few db where the sound gently compresses and distorts slightly.

Think of analog as you would a well designed car with proper crumple zones and airbags to protect the passenger and in this case, the passenger is your sound.

Digital is like hitting the wall at 80 mph with no seat belts, airbags or crumple zones. Hit that wall and you're dead! With analog, you walk away from the crash with a smile on your face.

What is the most critical part of the transport system?
Click to expand...
The heads are the most critical part as good ones that are well designed, aligned properly, kept clean and used with good quality tape are the life blood of your analog recorder.

Of course, good heads require a stable, reliable transport to shuttle the tape smoothly without damaging it.

It's really a team effort. Good recorders, good mixers, good effects processors, good microphones and hopefully the talent to put something worthy on tape.

Cheers! :)
 
xrayspecs said:
Ahoy there...

Does anyone know any good sources of information regarding the reasons why tape distortion 'flatters' music?
Click to expand...
Tape compression and distortion doesn't flatter all music or all instruments.

Certain instruments can benefit from tape's ability to self compress at near threshold levels like a kick drum, snare, bass guitar and certain keyboard patches which sound too sterile if digitally sampled.

Using tape compression and it's bonus distortion should be used as effects and as deliberate actions when you're engineering. You can do this simply by watching your levels when tracking and after some experience with the technique, you can achieve both clean and dirtier effects when desired.

For many of us open reel users who have dbx noise reduction, we can simply bypass the dbx process for the track in question, print a bit hotter and gain the effect. For the tracks which don't need to be floored, like vocals, acoustic guitars and pianos, the dbx can be left on for the tracks we wish to keep as quiet as digital but still have the warmth and added detail that good analog can offer.

Cheers! :)
 
I find it funny that there is such a misunderstanding of the term tape compression / saturation. Yes there can be great pleasure taken in the sound of tape being pushed hard, but this is done intentionally for that certain sound when desired. What alot of people these days seem to forget or never knew in the first place is that you don't need to push tape for it to sound good. Good decks sound absolutly amazing just tracking to them with moderate levels. Tape just f@#$%^* rocks. Recently did some recording on a 2inch 16track Ampex MM1200. I don't know if I have ever heard anything that beautiful before or since. Analog just leaves me with a smile every time I hear it.
 
Woawww

I MISS this forum and it's great to be back!

I haven't bought that new TASCAM 34B yet. Cjacek, I saw your post on the tape head hours, did you buy one?

Well, I've been to busy collecting records that cost too much money so I haven't been able to make the big move yet. I did just record today, to break it down dj200i grado cart to sme2000 tonearm to hh scott 299 tube straight to my marantz 4000 cassette deck. I recorded on a metal cassette at 3 3/4 ips and it sounded so sweet at playback. I really wanna throw away my cd recorder deck now, LOL !!! I would too if I could give people tapes but we know that's ancient history today.

There was a bit of static? during playback, but I'm guessing that's normal if I never demag the heads? More importantly the results were higher than my already high expectations of simple cassette and motivated me to come back here and get with the program. Cjacek, I agree lo-fi kicks ass! Recording with such an open clean path, no mixer, the tape compression balanced the sound out real nice. I gotta move on that Tascam though if it's still available.
 
my lo-fi mix

So here's my last mix.

Hypno House

I did a little eq and normalization in sound forge before uploading the mp3 so here it is.

Perhaps someone can tell me why when I record with the left and right channel vu's spot on 0 db during the playback the right channel is going into the red?!??

Is my Marantz 4000 misaligned or in need of recalibration? And does anyone recommend something for the static in playback? Will a demagnetizer tool fix it?

thanks.
 
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