Info on Analog recording

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Hey, I'm interested in purchasing some analog equip. I just want to know if it is easy to transfer files to a computer after recording. If I purchased say a Tascam 488 mkII is it feasible and light to carry around, or should I not even bother. I just want to go back and start learning analog and incorporate it to digital later. Am I dreaming? I have a sony Reel-to-Reel that only has 1 set of stereo rca ins and outs. I love the sound after recording. I will be recording my little reggae band that only consists of a drummer, bass guitar and me (lead and vocals). I have a sm-58 and a fairly new computer. I just need a soundcard. If I can transfer tracks from the analog to comp I will only get the audiophile 24/96. Is this possible?

Thanks
Specs
 
The 488 MkII weighs 17 pounds, is 20" wide and 17" deep.

Not exactly a "PortaStudio". You can dump to computer if all you are making is a stereo mix, but it's dificult to dump individual tracks as there are no track or channel outs on the 488.

It's not impossible but involves some repatching. Not for the easily confused or feint of heart.:D

You will also have to synch all of the individual tracks once you get them into the computer. Sounds like a PITA if ya ask me.

The Sony would make a decent mix-down deck for the 488 MkII.

The 488 MkII sounds great. If you buy one you'll like it.
 
@Not exactly a "PortaStudio". You can dump to computer if all you @are making is a stereo mix, but it's dificult to dump individual @tracks as there are no track or channel outs on the 488.

Are there any analog units that are lighter and easier to carry around?

@It's not impossible but involves some repatching. Not for the @easily confused or feint of heart.

@You will also have to synch all of the individual tracks once you @get them into the computer. Sounds like a PITA if ya ask me.

@The Sony would make a decent mix-down deck for the 488 MkII.

@The 488 MkII sounds great. If you buy one you'll like it.


Sorry forgot how to break up the quotes.

So it's better for me to record analog, add effects and mix down before transferring to computer, therefore just using the comp to record to cd? Is this correct?

Thanks Again
Anthony
 
Sorry I forgot to ask for any suggestions on building a home studio (analog), I am interested in the POD Pro rackmount ( but the new Rocktron pre looks more appealing), not sure about compressors, eq's and noise reduction stuff. I am going to add some phantom power to my crappy pyramid until I can purchase another mixer. I also am going to purchase some Yorkville amps and speakers. This is all long term so I technically don't have a budget. I will purchase the 488mkII right away so I can practice, practice, practice.

Maybe I'll buy a outboard digital recorder later or if my analog plans are too outrageous.

Thx
Specs (Anthony)
 
I dumped a few mixes to ProTools Free from my 488 MkII. I don't care for using computers and music.

I can still do this but I'd rather not. I use it for uploading files to NoWhereRadio.com only.

There really are no portable 8-track cassette machines.

I am still mixing down to cassette, but will be buying a TASCAM CD-RW700 in the future.

I can't tell you anything about the pre-'s except that I'm saving for either a Grace 101 or an Avalon M5. These two I've heard are very good.

I use a DBX 262 comp/limiter and only the console EQ. My TASCAM 38-8 uses outboard DBX NR. The 488 MkII has on-board DBX NR.
 
specs said:
Hey, I'm interested in purchasing some analog equip. I just want to know if it is easy to transfer files to a computer after recording. If I purchased say a Tascam 488 mkII is it feasible and light to carry around, or should I not even bother. I just want to go back and start learning analog and incorporate it to digital later. Am I dreaming? I have a sony Reel-to-Reel that only has 1 set of stereo rca ins and outs. I love the sound after recording. I will be recording my little reggae band that only consists of a drummer, bass guitar and me (lead and vocals). I have a sm-58 and a fairly new computer. I just need a soundcard. If I can transfer tracks from the analog to comp I will only get the audiophile 24/96. Is this possible?

Thanks
Specs
Click to expand...

Anything smaller than a 2-inch 16 or 24 track deck will not give you "the great analog sound". All 1" or 1/2" use a NR(DBX, Dolby) of some sort, and cannot be used without it.

My advice is: get a decent 1/4" or 1/2" 2-track , and use it as your mixdown format......


Amund
 
Neve, where did you hear that you couldn't use one of these decks without NR?

Many 38-8's don't even come with noise reduction and can be used just fine without it. It was an optional rack purchase for those decks when they were new.

Same with the 1" decks.

The TSR-8 and MSR-16 1/2" decks have built in DBX and can be turned on or off as well.
 
Ok, One final questions for now I hope! :)
If I drag the 488 mkII around and record my little band, when I bring this unit home I have tracks to edit, how do you go about that with analog? I understand mixing down to my sony reel-reel and I think I can transfer it to comp from there, then to cd. So it's just the track editing I'm worried about. How do you guys do it and what equip do you use if any?

Thx For the help
Specs
 
You have to have a very small editing block. Forget it. You cannot edit cassette tape. It is very difficult to get the razor blade between tacks in this format.

The only editing you can do is in the computer after you dump the tracks.

In some cases it's analog, or nothing.
 
One of the charms with working with a small cassette porta is that you bloody well have to be able to play. :)
 
The 488mkII is a good machine,...

but it only records 4-simul-max, and as stated before, does not have individual TAPE OUTs or DIRECT OUTs. Even at 17 lbs, the 488mkII's a cool Portastudio for 8 tracks, but it has less overall headroom than a larger format.

The Tascam 238 is a table-top or rack mount cassette 8-track, that has 8-INs and 8-OUTs, and can record up to 8-simul-max. You could potentially use the 238 cassette-format 8-track, and still dump the individual tracks to an 8-IN soundcard on the 'puter, [your stated purpose], however, the 238 requires an external mixer. The 238 w/mixer could potentially be 'roadcase-mounted' for portability, but by itself, the 238's not necessarily considered a 'portable' unit.

Also, the Yamaha MD8, minidisc 8-track, is very similar Portastudio-like design to the 488mkII, with a very similar onboard mixer, but the MD-8 has a midisc recorder instead of cassette. The Minidisc format will definitely have more headroom and clarity than a cassette format. Unlike the 488mkII, the MD-8 will record 8-simul-max, and has 8 individual MD-TRACK-OUTs. Of course, the MD is 'data' recording, and gets away from the original premise, that you want 'analog'.

Back to analog, there's the reel-1/2"-8-track format, and that's a big step up from cassette, but unless it's rolling/roadcase-rackmouned, it's not considered portable. A 1/2" 8-track, such as a 38 or TSR-8, will also require an external mixer, but will blow away a cassette, fidelity-wise.

Once in a great while, you may pick up a 38 for about the same amount as a 488mkII, and dollar for dollar, the 38's definitely more audio bang for your buck. F/I, I've gotten a 38 for as low as $299, and also an M30 mixer for as low as $150, [a total 1/2" system for ~$450], and I've also seen 488mkII's sell for $450.

There's more, such as the analog Tascam 388, with a complete Portastudio-like all-in-one design. The 388 records 8-simul-max to 1/4" reel tape at 7.5ips, and with a full blown 8x8x2 integrated mixer, the 388's an appreciable step up from the 488mkII. The 388 has a full complement of INs & OUTs, with 8 TAPE OUTs, plus much more. However, at almost 90lbs, the 388's portable, but it's a real load for one person to handle alone. The 388's easiest when lifted by two people, but it's a great machine, for sure. Likewise, I've also seen the 388 sell for comparable prices to the 488mkII, ~$450.

IMO, as used analog gear goes, there's still a few good choices in 8-track. I think it's a buyer's market on analog, and prices on decent used gear seems to still be dropping.
 
Thx for the info guys, I really appreciate it. i have a lot of things to research.

I agree with "Playing" comment I just didn't know most of you didn't edit analog.

Thx again
Specs
 
Sennheiser said:
Neve, where did you hear that you couldn't use one of these decks without NR?

Many 38-8's don't even come with noise reduction and can be used just fine without it. It was an optional rack purchase for those decks when they were new.

Same with the 1" decks.

The TSR-8 and MSR-16 1/2" decks have built in DBX and can be turned on or off as well.
Click to expand...

"Narrow track-machines have exaggerated head bumps and reduced headroom at low frequencies. Headwear further antagonizes response at both ends, increasing low-frequency bumps and decreasing high-frequency response. This combination is deadly when NR is added, and narrow-format machines cannot be operated without it."

This is taken from Eddie Ciletti`s Tangible-Technology website.
Read all about ANALOG 101 here :
http://www.tangible-technology.com/recent_articles.html

Very good stuff

Amund
 
Re: Re: Info on Analog recording

Neve said:
Anything smaller than a 2-inch 16 or 24 track deck will not give you "the great analog sound". All 1" or 1/2" use a NR(DBX, Dolby) of some sort, and cannot be used without it.
Click to expand...

This is just wrong, even if it's consistent with something Eddie Cilletti said. Most 1" and 1/2" decks do not have any NR built-in, and people can and do use sub-2-inch decks without noise reduction. All the time, and with quite nice results.

I think there's a a serious misperception of what "home recording" is (this is a home recording forum, isn't it?) behind any notion that a 2" machine is in any sense necessary to do anything. I would never tell a home recorder to get a 2" machine. First of all, he'd probably have trouble getting it in the door.

Sure, you don't see a lot of 1/2" 8-tracks in full-on professional recording studios (some, not a lot). You don't see any Roland or Yamaha or whatever little digital boxes, either, for that matter.

Lots of fairly good commercial albums have been recorded on sub-2-inch tape machines. Pretty much everything recorded before 1969 or so kind of had to be, since 2" machines didn't even exist yet. Incidentally, they didn't use noise reduction either.

My advice is: get a decent 1/4" or 1/2" 2-track , and use it as your mixdown format......
Click to expand...

That may be good advice, though it's somewhat less than responsive to his question. And I think I'd put the 1/2" 2-track in more-or-less the same category as the 2" multitrack. It's sort of high-end specialty machine, not really a typical home-recording tool.
 
Just a few further notes:

- If you want a cheap analog deck to drag around, you might consider a 4-track, rather than an 8-track. There are lots more models to choose from, for one thing. And they do get pretty small and portable. Some will even run on batteries.

- You can do fairly gross sorts of editing on a cassette. For example, if you recorded 2 songs with five minutes of crowd noise, bumping sounds, tuning of instruments and ill-advised patter between them, you could cut the superfluous 5 minutes out reasonably easily. Anything more elaborate (like cutting out a chorus, or whatever) isn't really practical on a cassette, I don't think.
 
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