FALKEN
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to disable the record head for overdubbing onto an already existing track?
T
Tim Gillett
Banned
It's possible but you end up erasing the highs of the track underneath.
Basically you have to disable the signal to the erase head. It's not necessarily easy to do because disabling the erase head can throw out the bias signal big time as erase and record heads usually share the same oscillator and so the record bias is affected.
You'd have to have a good reason for all that messing around and the result can be pretty disappointing.
As a teenager I used to do it on an old Philips/Norelco reel to reel as it was my only way of "multitracking". It had the facility to disengage the power to erase head. I used to make the underneath track the bass line so that the erased highs werent so noticeable. I would monitor from the other stereo track and play along with it.
Some 8mm movie projectors with sound stripe used to have the same facility for "trick" recording. Some models even gave you a variable erase control.
Definitely poor man's multitrack...Good fun for experimenting though if that's what you like.
Tim
Basically you have to disable the signal to the erase head. It's not necessarily easy to do because disabling the erase head can throw out the bias signal big time as erase and record heads usually share the same oscillator and so the record bias is affected.
You'd have to have a good reason for all that messing around and the result can be pretty disappointing.
As a teenager I used to do it on an old Philips/Norelco reel to reel as it was my only way of "multitracking". It had the facility to disengage the power to erase head. I used to make the underneath track the bass line so that the erased highs werent so noticeable. I would monitor from the other stereo track and play along with it.
Some 8mm movie projectors with sound stripe used to have the same facility for "trick" recording. Some models even gave you a variable erase control.
Definitely poor man's multitrack...Good fun for experimenting though if that's what you like.
Tim
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
I've heard about people placing adhesive tape on the ERASE head but I'm unsure of how effective it would be. I think that on paper, at least, it could work, to some degree, especially if one experiments with various degrees of layers (or thickness) of the tape and type so that no magnetic field from the ERASE head erases your work. I'd also make sure to not use too strong an adhesive and peel it off after each session and clean with 99% alcohol.
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O
ofajen
Daddy-O Daddy-O Baby
FALKEN said:
You want to disable the erase function. Disabling the record head means you can't record. This is known as "Sound on Sound". My electronic music prof used to have a 2-track Revox that had this function. Better get it right... there is no "undo".
Cheers,
Otto
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
In my previous post, I obviously meant the ERASE head and NOT the rec head. Sorry. 
FALKEN
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yeah I meant the erase head too......long day yesterday.
Basically I am using a 4-track. 1-drums, 2-bass, 3-guitar, 4-vocals. the bass and guitar are both using big muffs and panning them left and right makes a really sweet stereo effect. I was thinking of adding backing vocals to a song or two and I dont really see any way of doing it.... the rhythm instruments are recorded live and I wouldn't want to sacrifice the stereo spread on a couple songs just to get some backing vox...
Basically I am using a 4-track. 1-drums, 2-bass, 3-guitar, 4-vocals. the bass and guitar are both using big muffs and panning them left and right makes a really sweet stereo effect. I was thinking of adding backing vocals to a song or two and I dont really see any way of doing it.... the rhythm instruments are recorded live and I wouldn't want to sacrifice the stereo spread on a couple songs just to get some backing vox...
elly-d
Member
you need to use bounce downs really on a four track to get that much on there. i used to use them alot when i was on four tracks. obviously it won't really help in this instance with you wanting a stereo mix and with your tracks already full. no point in me posting really. sorry. but hey sound on sound - sounds cool i gotta try it one day.
FALKEN
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you know...I was thinking I could bounce and just pan stuff like the old hendrix stuff but really every time i've tried it it doesn't sound as good....
SteveM
New member
FALKEN said:
Falken, why not just add a background vocal when mixing it down to stereo? That way you could re-do it if it doesn't come out right.
famous beagle
Well-known member
FALKEN said:
What do you normally mix down onto? All you need to do is create a stereo mix of these 4 tracks (or maybe create several different ones to give you some options) and then bounce those back over onto two tracks of your 4-track. Then you'll have two more tracks free for adding bg vox.
FALKEN
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ah.....great idea. I mix to a fostex e-22.
SteveM
New member
FALKEN said:
If you're just adding a background vocal you're better off just recording it to the master and save yourself two extra generations.
FALKEN
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yeah that is also a great idea. didn't mean to diminish at all. I'd probably go that route actually.... it just ties up another compressor/eq is all. I think I can manage though.
T
themaddog
Rockin' & Rollin'
So you mix down to 1/2" half-track? I've always wondered how that would sound compared to a 1/4" deck.
Which machine do you use to multi-track record?
-MD
Which machine do you use to multi-track record?
-MD
famous beagle
Well-known member
themaddog said:
The E22 isn't a 1/2" is it?
jpmorris
Tape Wolf
It is. The E-2 is 1/4".famous beagle said:
FALKEN
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yeah, its 1/2". how does it sound compared to 1/4? ummm....idunno. slightly flatter frequency response and slightly lower noise floor i guess. someone else here has one too hopefully they can add to that.
lately I've been tracking to an otari 1/2" 4-track.
lately I've been tracking to an otari 1/2" 4-track.
SteveM
New member
FALKEN said:
How do you like it? I talked to Sprague magnetics, they can actually make specialized heads for the Tascam 38 to convert it to a 4 track. They said it would be something like $600 per rec/play head.
FALKEN
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ouch. I like it a lot. Someone really ought to make a new 1/2" machine with heads interchangeable for 2/4/and 8 tracks and make the channel cards pullable.
SteveM
New member
FALKEN said:
That would be the perfect home deck. Along with a midi connection to sync two together.
Do you have any clips of stuff you've recorded on your 4 track? I'd like to hear it.