mix down to heaven

[dtb]

mixing down. some of you may know me by now. I record myself and a few friends all acoustic stuff for my own and their pleasure. no demos, or cds, or anything for business, just for fun.
my question is how to get a good mix down. I use a 424MKIII and have a bunch of 57's and get stuff sounding real nice in my yorkvilles. overdubing bass and some percussion over fiddle, guitars, and mandolins. i am at the point where I need a mix down deck. I have been mixing to a boombox cassett and it just doesn't transfer good. It is amazing what it sounds like thru the monitors. will a good cassette deck make alot of difference? I have kinda gotten down the right levels and mic positions that I need for the stuff to sound good in the monitors at playback but it still does not come accross in mix down. again, we are not selling our music, just want decent copies for our friends. sorry for the long story but shit man, I love this stuff. I thought maybe some of you big boys can give a home recording hobbyist a few hints that you might have from your early days of analog recording.
thanks,
dtb

 

[Hard2Hear]

im not a big boy, but....

get yourself a deck that has input level meters. Preferrably one not sold at Best Buy/Circuit City or whatever. The decks for pro use are much better. Just like everything, the hotter to tape without distortion, the better. Probably a compressor in between there would be very good, too....if you have one.

This is the boy I have, something that looks like it would be what you're looking for:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ex/shop/rec/010523085108216068015250414445?pid=240753
H2H

 

[dtb]

mix it down

Thanks, Hard
That sounds funny don't it?
I guess that looks like the ticket. Price range is a little high but I'll
look around for a used one while I try and save for a new one. I
finally got all new stuff and have gotten by with used before so who knows. Thanks for the info. How about a stand alone cd recorder and then copy that to cassett. Then I would have both for friends with or without. Well that's more money.
Thanks again,
dtb

 

[BBB]

Like H2H mentioned, a compressor can be useful. It can really increase the volume of the mix and add punch.

However, be careful. Too much can suck the life (dynamics) out of a mix. Especially acoustic.

Also, if you ever plan on having your mix professionally mastered, do not add compression to the entire mix. That's the mastering facility's job.

But, you mentioned you're doing it for fun and just for friends. Therefore, some light compression might help as you're recording to tape.

 

[little z]

DO IT TO IT, MAN!!!!

Well, nothing new here, but I think the idea for a stand alone CD-R is a SUPER-AWESOME idea!!!! And putting a compressor between your 4-track unit and the CD-R would definitely help you pull back the reins and get a tighter sound, little hotter signal that is always very much desired!!! I am no expert, just a home recording hobbyist (enthusiast) like yourself, and I love recording, but I also like to try to get the best out of my gear that I can, like anybody else would!!! So, just go for it, I think the CD-R will help you keep as true to the original as possible, or at least it will 86 the tape hiss!!! LOL Rock on!!!!
Little Z (Steve)

 

[JoanisT23]

You should get an aphex aural exciter. Put it between the porta studio and the mixdown deck (this is after you get the new deck of course ,wich is the most important thing right now)and the sound will be amazingly better.

 

[Gidge]

Have you considered mixing down to PC....you can do the recording and editing and mastering type functions with Goldwave which is free at www.goldwave.com and burn to CD....of course this means getting a CD burner, but decent ones can be had for under $100......

 

[Dolemite]

I'm gonna go with Gidge on this one. There's just an amazing level of control you have on computer. I find it hard to believe that for decades most editing work was done with a frickin' razor blade. I read an old post to rec.audio.pro a while ago. Some famous engineer who was completely anti-digital is rumored to have pointed to himself and said "Pro" and then picked up a razor blade and said "Tools." I wish I could find the post cause I'm not telling the story very well, but I still thought that little anecdote was worth sharing. But really, digital is the way to go for home recording.

 

[Chuckschwandt]

I'm with the CD burners too. I used cassette for
years when I started, and it just drove me nuts.
The cassette equipment just would not work with
me. When I went to a CD burner, I was amazed
at the quality of difference. Try to fork up the
bucks, you won't be sorry.

Chuck

 

[darrin_h2000]

You may allready have a hi-fi VHS . If you go high speed and dont skimp on the tape you can get ok results. and watch a movie when you are not mastering. Its not as good quality as a cdr but you might of overlooked that posibility. I can get one at a pawn shop for 69 bucks all day long and no cassette tape in the world is better quality than VHS.

The aureal exciter is recomended as well, Ive got one and what it does to my music is phenominal.