Mixing Down to Analog: with or without Dolby?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ron Schilling
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Ron Schilling

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Hello,

I was wondering what experience folks have had mixing down from digital multitrack (I'll be using a Tascam DA-38) to 1/4" reel to reel (to get that nice analog sound), then going from the 1/4" analog "master" to CD for MP3 conversion, multiple copies, etc.

Dolby/DBX noise reduction systems have always driven me crazy, and I'm really interested in ideas on whether or not to use the noise reduction on the 1/4" mixdown. Recordings with the noise reduction always sound great on the systems I've used to make the original recordings, but they often have sounded really lousy when played on other systems because of the encoding/decoding incompatibilities among the various noise reduction systems. However, since I'd be playing the master back through the original noise reduction system when copying to CD, the noise reduction "should" work, thereby making a better "master" and a better sounding copy on the CD.

Make sense, ideas, suggestions?

Thanks,
Ron
 
1/4" at what speed? Actually, either way, for 1/4 inch you probably DO want Dolby... EXCEPT if you're doing heavy metal, 'cos everyone knows you don't record heavy metal with "Dobly"!!!

:D :D
 
Speed is 15 IPS, and the quality is really quite good, particularly if the initial recording levels are as hot as they should be. Playback has always had very minimal noise on first generation recordings, which is what these will be. Secondary recordings will be to CD, so no additional noise should be present. Now all I have to do is to figure out which closet I put the noise reduction unit (this one's a DBX model) in!

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Cheers,
Ron
 
Hi,

Looks like I left my dbx unit in storage, but I did mixdown to tape using 15 IPS without noise reduction. It worked great, and there was virtually no additional noise when compared to a mixdown to DAT. And, the tape mixdown really did sound much nicer compared to the DAT version. Can't wait to see how it'll sound with the dbx hooked up!

Cheers,
Ron
 
1/4" AT 15ips *IS* going to be hissy, but whether you hear it or not depends on the track....

If it's working for you that's great, but just an FYI - when the big boys talk about mixing to analog, they aren't talking 1/4"-15!!!

1/4" is considered noisy and at best a semi-pro recording format... so I have trouble believing mixdown to it outperformed your DAT!

But anyways... let me know how DBX worked out for ya - I'm curious to hear if you noticed any artifacts....

Bruce
 
I have a feeling that if recording to 1/4" makes your mixes sound better than the problem is in your mix not the DAT.

Notice how some women look better if you squint your eyes? Same principle.
 
"EXCEPT if you're doing heavy metal, 'cos everyone knows you don't record heavy metal with "Dobly"!!!"

LMAO:D :D :D
 
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