Mixing down.

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fireworksgoup

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Does anyone have any suggestions on a tape deck or DAT recorder I can use for mixing down (and back in) to my 424 MKIII? I've done this with my computer however the sound loses all warmth so I would like another alternative. Thanks!
 
I use my minidisc walkman most of the time. If you're going back into the 424 then you probably wont want a tape deck, may lose some sound quality there.
 
Actually, if you could get your hands on a higher end, 3 head cassette deck from Teac, Nakamichi, Harman Kardon or Denon used or new in good condition, you would lose very little in the way of fidelity or even an open reel 3 head deck like a used TASCAM 32 would capture the sound beautifully and could be used for mastering down the road too if you got into a higher end format like a half inch, 8 track, reel to reel or a higher end digital medium like TASCAM's SX1 or MX2424.

A good quality CD recorder deck like a Pioneer or a TASCAM pro machine would also make a very competent digital recorder and serve you well for mastering applications too like a 1/2 track, stereo, reel to reel would.

Recording on your computer is not digital's best method of capturing sound anyway. It's probably one of the worst in truth.

Cheers! :)
 
Mix into

I mix into a Tascam 112B (cassette) and/or a Tascam CC-222 CD burner/Cassette combo with A/D-D/A converter...I suffer very little lose of fidelity.
Have fun! :)
 
I usually recommend the Tascam 22-2, 3-motor, 3-head reel-to-reel recorder, which is the little brother of the 32. It's a light and handy 2-track 2-channel to have around. The tapes are inexpensive and are still readily available in many brands.

As long as you're bouncing material to a superior format, then you won't be losing anything. In fact it is a technique used quite often to sweeten the final mix. You can, depending on your type of music, vastly improve the sonic character of your mix by employing such things as tape compression, which isn't really available in any practical sense for narrow track cassette machines.

I always thought the term should be, "Mix Up" because your mastering deck should meet or exceed the quality of your multitrack.

I use a number of tools in my studio for mix down, including the following:
Tascam 22-2 reel-to-reel
Tascam 102 MKII cassette
Sony Super Beta Hi-Fi VCR
Fostex CR300 CD recorder (exact same machine as HHB CDR-850, built by Pioneer on the PDR-555RW main board)

To summarize, the Tascam 102 MKII or 112 cassette decks will match your 424 sound wise. However, the 22-2 or 32 reel-to-reel will give you superior sound and more tools and options than just a mixdown machine - tape echo, backwards effects, speed effects, sound-on-sound - hours of fun!

:cool:
 
Could always buy another 4T with both speeds w/out bouncing back and forth from the 2T.
 
where to go.

Well here's what i do (did)

i would get everything the way i wanted on the 424.

take a LOT of time and get the mix correct. Once you have it where you want it, send it out to the VCR. (it has to be a stereo hi-fi type)

go from the master out on the 424 to the stereo inputs of the vcr. 99% of the time this will work fine (but on some goofy vcr's you also have to a video signal. like i said, this is rare, but just fyi)

once you record onto the VHS tape, pop the erase tab and keep that tape as your studio master tape.

But, what if you want to do something else to it.

when you come out of the stereo VHS audio out, you can send that signal where you want. LIke for example you could go from the vhs into a compressor, then an EQ and back into a cassette deck (or the 424 recording on 2 tracks {traditional stereo}. I come out and run it thru a a/d converter and even make cd's this way.

Maybe John @ massive master can answer this, but i think you may be a bit optimistic in sending a cassette (which is what you refered to in your original post) in for mastering. If you think you truly do want the song mastered, by a pro, then you will probably need to send them the files in a wave type format. I assume you have some of this capability already since you said you were using the computer as an intermedite recorder already.

anyways, going from the 424 into the VHS works great. YOu can then come back out to cassette, or even make CD's on a stand alone burner.

good luck and happy recording

radiorickm
 
radiorickm said:
...but i think you may be a bit optimistic in sending a cassette (which is what you refered to in your original post) in for mastering. If you think you truly do want the song mastered, by a pro, then you will probably need to send them the files in a wave type format.
Click to expand...
Not really..... a mastering house can, of course, take-in any format... but a cassette is generally an inferior mixdown format compared to many of the other options available (unless you're spending a couple of K on a Nak or the pro Tascam units!)
 
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