My resolve with digital

  • Thread starter Thread starter Muckelroy
  • Start date Start date
M

Muckelroy

Member
SO, I'm stuck with Pro-Tools right now. Since I can't afford any additional plug-ins, and running plug-ins causes such a hassle with pro-tools sessions, I'm going for a very straight-forward approach.

I want to treat Pro-Tools as a tape machine, with a level automator, and a VERY nice splicing block. :D I'll avoid using plug-ins and such, and simply use outboard gear for all that. Mix at unity in the analog realm, and automate levels in pro-tools, so they can be saved and all.

so DON"T LET ME FORGET TO DO THAT!!! It's gonna be hard not to click on those cheating, sniveling little plugins, but I think it's more than possible to avoid them :)

GOD I miss my MX-5050.

-callie-
 
You just described how I've been tracking for years (HD24 dumped into Cakewalk then back through the HD24 into an analog board). I bet you'll notice that you're recordings will take on more of a "taped" sound too. I think that's a VERY good thing.
 
I LIKE the HD24! My first real projects are on that format, and only on that format. Sometime or another, I would like to go back and remix a few things before the console in the "B" room gets replaced. The B room has a DDA QMR 24-in 24-out console, which is tired, but functional, and has a nice, warm touch to it. One of my projects was EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to mix, because at the end of the take, the drummer slammed his sticks down, and said "OK, that sucked!" when in fact, it was the keeper.

SO, w/out a way to automate a quick fade-out on the last sustains of the crash cymbals, I had to do it by hand. I had 8 drum tracks, so I had to pull them all down by hand at the same time, at just the right second. It was a bitch and a half.

But it was REALLY good practice.
 
yeah man, I would automate the mutes, and maybe do the levels on the console.
 
The only issue is that there's no console automation system. (Well, there's a REALLY archaic VCA automation system on the main Otari board, that really messes with your sound, so I avoid using it. Plus, the faders don't actually move, so it's difficult.)
 
Muckelroy said:
The only issue is that there's no console automation system. (Well, there's a REALLY archaic VCA automation system on the main Otari board, that really messes with your sound, so I avoid using it. Plus, the faders don't actually move, so it's difficult.)
Click to expand...
Doesn't SSL make some analog mixers with total recall, including flying fader?

Cheers! :)
 
blah. whatchu need automation for? are your hands broken? :D
 
With software being the play back device, even with an analog console, you can still do some automation on tracks with volume/pan envelopes.
 
Muckelroy said:
The only issue is that there's no console automation system. (Well, there's a REALLY archaic VCA automation system on the main Otari board, that really messes with your sound, so I avoid using it. Plus, the faders don't actually move, so it's difficult.)
Click to expand...
You could also group the 8 drum tracks through an alternate stereo buss which routes to the main stereo buss and have those 8 tracks on one or a pair of faders.

Cheers! :)
 
The Ghost of FM said:
You could also group the 8 drum tracks through an alternate stereo buss which routes to the main stereo buss and have those 8 tracks on one or a pair of faders.

Cheers! :)
Click to expand...

Right on. That's a breeze to do with a lot of the Tascam boards.

-MD
 
Muckelroy said:
SO, I'm stuck with Pro-Tools right now. Since I can't afford any additional plug-ins, and running plug-ins causes such a hassle with pro-tools sessions, I'm going for a very straight-forward approach.

I want to treat Pro-Tools as a tape machine, with a level automator, and a VERY nice splicing block. :D I'll avoid using plug-ins and such, and simply use outboard gear for all that. Mix at unity in the analog realm, and automate levels in pro-tools, so they can be saved and all.

so DON"T LET ME FORGET TO DO THAT!!! It's gonna be hard not to click on those cheating, sniveling little plugins, but I think it's more than possible to avoid them :)

GOD I miss my MX-5050.

-callie-
Click to expand...

That’s the best way to do it, sonically speaking... treat it like a tape recorder and mix outside the box.

"If you must record digitally, record responsibly" :D

Plug-ins? We don't need no stinking plug-ins. :D
 

Attachments

  • sierra-madre.webp
    sierra-madre.webp
    19.2 KB · Views: 130
Amen, brothers and sisters!

haha.

Yeah, but there is a second option for mixing here. We have a Yamaha O2R96 digital console in the main mixing/post room. What I COULD do, is just use the O2R to write automation into protools, that way it's capturing the work of my hands, but saving it into protools. There we go :-)

And for the final mixdown, I'll use the main studio w/ the Otari analog console, and harness all the outboard gear up there. And Lord willing, down to half-inch tape !!! Man, it's becoming less and less likely. He's given ME the task of finding parts for the MCI, and I just can't seem to find them. It needs a "motor chip." hmmm. anyone?

-callie-
 
Last edited:
theres a fostex e-22 for sale right now on gearslutz. the whole thing might cost you less than parts for the mci. blevins might have a lead on the mci parts.
 
NAW! I won't be buying the MCI parts, anyway. Besides, it's 1/2" 2 track! May as well get it running

-callie-
 
SPEAKING OF WHICH..........

We popped the hood of the MCI JH-110, and there was one blown IC chip on the analog torque card. They're 40 cents a pop, and are still manufactured by Texas Instruments. I went ahead and ordered 8 of them incase we need to do extra troubleshooting.

Basically, the head engineer told me that if/(WHEN) we get the thing rolling again, he'll keep it in his office, and whenever I wanna use it, just roll it out and hook it up. He doesn't want all the students to have constant access to the thing, as that could be bad. It's cool to be trusted w/ such a gem of a recorder!

-callie-
 
It's nice to be trusted. ;)

It also concerns me a little bit that the other students won't get any access to a pretty nice piece of analog gear or ever learn the art of editing with a razor blade instead of a mouse. :o

Not that analog editing is fun or exciting or anything...just it's good to learn a skill that might come in handy for restoration work of older reels that they might come across over the span of their careers.

Every added skill you can acquire in audio engineering makes you that much more valuable to the studio and the clients.

Cheers! :)
 
I'm sure that I won't be the ONLY student with access to it. Several others have inquired about using it once it gets rolling, and I'm sure that with a brief tutorial to them, (hell, I'll need it too. It's got some cool functions!) he'll let others use it too. It's just not going to stay out all the time, only out when it's being used.

and NOW, I'm trying to think of the best way to utilize the JH-110. Basically, it's gonna have to get onto a digital medium at some point. There's a Tascam 24-bit DAT recorder, and we also have a SADIE system, which I've heard is just frikin' incredibe for digital mastering. We're also getting a pair of Millenia mic-pre/compressor/eq units, with tube/solid state selectable electronics. Running the mix through those will most DEFINATELY have some positive effects if used properly. :-) Just don't know whether to use it pre-tape or post-tape. hmmmm.....
 
Muckelroy said:
GOD I miss my MX-5050.

-callie-
Click to expand...
That's an easy fix, man:
Start using "plug"-ins. Master your skills to death. Become a Protools Professor. Make a few bucks. Buy one from one of your students. :D :D :D
*****
p.s.
Things that got no plugs can't be and thus aren't plug-ins.
Thing that arn't things are not things at all and thus aren't handy.
When working with Protools a pair of THESE PLUGS may come very handy :p
 
Hey!

I just did some nifty editing on one of my archival analog stereo recordings.

Digital turns bunk to gold, alright!

I couldn't be more pleased with the wide capabilities & clean sound of digital, or with my results! Of course, if I had second thoughts I could revisit the edits, thanx to non-destructive editing! Anyway, it's a learning experience for me, and once I got the idea, digital delivered exactly what I needed. What I love about digital is instantaneous cut/copy/paste editing and zero tape hiss!

(Heh, heh,... I still laugh at that line about zero tape hiss! Of course there's no tape hiss! There's no tape!) :eek:

For recording directly into the 'puter DAW as my primary recorder, eh,... I still can't see myself doing it. I'd prefer to use digital FWIW as an adjunct to my analog kit.

;)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top