New to Reel to reel -help!

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cactuseskimo

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Ok, I've got loads of questions.

First let me tell you my plan. I do not want to forsake the convenience of digital technology. I want to record tracks to a RTR first and then import them into cakewalk. My simple plan is to record one track at a time (say guitar) while listening to the rest of the song (drums n' bass lets say) from the computer to keep my self in time. Then transfer it to the computer and sync it up with the rest of the song. I would then repeat this for vocals. I know this would be a tedious process, so I would probably do three or four takes each time so I can just take the best one.

The other option would be to put the drum track on the reel to reel, so I can play directly to that, so I know it's in time before I transfer it to the computer.

1) Is 1/4" 4 track tape run at 7 1/2" worth my time as far as analog quality

2) Would 1/4" half track tape be better. Also, is that esentially only one track meaning I would not be able to put a drum track on the RTR, and then record a guitar track to it?

3) Is there anything fundamentally wrong with my plan? And do you have better suggestions?

Before you answer, let me just say that I don't think I can afford a machine that plays anything better than that 1/4" at 7 1/2, and that I'm not interested in going all out analog. I just want to use the RTR for it's sonic characteristics before I go to the computer.

THANKS!
 
Also, I've considered the following other options.

-recording the tracks on the computer, then running each track out to the RTR, and then back to the computer and syncing them up.

-run the whole mix out to the RTR and then back into the computer.

Please consider these options as well as the others mentioned above. Thanks!
 
Okay. Firstly, the machines will tend to drift in speed, so if you record it track-by-track like that, you may have a bit of trouble when you try to line them up again in Sonar. This will vary depending on the condition of the machine, and the length of the song.

As for tape speed, I cannot really say, except that I have never used anything less than 15ips for music. Definitely get a half-track unit, since the wider the tape, the higher the sound quality. This does mean that you'll get a stereo recording across the whole tape. With quarter-track, you get two stereo recordings, so you turn it over and play the other side like a cassette tape. If you do that with half-track, it will play backwards.

What is commonly done, and would probably be the best idea, is to do all the recording digitally (unless you do change your mind and get a multitrack) and mix down to tape. Then, play the tape back and digitize that so you can make your CD, MP3s or what-have-you.
 
Unless you do some serious time stretching (which is possible, check out http://www.ntrack.com/faq.shtm#4.d for info), which will be pretty tedious. Without time stretching in your computer, your plan will not work. If you really, really wanted to do it this way, and truly were only doing one track at a time, you could do it with only a two track (half-track) machine like the Tascam 22-2. The 22-2 can run at 7.5 or 15 ips. With a two track machine, you would just keep taping over and over the tape for single parts, so it wouldn't be a big deal, you could get by with just a few reels until you eventually wear it out, which will take a thousand passes or so.

I really wouldn't recommend taking this route though, it would be really hard to keep syncing up the tracks.

-MD
 
themaddog said:
Unless you do some serious time stretching (which is possible, check out http://www.ntrack.com/faq.shtm#4.d for info), which will be pretty tedious. Without time stretching in your computer, your plan will not work. If you really, really wanted to do it this way, and truly were only doing one track at a time, you could do it with only a two track (half-track) machine like the Tascam 22-2. The 22-2 can run at 7.5 or 15 ips. With a two track machine, you would just keep taping over and over the tape for single parts, so it wouldn't be a big deal, you could get by with just a few reels until you eventually wear it out, which will take a thousand passes or so.

I really wouldn't recommend taking this route though, it would be really hard to keep syncing up the tracks.

-MD
Click to expand...

Yes, the more I think about it, this might be a long and painful route. I also tend to be quite picky and can do a lot of takes.

In your opinion then, would it be worthwhile to run the entire mix from my computer on to a RTR, and then back onto the computer before burning to CD???
 
I mix to two track analog. Either 1/2" or 1/4" depending on the project, usually 30ips. If you want SOME of the goodness of the tape machine on the way IN, then simply track through the machine on INPUT, then mix to two track. You would be surprised how much of the sound of "analog" is the electronics in the tape machine combined with tape, not just the chunk of tape itself.....
I use line amps from tape machines all the time.....
 
thanks, good advice Joel. I may be hard pressed to find a machine that goes 30 or even 15 for the amount of $'s I have to spend. Do you still think it worthwhile to do it at 7.5?
 
cactuseskimo,

What type of music are you recording?

Do you have a 30 second sample we could give a quick peek-a-boo at so as to judge better what your sound truly needs first before the analog cologen treatments you envision incorporating into your system.

Cheers! :)
 
cactuseskimo said:
thanks, good advice Joel. I may be hard pressed to find a machine that goes 30 or even 15 for the amount of $'s I have to spend. Do you still think it worthwhile to do it at 7.5?
Click to expand...

I still say half-track 15ips. Lots of very fine records were mixed on that format.
30ips is overkill.. you'll be hard-pressed to find a machine that does it, and you'll get through tape twice as fast anyway.
 
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