newbie... trying to get into analog recording..

[geargear28]

hey.. 23 years old.. just found the board..
trying to gather an understanding on analog recording equipment to create a set-up that will achieve a sound similar to the music i listen to from the 60s,70s,80s..
may have some some very amateur questions and ask for direct instructions..
please don't take it personally lol.

 

[Villain S Deeds]

If you want your recordings to sound like those from the 60s and 70s, the best thing do would be to find some well maintained gear that was made way back then. However, if you're just a regular person with a regular budget, I'd suggest a good cassette-based four-track. You can make some nice-sounding recordings with one of those.

 

[geargear28]

appreciate the reply...
i'm wanting to a do little of both...
(old gear from the time period + old but not so old gear that is cost effective)

just signed up to wet my beak a little bit and get familiarized with brands, models and other tech-related information...

i am familiar with tascam 4/8-track portastudios,
but not particularly sure what the difference between models is or what to look for in determining if one is still in good working condition...

i also have been thinking about reel to reel, but i know literally 0 about those...

 

[M1Fanatic]

There's not much more to know about a R2R deck. The difference between it and a Portastudio is that your mixer will obviously be a separate component. Operationally, they both work the same way. Same transport controls, but you'll have more signal routing options using a separate mixer.

If you go the Portastudio route I can recommend the 488 MkII. However, the difference of moving up from the 488 MkII and a 38 on 1/2" tape is quite apparent. You can make decent semi-pro recordings on a 38, and with the right additional equipment you can make outstanding recordings.

There are drawbacks to a large analog deck in that there is some maintenance required from time to time and you will forever have a bottle of head cleaner in one hand and a swab in the other. Tape is expensive and though getting harder to find, will probably never disappear entirely. You can get roughly 30 minutes from a 2500' spool at 15ips. Once your deck is set up and correctly calibrated, you shouldn't have to touch it for awhile.

An advantage of a separate deck and console is that you get to chose a console that you like with the features you need and will use. With a Portastudio, you're stuck with what TASCAM provides.

The initial investment is higher, but the return is also greater.

 

[Chibi Nappa]

A word of warning:

A Portastudio will not sound anything like recordings of the 60's, 70's, and 80's.

Get yourself some 2-inch reel-to-reel.



But before you do any of that, how good are you? Analog is crazy expensive. That is why digital took over so quickly. Don't go dropping tens of thousands of dollars unless you are already really, really good at this stuff.

And more than that, the sound of the 60's, 70's, and 80's is mostly the sound of experts doing the only thing they do with their lives. Nobody had any type of crutch to lean on, from the drummer to the singer to the sound engineer. You are hearing the sound of dudes who are damn good on both sides of the glass with minmal editing.

You are also hearing the absense of limiting, widening, exciting, etc software.

If really amazing people are working on the project, you can really get most of the way to a 70's sound by telling yourself that you will just not use drag n' drop editing or sample replacement. Lay off the limiter at mastering time and there you go.

The tape certainly was a bit of the sound. But just a bit.

 

[M1Fanatic]

Although not as technically challenging as digital editing with all of the swap functions and other editing capabilities, it's true that you have to be better than average when it comes to tape. Hard editing tape is a bitch and I have never done it other than to learn it so that I know how to do it.

I've never been inclined to give up my tape machines and try digital recording. I've been working in the analog format for 30 years and this dog ain't leaning any new tricks at this stage of the game.

I'm happy with the format, the mixes sound good, and I like turning knobs and seeing tape spool.

 

[dodgeaspen]

The best place for this type of question is BEST answered in the analog forum. The guys are into analog recording and repairing their equipment. It's amazing how much knowledge they are willing to share.

 

[grimtraveller]

A word of warning:

A Portastudio will not sound anything like recordings of the 60's, 70's, and 80's.

Get yourself some 2-inch reel-to-reel.



But before you do any of that, how good are you? Analog is crazy expensive. That is why digital took over so quickly. Don't go dropping tens of thousands of dollars unless you are already really, really good at this stuff.

And more than that, the sound of the 60's, 70's, and 80's is mostly the sound of experts doing the only thing they do with their lives. Nobody had any type of crutch to lean on, from the drummer to the singer to the sound engineer. You are hearing the sound of dudes who are damn good on both sides of the glass with minmal editing.

You are also hearing the absense of limiting, widening, exciting, etc software.

If really amazing people are working on the project, you can really get most of the way to a 70's sound by telling yourself that you will just not use drag n' drop editing or sample replacement. Lay off the limiter at mastering time and there you go.

The tape certainly was a bit of the sound. But just a bit.

+1.
Except the bit about crazy expensive. It can be but if you go the portastudio route {Yay for the 488 !} it isn't.

The best place for this type of question is BEST answered in the analog forum. The guys are into analog recording and repairing their equipment. It's amazing how much knowledge they are willing to share.

+1

 

[TheChikenMaster]

record the drums with an over head and a kick mic and send them to one compressor channel and then to one track to the multitrack channel and there is your old vintage sounding drums

 

[geargear28]

hmm maybe this could yield more of what im looking for...

if anybody is still reading...
what would recommend to achieve a similar fidelity?
models and makes would definitely help...

60s... stuff similar to martin denny - exotic moog record..
i also like the way more obscure psychedelic rock sounds..
70s... stuff similar to alain goraguer - la planete sauvage record..
but also assorted rock & soul records from 70-76
80s... i like alot of funk records from the first half..
but what im really trying to attain in particular is the way they had reverbed brassy synths sounding...
for example...
https://www.youtube.com/v/B-in6pIkUII&hl

brian bennett's voyage LP would be a good example of this in effect on an actual song...

 

[Villain S Deeds]

Speaking of vintage recording gear, I would sure love to get my hands on a tape delay. I freakin' love the delay on Shatner's vocal on "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" from The Transformed Man.

 

[M1Fanatic]

You can get very close with Roland's RE-20 tape echo box. I have one and I'm amazed at how it reproduces the old analog sound.

I used to have an Ibanez 202 I think it was. Great analog sound.

 

[thisischrisg]

My advice on a 60's/70's sound.... Record all your tracks live, and get like 2-3 songs finished a day. That's how bands did a lot of stuff back then. Quick, efficient, and on a budget/timeline.

Record everything in the same room and let it bllleeeeed.

 

[Lance135]

About Reel to Reel...

I wish you much success in your endeavour.

Sound on Sound podcast 022 talks about analog tape machines. If, after listening to this podcast, you're still keen on analog tape, go for it:

http://www.soundonsound.com/podcast (click on SOS Podcast 022)

 

[AbuseTheMuses]

appreciate the reply...
i'm wanting to a do little of both...
(old gear from the time period + old but not so old gear that is cost effective)

just signed up to wet my beak a little bit and get familiarized with brands, models and other tech-related information...

i am familiar with tascam 4/8-track portastudios,
but not particularly sure what the difference between models is or what to look for in determining if one is still in good working condition...

i also have been thinking about reel to reel, but i know literally 0 about those...

reel means waaay expensive tape, cassette decks mean slightly hard to find tape. Gotta think about the tape. The best I ever had (and I have had more 4 tracks than I can remember) is a TASCAM424... the origional version, with effects sends, 4 inputs, buss assignments, all that multitasky goodness. If you can find one of those, just make sure you keep it safe, and clean your heads and it will be a gem for you.

 

[Lance135]

...and you'll become very familiar with terms such as Zenith and Azimuth...

 

[AbuseTheMuses]

My advice on a 60's/70's sound.... Record all your tracks live, and get like 2-3 songs finished a day. That's how bands did a lot of stuff back then. Quick, efficient, and on a budget/timeline.

Record everything in the same room and let it bllleeeeed.

I just wanted to say an amen to that. But I have reasons:

recording live feels entirely different to the player than doing the whole 'which foot bone connects to a leg bone' computer attack. The feel of the player is so crucial to playing, instead of worrying about protools menus or computer lag... plug it in turn it up, and put yer dick on the track. good mic and preamp are key.