Possible to add TASCAM to signal chain to get tape sound on a digital recording?

[randmcnally]

Hello,

I am new to the forum but have been making jury-rigged jalopy recordings for a number of years. I just bought a Zoom R16 to record band practices and make quick and dirty demos, but before this I was using a TASCAM Portastudio 424 MKIII for the same purpose. I love what the cassette tape adds to the sound, and am wondering if it's possible to use the TASCAM to get live tape compression on the digital recording (rather than recording to tape and then transferring). In a perfect world, I'd run the drums through the tape and then out to the R16, and the other tracks directly to the R16. I believe it's possible to use the TASCAM's preamps in the signal chain, and so my question is whether it's possible to get the tape itself on there.

Thanks for your time, and apologies if this is a ridiculous question that makes no sense.

-John

 

[mjbphotos]

I'm pretty sure you can't do it 'live' with a Portastudio, as part of the sound you want is the audio printing to tape.

 

[mdainsd]

"Live" is a no-go. Tape cannot be recorded to and played back at the same place and time. There is a physical separation of the two processes on a three head machine and on a two head machine one head is doing double duty and cannot do both at the same time (even if physics permitted it).

I dont think the preamps in the Porta will give you the sound you are after. The sound you crave is the outcome of slow moving tape with very narrow track widths. There are tape emulation plugs and the like, but meh.

 

[randmcnally]

Live tape

I'm pretty sure you can't do it 'live' with a Portastudio, as part of the sound you want is the audio printing to tape.

I think that might be the case. I know that some tape machines can engage both the record head and play head at the same time (recording to tape and then playing that recording back as the tape spins), and I just wasn't sure if that was something a basic device like the TASCAM might be equipped with. Thanks for your input!

-John

 

[randmcnally]

I see, it has a single record/play head so it's impossible. Thanks!

"Live" is a no-go. Tape cannot be recorded to and played back at the same place and time. There is a physical separation of the two processes on a three head machine and on a two head machine one head is doing double duty and cannot do both at the same time (even if physics permitted it).

I dont think the preamps in the Porta will give you the sound you are after. The sound you crave is the outcome of slow moving tape with very narrow track widths. There are tape emulation plugs and the like, but meh.