Researching methods of 8-track reel recording, need help from those that have done it

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DrainDamage

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I am on an unusual quest.

Spending the last week absorbed in administrative duties prompted me to play old vinyl records. It started off with the White Album, then progressed through the old record collection until I hit about 1972. Not sure the reason.

What I found was a kind of "mini Golden Age" of music production. And for some reason, this seems to coincide with the advent of 8-track multi-track recording. It seems about right for a lot of music.

4-track reel recording was limited. All glory for Sgt. Pepper aside, 4-track is extremely frustrating to any band (or solo musician). 8-track reel seemed to open up a lot of musical performances. Take for example "The Band" - that is, their 2nd record. It sounds like an 8-track reel recording to me.

16-track came along when? sort of 1972? what's the time line of mulitracking? I know 4-track was sort of 1962 .... 8-tracks came along during 1968 ?

I am trying to figure out two things:

1) A list of as many albums that you might know for sure were recording on 8-track reel tape.

2) Talk from anyone that recorded on 8-track reel, and hoping they want to share tracking methods and mixing methods.

Really, thanks a ton in advance for any information you have.
 
"Out on the road today I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadalac. A little voice inside my head said don't look back, you can never look back"

I think the advent of the 8 track was a magical time in recording history. When I got my 80-8 I was in heaven! I still had to bounce down the drums, but what freedom 8 tracks gave me. Now, with that nostalgic thought remembered, why would I want to go back to 8 tracks? I don't think moving backwards to that number offers the same creative juice surge as going forward to it. I do sometimes miss the sound of tape though.

Regards,
RD
 
I want to get some sort of analog 8 track recorder to work with and force myself to be a little creative with how I approach things. Even right now, I like to keep things to a minimum.

Steve Albini made some pretty good sounding records going to 8-track tape back in the day. Here's a bit about what he had to say about it:

"I had a Soundcraft mixer for the 8-track setup. A 300B, I think. Four buses, but I usually used the insert send as a patch to tape for single-mic sounds. I normally had a 2-guitar rock band set-up this way:

1: Bass drum
2: Snare drum
3-4: Stereo drum mix w/ toms, overhead (if I used them, which was rare) and stereo ambience
5: Bass
6: Guitar
7: Guitar
8: Vocals

If there was more than that, I'd use two or three tracks for drums, but that was pretty rare. The vocal track usually had any overdubs on it during instrumental parts." (from ProSoundWeb.com)
 
adam - i know a couple 8 tracks in the area for sale - a decent tsr -8 in particular - feel free to shoot me an email. play it again sam's in lakewood does repair...

'2) Talk from anyone that recorded on 8-track reel, and hoping they want to share tracking methods and mixing methods.'

i did this for 8 years almost exclusively in people practice spots...lots of punk and indie rock. you can get a lot accomplished on one. recording a live band isn't hard but when you get into overdubbing you obviously have to bounce around a lot. a lot of times i would mix the entire band down to two tracks and bring it back up to a fresh roll and keep overdubbing. it can makes the process somewhat slow.

depending on who you work with and how they want it - it can be lo-fi or hi-fi...rarely the 8 tracks decision on how it sounds.

'1) A list of as many albums that you might know for sure were recording on 8-track reel tape.'

some stuff done on my 8 track you can find if ya dig:

-the revelers: hard times, sunday spirits - (spinart)
-the up ensemble: urban folk music (vivarecordingco.)
-doug gillard: malamute jute (cushion records) and creative process 473 soundtrack (acme pictures)
-30 lincoln: avanti (johann's face)
-gem: sunglare serinades (2 tracks) (pitch-a-tent)
-uva ursi: matter e.p. (moonbase)
-quazi modo: magna vox (P.O.C.)
-electric frankenstein: live, loud, and angry (twenty stone blatt, sonic swirl)
-them wranch: medium rare (two tracks), big noise from east maynard (two tracks), singles. (orange recordings)
-lords of the highway: dangerous curves ahead (burning river)
-josh ritter, bridget mantros, guy mendilow: 6206 ellen ave. ('sco productions)
- tons more cd's demo cds, cdrs, singles, cassettes and unreleased stuff sitting in peoples' basements.

one of my favorite recordings done on 1/2" 8 track is the apple's 'fun trick noisemaker.' excellent arranging and recording by the head of the band. it's like 12 years old now...

as far as old school 8-track i like the stuff done at Stax and Atlantic.

anyway - it's a fun way to work and i think the sound quality is fantastic if yer chops are up and /or you spend the time to make it sound good. having 24 tracks now - i do not miss the limitations overdubbing...but you can learn a ton on one as far as looking ahead to the mix and get really good results.

Mike
 
cool stuff

I''m looking at this as a better way (for me) to make concentrated arrangements.

It might wind up 8-track digital, for the sheer sonic prowess. But the instrumentation limitations on 8-track are attractive.

It might involve sub-mixing, but probably more than anything, keeping a kind of linear arrangement mode open. As in: taking track 5, for example, and recording piano in the verse, guitar in the chorus and organ in the bridge.

I like that kind of space in the mix. But usually, with 16 tracks (or more) wind up just adding way too much stuff.

I need discipline, and I need it now. Do I have to beg for discipline?
 
'Do I have to beg for discipline?'

no, you can pay for it in some parts of the city. this may involve begging as well but the cash comes first.

:eek:

whatever works for you but if a mindset can fix how you use a tool instead of buying another tool, i'd change the mindset. i have recorded numerous songs where the everything but kitchen sink method compromises the song...and this happens on 2 tracks to 24 tracks...

however same vice versa - the kitchen sink can work.

Mike
 
wow bigtoe, you listed Lords of the Highway... Those cats are friends of mine. My band has a record out on Rock and Roll Purgatory too.
 
bigtoe said:
adam - i know a couple 8 tracks in the area for sale - a decent tsr -8 in particular - feel free to shoot me an email. play it again sam's in lakewood does repair...
Click to expand...

I might have to talk to you about that sometime in the future, but the missus has dropped the hammer on my gear spending for the time being, unfortunately.
 
hey hi-flyer - and those cats are way way way good. i'm supposed to be getting a demo cd to dennis from my new studio - but all my mixes aren't released yet so i wait until i can woo him better...i'd love to work with them again in the studio as opposed to his basement! (which was actually really fun.) i think their best stuff thus far was done with don depew who is really awesome.

nice to e-meet ya. is R+R P a label? i thought it was a mag. we tried to advertise there but he's not doing it anymore...speaking of i'm mixing doug mckean (ex- gc5) this weekend who used to run in that crowd...awesome R+R.

adam p. - i feel ya. give a shout. i have a 5050-8 sitting around too i could let ya toy around with if i ever get around to putting it back togther. :eek:

Mike
 
bigtoe said:
adam p. - i feel ya. give a shout. i have a 5050-8 sitting around too i could let ya toy around with if i ever get around to putting it back togther. :eek:

Mike
Click to expand...

Man, if you let me loan/rent an 8 track tape machine I would be eternally grateful. My wife, on the other hand...

Looks like I'm going to have to postpone checking your place out again...got last minute plans to go to my folks' this weekend about an hour away. I'll get there one of these days though.

Take care.
 
8 track reel to reel

Some of my favorite tunes of all time were done on 8 track reel. I dont know if you guys can dig 60s style psych revival, but if you can you should check out The Orange Alabaster Mushroom. Its actually just a guy from canada playing all the tracks himself. If you can dig 60s style psych meets early REM and you want to hear some great home produced 8 track reel recordings cruise over to myspace.com and search for the orange alabaster mushroom and listen to "Space and Time". Im not kidding when i say it this guy is one of the best pop songwriters of the last 10 years. Some of the tunes on the site are older and not quite as good as the ones you get when you buy the cd, but he has written some underground classics. SPACE AND TIME speaks for itself. Everyone is always bitching about this equipment or that equipment being better or worse, but this guy proves it that it doesnt matter how low budget your mics and mixers and pres are you can move people with songwriting alone.
 
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