Tape emulation in a digital DAW

[Tim Gillett]

The goal of those NR systems was always to try to change the overall sound as little as possible. Moreover, proper tracking is essential with any NR system to have any kind of decent sound. This requires conservative recording level practices (keeping levels down, avoiding distortion and staying as linear as possible.) If you want to get the sound of pushing hotter levels on the tape, you are better off without NR.

Besides with wide track machines, noise reduction is usually not needed. You really get into needing NR when you cut your track width below 0.080" ( the width of two NAB tracks on 1/4", 8 tracks on 1" or 16 tracks on 2"). Beyond that you get the reduced S/N of narrower tracks combined with the accumulated noise of more tracks, so 24 tracks on 2" tape, for instance, or 16 tracks on 1" tape or 8 tracks on 1/2" tape generally requires NR.

Just my two cents.

Cheers,

Otto

Dolby only looked at the low level signal so it was fine to use Dolby and distort the tape at high levels. OTOH because you were pushing the signal into the red, tape noise wasnt such a problem , and so in this sense, Dolby wasnt as much needed.

Cheers Tim

 

[ofajen]

The main characteristic of analog when compared to digital is the rolled off or softer high end (round edge - square edge) and a little bump between 40 - 100 hz. Sometimes I think it's easier to eq something to sound more analog rather than to insert a plugin, which can create artifacts.

The frequency response thing is probably not much of a distinction. I can barely hear 16K any more. My ribbon mikes really start to dive by 20K. Digital at 44.1K goes up to around 20K and then filters like crazy. You sample higher, the filter can be better. Even at 15 ips, a tape machine may be just about flat at 20K and at 30 ips, I've had machines that were only a couple of dB down at 30K.

However, if you run at typical operating levels, the tape machine throws away a lot of the high level transient peaks, producing a compressing effect with some amount of distortion. Quite often you will end up with a crest factor around 6 dB lower (say 14 dB) than an equivalent track run into a digital machine (say 20 dB). YMMV as to whether this is a good thing.

Cheers,

Otto

 

[LeeRosario]

The frequency response thing is probably not much of a distinction. I can barely hear 16K any more. My ribbon mikes really start to dive by 20K. Digital at 44.1K goes up to around 20K and then filters like crazy. You sample higher, the filter can be better. Even at 15 ips, a tape machine may be just about flat at 20K and at 30 ips, I've had machines that were only a couple of dB down at 30K.

However, if you run at typical operating levels, the tape machine throws away a lot of the high level transient peaks, producing a compressing effect with some amount of distortion. Quite often you will end up with a crest factor around 6 dB lower (say 14 dB) than an equivalent track run into a digital machine (say 20 dB). YMMV as to whether this is a good thing.

Cheers,

Otto

Hey Otto,

It looks like you really know about what's going on inside a tape machine. I wonder if you could give my "analog tape at home" thread a spin and give me some advice.

I realize beyond tape and circutry basics, I really don't know what the hell I'm doing.

 

[noisewreck]

Actually the present is the past's future, so we are living in the future now.

Stop! You're making my head spin.

In which case, I WANT MY FLYING CAR, damnit!!!

Flying cars... now that would be a great way of population control Although, come to think of it, flying cars would probably end up killing mostly women drivers since they are the most guilty at SMSing and IMin on their phones while driving. In which case, there wouldn't be that many women left. Now that would make for one bleak future.

Meh.

On the other hand, according to quantum theory... ARGH now I am making my head spin.

 

[dodgeaspen]

Forget tape emulation, buy a cheap analog deck and track or mix to that for the tape sound you want. I have read that some people do all their tracking and mixing in digital then run it through a tape machine back to digital for a better sound. You could buy a Tascam 32 1/2 track 1/4 inch reel on junkbay for a few hundred. You can also buy tape for thees machines all day long.

 

[StevenT]

on a side note -

I see alot of these plugins have a 15ips or 30ips settings. Becuase i have no idea about tape recorders....what is the difference between these 2 settings? what does one sound like over the other? is there a preference?

has to do with simulating the sound as if it were recorded on a tape speed of 15 inches per second, or 30 inches per second.

The faster the tape speed, the cleaner and less hiss the recording would end up with.

 

[StevenT]

Forget tape emulation, buy a cheap analog deck and track or mix to that for the tape sound you want. I have read that some people do all their tracking and mixing in digital then run it through a tape machine back to digital for a better sound. You could buy a Tascam 32 1/2 track 1/4 inch reel on junkbay for a few hundred. You can also buy tape for thees machines all day long.

I agree, while I have many plugins (including tape emulators) - when I really want tape sound, I USE TAPE!

I keep my studio a hybrid mix of Digital Recorders, Analog Tape Recorders, and DAWs for a reason - I can get any target sound that I need.

Recording on a digital then outputting as individual tracks to mult-track tape, then re-recording from tape back in to digital works great!

 

[lollygagger8]

Empirical Labs Fatso Jr. is the sound you are looking for. Unfortunately it's VERY expensive.

Good news is, UAD's new cards have a new plug in of this!!!
http://www.uaudio.com/products/software/fatso/index.html

Dave Derr even says it sounds good, and he makes the hardware version!

This is most definitely my next purchase.