want to get rid of white noise

Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
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Re: want to get rid of white noise

Bymember_5949kfk50e0d3 Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:47 am
So it finally occured to me after finding this quote:

me_debauch wrote:Those old fostex tascam porta studios that ran on standard audio taped were garbage when it comes down to quality for the most part. I mean they are and were very affordable and they opened doors for bands who wanted to do a bit of recording in the jam studio... but you would never in your wildest dream use them for anything official or remotely professional sounding.


that analogue tape is not the way to go if I want my stuff sounding good. I've been considering the ADAT option, seeing how it's digital. It won't have the noise that has been my problem will it? I tried searching but mostly what came up was the mpc4k attachment. I should also say that I am trying to stay away from multitracking onto a computer.
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Re: want to get rid of white noise

By starcrusher Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:52 am
i would either learn how to work real, fat tape (time consuming) or pick up some adat gear off craigslist (i see it all the time, still a bit pricy though)

Re: want to get rid of white noise

By jimmie Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:49 am
Grenozh wrote:So it finally occured to me after finding this quote:

me_debauch wrote:Those old fostex tascam porta studios that ran on standard audio taped were garbage when it comes down to quality for the most part. I mean they are and were very affordable and they opened doors for bands who wanted to do a bit of recording in the jam studio... but you would never in your wildest dream use them for anything official or remotely professional sounding.


that analogue tape is not the way to go if I want my stuff sounding good. I've been considering the ADAT option, seeing how it's digital. It won't have the noise that has been my problem will it? I tried searching but mostly what came up was the mpc4k attachment. I should also say that I am trying to stay away from multitracking onto a computer.


When you said you had the 'Tascam portastudio 464' I was kinda in amazement tbh. I thought mine (borrowed off mi cousin to check out) must be broken because it's the noisiest piece of garbage ever. I tried working it but it really is waaay too noisy. To get close to a proper decent tape sound you want at least a reel to reel. I think this portastudio 464 is just some low-end consumer thing... I mean.... even compared to an old yamaha MT120 4-track tape deck (another one for guitarists) it's noisy as hell.
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Re: want to get rid of white noise

By nogginj Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:43 pm
...analogue tape is not the way to go if I want my stuff sounding good.

Bear in mind, this is probably only in your particular situation. To think that tape in general sounds bad is just so, utterly wrong. Analog tape is a great way to record, and there is tons of 'good' sounding stuff still being recorded to tape these days. Very professional, high dollar stuff, not just indie lo-fi stuff.

Like I said in my first post, it just takes a lot of preparation and knowing what you are doing in conjunction with the right equipment. For a 'clean' sounding recording, cassette is almost NEVER the way to go. I have found that faster tape speed has an exponential positive effect on reducing noise. Also, thicker record bands / thicker tape. Cassette tape is 1/8", studio tape is generally 2", and the record heads are twice as big.

Going the digital route, you won't have as much 'hiss' (depending on your gear), but you just start running into new problems. Be 100% sure nothing clips...analog handles clipping beautifully, digital just straight up doesn't handle clipping. One thing to keep in mind...with tape, you generally try to get things as hot as possible, and usually don't worry TOO much about going into the red. With digital, you actually need to keep your levels a bit softer than you think to allow yourself headroom for that one part where it might get really loud...all it takes is one *POP* to completely ruin a take.

Good luck with it. Digital is definitely cheaper and easier these days for the home recording studio.
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Re: want to get rid of white noise

By Ill-Green Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:12 pm
jimmie wrote:
Grenozh wrote:So it finally occured to me after finding this quote:

me_debauch wrote:Those old fostex tascam porta studios that ran on standard audio taped were garbage when it comes down to quality for the most part. I mean they are and were very affordable and they opened doors for bands who wanted to do a bit of recording in the jam studio... but you would never in your wildest dream use them for anything official or remotely professional sounding.


that analogue tape is not the way to go if I want my stuff sounding good. I've been considering the ADAT option, seeing how it's digital. It won't have the noise that has been my problem will it? I tried searching but mostly what came up was the mpc4k attachment. I should also say that I am trying to stay away from multitracking onto a computer.


When you said you had the 'Tascam portastudio 464' I was kinda in amazement tbh. I thought mine (borrowed off mi cousin to check out) must be broken because it's the noisiest piece of garbage ever. I tried working it but it really is waaay too noisy. To get close to a proper decent tape sound you want at least a reel to reel. I think this portastudio 464 is just some low-end consumer thing... I mean.... even compared to an old yamaha MT120 4-track tape deck (another one for guitarists) it's noisy as hell.

Exactly, thats why I went digital and got the DP01, only noise I get is from the ambience of the air with mics. My 464 was cool at the time, but as you mature, you start to pamper your sound and notice stuff you didn't before like that annoying hisss. If you ever get to that point, then you're well on your way to being a recording engineer.
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Re: want to get rid of white noise

By Ill-Green Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:13 pm
jimmie wrote:
Grenozh wrote:So it finally occured to me after finding this quote:

me_debauch wrote:Those old fostex tascam porta studios that ran on standard audio taped were garbage when it comes down to quality for the most part. I mean they are and were very affordable and they opened doors for bands who wanted to do a bit of recording in the jam studio... but you would never in your wildest dream use them for anything official or remotely professional sounding.


that analogue tape is not the way to go if I want my stuff sounding good. I've been considering the ADAT option, seeing how it's digital. It won't have the noise that has been my problem will it? I tried searching but mostly what came up was the mpc4k attachment. I should also say that I am trying to stay away from multitracking onto a computer.


When you said you had the 'Tascam portastudio 464' I was kinda in amazement tbh. I thought mine (borrowed off mi cousin to check out) must be broken because it's the noisiest piece of garbage ever. I tried working it but it really is waaay too noisy. To get close to a proper decent tape sound you want at least a reel to reel. I think this portastudio 464 is just some low-end consumer thing... I mean.... even compared to an old yamaha MT120 4-track tape deck (another one for guitarists) it's noisy as hell.

Re: want to get rid of white noise

Bymember_5949kfk50e0d3 Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:43 pm
I still haven't tried it on the high speed, so I need to hear that before I make any decisions
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Re: want to get rid of white noise

By nogginj Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:14 pm
Machines come in all flavors of speeds...yours might not go fast enough to help you, but it does help some.

My friend has a 'mastering deck' that uses twice the width of standard for recording, and runs at like 4 times the speed my deck does. They all vary.
This is reels...not cassette. Cassette is just not going to get you high-end tape sound.
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