Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
By RAFIQ Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:09 pm
I read this on Future Producers...".....I was at a studio in downtown ATL just chillin' and vibin', etc. Producers making tracks and sh1t. So this other producer came in with his artist ready to track his beats. He had 2 cds. 1 with the beats tracked out and dry. 1 with the beats mixed, with effects, etc. So the engineer listened to his mixed cd, so he could get an idea how he wanted it to sound. All the sudden the engineer says "What studio did you previously mix this at?" The producer says "At my house". The Engineer looks kinda surprised and amazed. He says "How did you get it so warm and full? It sounds like it was recorded to tape." Producer says "It was. I mixed my beat down in Logic. Then I recorded the whole track onto tape on my cassette player. Then recorded the whole track back into Cubase."..."

How would my song sound if i record my instrumental or complete song from the MV 8000...into a 4-track recorder...then into an Aphex Aural Exciter...and back into the MV...then to a mastering house????
_________________
MV 8000
MPC 1000
BEHRINGER B-1 MIC, JOE MEEK THREE Q
APHEX AURAL EXCITER,BEHRINGER ULTRAFEX
SAMSON RESOLV 65A
TC ELECTRONICS M-ONE XL

By tdot Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:28 pm
it wouldnt make a difference, really..it would just sound cloudier with less fidelity on the highend


it defeats the purpose if you bounce it from D to A then Back to D...as far as I know. espescially on a piece of rat sh$t tape recorder.

i could be very wrong tthough

By cynic Wed Jul 27, 2005 10:01 pm
i'd believe this if he recorded it to 2" tape or something...not a tape player tho.
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By itchyvinyl Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:07 pm
tdot wrote:it wouldnt make a difference, really..it would just sound cloudier with less fidelity on the highend


Actually, the cloudiness on the high-end is what a lot of people percieve as "warm" sounding.
That digital high-end bite is what most digital haters object to.

Many producers of all styles of music do this technique, especially on drum tracks, although they usually use reel-to-reel tape...just to get that tape-saturation / tape compression sound.

For the bedroom producer, similar results (although not as hi-fi), can be achieved with cassette tape, or even Hi-Fi VHS.

It's all individual taste.

By elmacaco Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:48 pm
Yo cassette sounds great. Most people remember **** up tapes in a dirty player then compare it to run of the mill CD's and think the abscence of noise makes the CD better.

Do a test, record a beat to a new tape and then play the digital one, off cd or right of your computer and see what you like better.

People really don;t know their head from their ass in the digital world, all they know is CD's and CD's are convinient but most of the time sound like ass compared to anything else. IMO Vinyl and cassettes make for a much more enjoyable listening experience, and I am not alone.
By L. Tombstone Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:22 am
I agree with the concept, but I am not a fan of cassettes unless you come up on a tape player with virtually no hiss or noise. ANY type of tape will fatten your mix in some way as it is an actual analog medium. I would recommend doing this technique to an analog 1" 2 track. My boy has one and it not only enhances the lows, but also the stereo perception and the highs as well. Mixing to tape is part of what gives you that 'wide' sound. By bouncing your digital 2-track down to an analog source you are separating your L and R and creating more space in the middle so the perception is wider. That is part of the problem with an 'out the box' mix from Protools or whatever. With no fat console or tape machine your stereo imaging comes out mono-esque.

My ultimate mix would be recorded on a DAW tracked out on an SSL 4000 or 9000 and then bounced to 1" 2-track. With the mastering job done completely off the tape reel no more than 48 hours after recording to tape.

By Knoxximus Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:52 am
I'm using a Professional Editing Hi-Fi VHS VCR I got off E-Bay.....you guys wouldn't BELIEVE the sound. I'll post up some comparisons soon.

And yeah, for the most part, digital high end = HARSH!

By Knoxximus Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:00 am
Hey RAFIQ

Is that Aural Exciter/Big Bottom worth the money? Or should I just get some similar plugins? I almost copped one off Ebay but wanted to see if I could do it with plugs 1st....
By morgan Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:12 am
L. Tombstone wrote:...My boy has one and it not only enhances the lows, but also the stereo perception and the highs as well. Mixing to tape is part of what gives you that 'wide' sound. By bouncing your digital 2-track down to an analog source you are separating your L and R and creating more space in the middle so the perception is wider. That is part of the problem with an 'out the box' mix from Protools or whatever. With no fat console or tape machine your stereo imaging comes out mono-esque...


What the hell are you talking about? In the digital domain the left channel and the right channel are completely seperate streams of digits, in Protools they are even seperate files. Bouncing to tape increases crosstalk, thereby narrowing the stereo image. I think you're talking about the little inconsistancies in tape that subtly change both the left and right channels individually, so even a mono input would give slightly different L+R levels.

Also, if you can find a good quality tape deck with Dolby C NR you can bounce through it without too much hiss. I've gotten better results out of mine than from old 1" machines that are worn out. You also should use new tape.
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By dubmunkey Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:23 am
id got for the spl or the bbe over the aphex...

greg

By EYEO dbp Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:37 pm
if you guys want that big fat analoug sound check out the imperial labs fatso jr thats whats it is for. Its called a distressor. That and some compressors come with a effect know as tape saturation where all it does is inject distortion to give off that subtle warmpth that people like. Anyway thats my 2 peace.
By L. Tombstone Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:50 pm
[What the hell are you talking about? In the digital domain the left channel and the right channel are completely seperate streams of digits, in Protools they are even seperate files. Bouncing to tape increases crosstalk, thereby narrowing the stereo image. I think you're talking about the little inconsistancies in tape that subtly change both the left and right channels individually, so even a mono input would give slightly different L+R levels.

Also, if you can find a good quality tape deck with Dolby C NR you can bounce through it without too much hiss. I've gotten better results out of mine than from old 1" machines that are worn out. You also should use new tape.[/quote]

Whatever man, I heard it for myself. My boy did joints that were straight outta Protools and some that were outta Protools and then bounced to 1" tape...and they sounded wider, more pro like they were mixed on a good console. Created the perception of more stereo. In technical terms it might not make sense, but I heard what I heard. Why cats always gotta question everything?? You can pick apart my words, but you can't tell me what I have or haven't experienced in my life.

By dennison Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:01 pm
I have never been happier with my sound now that I am using cassette.
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By Smoove03 Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:04 pm
hmm..good idea. something new to try

By dustedwax Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:57 pm
elmacaco wrote:Yo cassette sounds great. Most people remember **** up tapes in a dirty player then compare it to run of the mill CD's and think the abscence of noise makes the CD better.

Do a test, record a beat to a new tape and then play the digital one, off cd or right of your computer and see what you like better.

People really don;t know their head from their ass in the digital world, all they know is CD's and CD's are convinient but most of the time sound like ass compared to anything else. IMO Vinyl and cassettes make for a much more enjoyable listening experience, and I am not alone.


word up. cosign