Anything to gain by bouncing to analogue?

[Fredrik-Ablaze]

I'm about to start doing a full record production with one of my own bands this month and we're trying to plan everything that needs to be done in order to set a deadline.

Besides the regular tracking (going for a 70's feel with all "analogue" gearm no samples etc) we've also talked about running the finished tracks onto analogue tape and back into the computer again for some nice tape compression/distortion.

Do you think this will do us any good or will it be a waste of time and money?

 

[egan.]

I once worked on a record where we talked about doing this and the mastering engineer felt that the benefit would be negligible. His opinion, which I respect, was that slamming A 2-Track master isn't going to sound like you tracked to analog the whole way which I believe is what you are after. It's worth noting that he had 1/4" and 1/ 2" 2-tracks right there and could have easily sold us a tape if he thought it was worth it.

 

[Fredrik-Ablaze]

Well what I'm speaking about is bouncing the individual channels to tape and back before starting off the mix, still not worth the time it takes?

 

[colonel kurtz]

would be possible for you guys to track to tape, then apply A/D conversion to the individual tape tracks? if so, that would probably yield the results you're looking for much better than recording to digital, dumping to tape, then dumping back to digital.

 

[Remy_5150]

thats what Hate Eternal did on I, Monarch....and thats probably my favorite metal mix EVER....sure, the guitar tones and drums might not be the best you've ever heard, but for how fast those songs are, they sound so raw and organic...but very clear at the same time

 

[egan.]

Well what I'm speaking about is bouncing the individual channels to tape and back before starting off the mix, still not worth the time it takes?

Sorry I misunderstood. I think it will make a difference. Give it a shot and post some A/B stuff.

 

[Wolfeman]

Why not just use a tape plugin? They sound pretty good to me.....

 

[Torniojaws]

Why not just use a tape plugin? They sound pretty good to me.....

But they don't quite achieve that real overdriven tape sound.

 

[Ericlingus]

what are some good tape plugins? I hear good things about vintage warmer. What about the urs channel strip pro?

 

[MetalSound]

Recording digital and bouncing back to tape for analog tape saturation etc. is what Tool are doing. So there must be something to it...

 

[colonel kurtz]

i was under the impression that baressi tracked 10,000 days to analog tape, then dumped the tape tracks into PT

not only do you get the tape "sound", but it saves you from having the extra generation of conversion

 

[Remy_5150]

yeah, thats what I think is the best thing to do, I mentioned in my earlier post

 

[Metaltastic]

Yeah, that would make far more sense to me...

 

[MetalSound]

I read somewhere that they recorded it digital and did their edits in PT (only very few I think :Smug and AFTER that bounced it back to tape.
But I may remember it not correct because I´m so old now.

 

[aramism]

http://mixonline.com/recording/projects/audio_making_tools_days/

 

[LSD-Studio]

what are some good tape plugins? I hear good things about vintage warmer. What about the urs channel strip pro?

virsyn VTAPE all the way!

 

[MarcusD777]

How is the VirSyn VTAPE?? Could you post any clips of it in action with and without?? besides the 2 on the virsyn site... that would rock...

 

[Fredrik-Ablaze]

Thanks for your replies! Recording on analogue isnt an option since we havent got the gear in the studio.
If the bouce/bounce back routine would have worked I could have booked lets say Studio Fredman or Sonic Train studios for a day and had it done there before we start mixing.

 

[theblackmoon]

Do you have any experience on recording to tape? I don´t, although I worked on a studio with a tape machine it never got any use because we did mostly jingles...

But I think that the signal degradation caused by that many adda, plus the workflow undermining... well it can be a complete waste of time and money, because unless you know exactly what tape does and what to expect, you may realize that the effect of it is not what you want... and I don´t think most users on this forum had worked with tape enough to give a very detailed and true answer...

When you say 70´s feel you mean stuff like Steely Dan?

If you have enough budget and time just give it a try... then tell us the results.

 

[RKelly]

Listen to Alicia Keys new album and compare it to her previous ones. All the tracks were run out to a tape machine and then back into PT. It can definitely add a lovely character though I would try it on a track by track basis and see what you like it on.

If you want to use a plugin, Massey's Tape Head and the Crane Song plug (TDM) are my favorites.