Mastering for Tape - Tips?

[Melodeath]

Has anyone here mastered anything to be released on tape? I'm wondering if you have any tips.

My band's demo is going to be released by a label on tape. I tried recording from CD onto a blank tape using my stereo, and I noticed that there's much less bass on the tape version, and many cymbal hits are causing pumping/tape compression/distortion.

Do you have any tips for mastering for tape? Maybe you increase bass, and limit less on you master buss? Or maybe set the limiter output to around -0.5 instead of -0.1? What do you think? What else?

Thanks

 

[egan.]

As in cassette????!

 

[Melodeath]

Yes. Cassette tape

 

[AntonioPetrole]

Yes. Cassette tape

0_o

why would you ever do that?

 

[abt]

Yes. Cassette tape

I know, you've found a time machine. Your going to steal a whole bunch of songs, go back to 1985 and release them.

 

[Melodeath]

Believe it or not, a good amount of the death metal I listen to is released on tape.

 

[abt]

Believe it or not, a good amount of the death metal I listen to is released on tape.

Really? Fuck, I haven't even seen a cassette in about ten years. Is there a reason why? It seems so strange to me.

CDs have just about gone the way of the wind.

 

[Melodeath]

Well, it's "old school" and makes it a collector's item. Especially when the tape is printed in limited quantities.

We play old school death metal, so a completely retro format is "appropriate," you might say.

 

[SkybluestudiosBEN]

My car still has cassete....thats the only place I can think of that would play it hahhaha, not a very good business move for your band IMO

 

[El_Gato]

tapes?¿?¿ lol, good one

anyone remember that 8 tracks cassettes in the 60's ¿

 

[Melodeath]

My car still has cassete....thats the only place I can think of that would play it hahhaha, not a very good business move for your band IMO

Old school death metal is not a money-maker

Also, the tape will most likely sell out. All previous releases on this label have.

 

[waltz mastering]

You could master it like anything else. Whoever is doing the transfer/duplication would have watch the levels.

With chrome bias cassette you can peak at +3 dBVU
With normal bias, peak around +1

I wouldn't be to concerned with Dolby NR.

 

[abt]

Old school death metal is not a money-maker

Also, the tape will most likely sell out. All previous releases on this label have.

Ignore us! (I don't mean that is a sarcastic way) I think it's cool that you're doing something different, stick to your creative vision. No one has actually offer you any help so far I'm sure someone knows something.

 

[The Dark Magician]

I find the hiss and occaisional warble from an old cassette really adds a lot of atmospheric aesthetic. Likely a reason many black metal bands (including mine) opt to do cassette releases. I enjoy that quaintness of the format quite a bit and I have a sizable tape collection.