super tape/analog n00b

[cloy26]

So I have wondered, why not track initially to a small 4 track or something, then throw it into your daw? Is this in incredibly dumb idea. I know it happens, but not a 4 track. I don't think people do it, so why doesn't it work?

 

[The StabbinCabin]

I was going to post the same thread- I busted out my Yamaha MT120 to see what kind of cool "vintage/indie" like sounds and haven't really found any good way to get cool results except from low gain room mics on drums sent to a comp- or I guess anything mic'd from a distance... idfk

I'd like to find out why not as well

 

[cloy26]

I'm assuming quality of the tape and tape machine

 

[Fox Mulder]

Due to editing purposes... like duh!

What you could do is: Get super-expensive converters, record everything to the DAW, edit, record to tape (along with some outboard processing... maybe), record back to the DAW.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Btw, I really don't think it's a good idea to waste time thinking about analog gear, tape and blah. We're better off building our mixing chops.

It ain't magic. Nothing is.

 

[Max Morton]

The tape machine needs service and qualification to function properly. And you can't undo any distortion and non-linearity. I think emulation is great until you can afford the top-class analog gear and converters.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Btw, I really don't think it's a good idea to waste time thinking about analog gear, tape and blah. We're better off building our mixing chops.

It ain't magic. Nothing is.

It ain't magic, but there is a difference in sound. It's creative thinking and curiosity like in the OP that made some of the coolest records we know, nothing wrong with that.

 

[HDWR]

I once took and edited drum preformance back out of the DAW to a cheap 4 track. It didn't work very well. I didn't get the sound I was hoping for and the track got more and more out of time. Wow and flutter I guess. Re-editing the drums after the tape again didn't work well.

 

[AllanD]

Yep, the tracks will go out of time with each other. Tape machines like that aren't perfectly synced in time, every time you press play you alter the speed a little bit.

 

[cloy26]

makes sense.

 

[greyskull]

If i can help it. I'm recording drums to tape from now on.
drums->tape->monitor off playback head.
finish tape->rewind->dump to pro tools whilst listening to takes.
Rewind tape->start again