Getting the big analogue sound on a digital machine

[MarkyD]

Ok, we all know the analogue vs digital debate and I can't afford a nice 24 track 2" reel to reel so have to put up with my DAW. What I wanted was peoples ideas on how best to digitally recreate the big, dirty, distorted sound you get when you really push the recording volume on an anologue tape?

[Zukan]

If you tell us what your setup is at the moment we could then advise you better.

There are many ways of achieving your goal via tape saturation plug-ins, anything that affords harmonic distortion, running through outboard gear and so on.

If we know what you have we can help you to get the best out of your current gear.

[Sherman]

With current software technology there is no way to get a sound like 2" tape with that will fool everyone!

You can try software like 1 Time or Massey Tape Head.

there is also Colortone if you don't mind pluggo. For Pro Tools there is Reel Tape Suite. There are many more but these will give you an idea of how effective sofware is at emulating tape.

Hope this helps!

[tea for two]

Grungy outboard mate ... esp something thats gonna give a bit of warble, cause digital is a bit too linear innit.

[The Elf]

I love it! For decades we tried to reduce and mitigate the degrading effects of tape and now we have to 'put up with' the DAWs that fixed them!

I feel old...

[MarkyD]

My set up at the moment is a Korg D3200 all in one. It's got a couple of AUX sends. I have been toying with getting something like a Tascam US-122L so I could start to use Cubase or Protools but at the moment all the mixing is done with the one machine

[tomafd]

I've yet to hear a plug that really does it. If you're feeling rich (hey, aren't we all these days... ) you can try one of these hooked via your aux sends

http://rupertneve.com/products/portico-5042/

... but i reckon that big analogue sound wasn't necessarily just tape saturation- it was the whole shebang, big old desks, outboard compressors and eqs, years of engineering experience, and not forgetting, good live performances in real rooms and recorded on damn fine mics.

All of which is kinda hard to reproduce in a back bedroom with today's digital gear....

[The Elf]

My set up at the moment is a Korg D3200 all in one. It's got a couple of AUX sends. I have been toying with getting something like a Tascam US-122L so I could start to use Cubase or Protools but at the moment all the mixing is done with the one machine

You won't be using Pro Tools with a Tascam 122, I'm afraid - PT only works with specific hardware.

Standalone recorders like the D3200 are pretty much a closed shop, so you're not going to be able to create the tape saturation *digitally* within the device. You may be able to recreate it digitally in another device, but by that time you may as well be looking at another solution anyway.

And I think you may be overestimating what the effect would do for you anyway...

[MaTr1x2051]

I agree, you may be putting too much emphasis on the effect. I have Massey's Tape Head plug and its nice sometimes. But I've learned that it's not really a tape-saturation emulation. Its a kind of compression that adds a bit of warmth and a tad of distortion. I guess technically, that is pretty much the same as tape saturation. But the plug still sounds like an effect. I have to use it at extremely low levels to add a bit of subtlety. The times I find myself reaching for it are when a track needs a bit of warmth that I can't seem to achieve with eq. It won't get you an instant fat sound, and it doesn't sound analogue. You can't push it hard enough to do that without negative side-effects.

I personally think most of this whole analogue binge is a fad. Just like the tube binge. People make great recordings without valve gear and without tape. Yes, a $100,000 mixing console may be a part of that equation, but you may find that some plugins come strikingly close for pennies in comparison.

I would strongly suggest getting some sort of DAW to mix in. You just can't get enough control with the onboard facilities in the Korg. Be careful, like was mentioned you need specific hardware to run Pro Tools.

[ef37a]

Whenever I see this question I am moved to ask which tape machine? Ampex? Studer? and which tape? 15ips or maybe 30?

When I was using semi-pro machines years ago, Revox, Brennel,Ferrograph I cursed the dynamic limitations and would have KILLED for another 20dB either way!

I still have a Teac 4track and son has tried it out because he too has read of this "glorious tape sound". A day later he came back to "easy" but cold computer recording.

Dave.

[MarkyD]

Cheers for the info, especially with the Tascam 122. One of the reasons I've been thinking about getting one is becasue it comes with cubase LE so I'd be able to step into the DAW station and start using my laptop to mix without spening too much money. A wise move do you think?
Am I right in thinking it does similar thing to the mbox?(just not pro tools compatible)

[Martin Walker]

When I was using semi-pro machines years ago, Revox, Brennel,Ferrograph I cursed the dynamic limitations and would have KILLED for another 20dB either way!

Hear, hear!

And of course you had to recalibrate these machines whenever you changed the make and model of tape

Martin

[ef37a]

Fine box of tricks tho' I am sure the Tascam is do take a gander at the Emu 0404usb.

Dave.

[MarkyD]

Ooo, that E-mu looks nice too.