JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Recording Studio and Gear Forum Analog Recording

Anyone still love to work with Analog recording? I'm looking to purchase a new recorder probably the Tascam 424mkIII 4-track cassette-recorder(I'm into the regular cassette recording, not even the 2" tape). I probably won't even mix down tracks to give myself more than 4 tracks per song for this project. I've been finding a lot of home-recording and analog-recording info from some internet browsing and research, etc. but anything large or small on this topic anyone feels like sharing would be greatly appreciated esp. the transition from 4-track analog to MP3's/CD or if there are just some analog enthusiasts out there please say hi! I'm in the Southern California Area (Huntington Beach, Orange County, CA)

Anna/Without the Blonde
http://www.withouttheblonde.com
http://www.myspace.com/annatutor

Hi Anna,

I LOVE analog recording.. and I wish there was a way for me to be able to afford to stay with it.

I have owned 3 cassette recording formats besides reel to reel. I gotta say can't see any reason at all for staying with
the cassette 4 track porta studios except to quickly throw an idea down.. very quickly.

With the super inexpensive cost of the digital porta studios today and the sound difference and bouncing loss of sound quality of cassettes... + everything else

I even purchased a Tascam 424mk unit not that long ago I used it to write one song then goodbye it went.

The newer digital portas will give you so much more it's not even a debate.
You will have effects built in, some have automation to recall your mixes, mastering inside, built in CD burners and they are easy to learn!!

And most of all blank CD's are cheaper than blank cassettes now.

If you were talking about a 24 trk 2" tape deck or a 16 trk 1" deck I would say GO FOR IT! or even mixing down to 2track tape.. But a cassette porta studio you wont be to happy for to long I promise you. Don't torture yourself and make your music sound bad in the process.

best of luck and analog rules!

Peace
Sub

Thank you for your feedback! I could have used yr Tascam 424!!!

I don't need a lot of effects or tracks, or electronic manipulation of what is recorded - a true representation of the performance is what I'm looking to capture, which sounds so simple - but turns out it is not!

I did go to a studio one time (14 hours session) to record on 2" tape and I was in love with the idea but the overall experience with the engineer was horrible and even with 14 hours the takes were rushed, the mix was awful - I decided then I was stuck with pretty much myself for this project... sill I was hoping to somehow keep it analog.

I get plenty of lectures on the digial recording but usually from people who are into making everything exactly perfect from electronic manipulation - my voice becomes a bunch of squiggly lines that are sliced and twisted and peaked and smoothed out until... well until it's someone else's voice, basically! Not for me, I need my heart in the sound, vocal and instrumental.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply - especially because you have a love for the analog, your comments mean a lot

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Huntington Beach, CA
http://www.myspace.com/annatutor
http://www.withouttheblonde.com
anna@withouttheblonde.com

Analog...digital....they are both just different tools for accomplishing the same thing. Neither dictates the type of recording you are going to get. That depends on the musicians and how they play. And how the guy operating the recorder does his job. If you are not getting what you want from digital recordings, then you are probably using the tools incorrectly.

Uh oh it turns out the 'operator' will be ME so I'm in big trouble.

TrumanCoyote - this was so odd to see yr name on my post - I saw one of yr comments on another topic earlier and it was so sarcastically clever (and constructive, I thought) and made me laugh so hard that I ended up spending a good amount of time this afternoon pulling up yr comments on this board & reading them. (I know, I need to get cable tv or something.)

Thx for the input!

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Anna/Without the Blonde
http://www.withouttheblonde.com
http://www.myspace.com/annatutor

Anna, I wouldn't give up on the use of cassette for what you want. After all, it's your wants and needs, not other's that pertain in this instance.
I still record to cassette too, my live gigs in particular. I will also do some recording on the patio or front room and it's one hell of alot handier to grab a mic, cord, stand & cassette recorder, plug in, hit record and go. I will then, if anything good came of it, get it to the computer.
I use a Sony TC D5M ProII recorder for that, strictly one or two channels, no more and no editing.

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Miltenberger Homes

Recording with 4 track cassette can be very cool. Its good to see this post. The great thing is that its cheap, easy to use and can sound really cool. The trick is to set it so that the tape is running at the fastest speed possible and do not be afraid to make the meters go up into the red when you are recording. Things recorded really hot to 4 track cassette can have a really cool sound that is unique and something you can not get from even the best of digital systems (it comes from the extra haronics created by the tape distorting a little bit.

The straight forward nature of the 4 track cassette can realy help writers and artists be more prolific (and jumping into computer recording can stop many people dead in their tracks)



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Ronan Chris Murphy
Home Recording Boot Camp www.homerecordingbootcamp.com
www.venetowest.com

Hi Dak! When you 'get to to the computer' do you mix it using software on the computer? I know some people mix it from tape onto a cd file some like to run it into the computer and use that software for mixing/mastering, etc. I've also given a friend a file that was straight from tape mixed up to a cd file and then he put it in his computer program - I forget what he uses I think SoundForge or something? and then he applied some mastering to 'smooth' it out. I'm done having other people do that for me though I need to find and use a method to do on my own. Anyway, wondering what you use for that purpose?

I'll check out the Sony TC D5M ProII recorder thx for letting me know what u liked to use!

Anna

Hi Ronan! The Home Recording Boot Camp - I see this everywhere! I think it posts to Music Highway or one of my girl groups Indiegrrls or GoGirls maybe... I've thought about this... money money always money stuff trips up the plans.. anyway... ok running the tape fast I have heard of that but going right into the red - you have no idea how stressful it is for me to watch that damn light to try to make sure it does not go into the red - I have kinda a strong voice but I like to be up on the mic because u get the vocal tones and variances that just do not come through when u back off the mic but the red the red the red.. recording is a NIGHTMARE - I've had people there just to watch the damn light but then I'm stressing out watching the people watching the light. Really I just want to get the damn performance down without all the worry worry worry. Plus I really want to be able to do it alone, so I'm free to experiment, etc. without everyone getting bored or 'it's fine it's FINE' and getting testy then I start worrying about hurrying up and... well I guess I'm a loner- which goes along with being able to be prolific when u do your own recording with a relatively simple system like the cassette deck. I have never ever tried to just relax and be 'in the red' you know I think I will give that a try - this could solve a lot! Now I'm all curious as to what that would sound like... hmmmm...

maybe I should give that home recording boot camp another look...

thx for the tips!

Anna

Anna, because there are only two tracks, they are, essentially, mixed when recorded. I set the levels where I want them before hitting record. Once in there I'll import to n-Track Studio and add eq, compression or what ever, if the tracks need them. Then I'll mix the tracks down and convert to mp3 if I need to convert them. I also use a program called Acoustica for tweaking/mastering if I want a more finished product but for quickie demos I don't always do that.
The Sony TC D5M ProII is a cool little recorder but it is only a two track so you'll only get one or two track and you can't bounce tracks like you can with one of the dedicated 4 track machines. This recorder was used by radio and television stations for live, remote, taped audio work, interview & so on but I find it works very well for recording my gigs.


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Miltenberger Homes


[This message has been edited by Dak Lander (edited 09-04-2006).]

Ronan, are you the same Ronan Murphy that posts on H-C?
If so, I do appreciate your input. The other guy in one particular thread, IMHO, is an opinionated know it all with a lousy attitude and is actully often wrong and I kind of like to push his buttons.
Anyway, good day to you.

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Miltenberger Homes

Recording should not be a nightmare!!! It should be fun, and in truth when you strip away lots of the unimportant stuff recording is actually pretty simple.

When recording to digital you need to worry about going into the red. In digital red always = bad. With analog, pro formats or cassettes going into the red is not a problems and many times it can actually improve the subjective quality of the sound. When I was recording a lot with cassette 4 track I was always slamming the meters.

Another thing that could really help you would be a compressor to help keep the dynamic range of your vocals in check. (recording into the red will do a bit of the naturally)



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Ronan Chris Murphy
Home Recording Boot Camp www.homerecordingbootcamp.com
www.venetowest.com

Yup, that's me.


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Ronan Chris Murphy
Home Recording Boot Camp www.homerecordingbootcamp.com
www.venetowest.com

Hi Again Anna,

I wasn't really thinking about it till I read again..
If staying with the analog cassette porta studio for the purpose of staying with it as a enthusiasts is another story all together.

It's like vintage cars I LOVE them , I hate the every car looks a like and all that way it is today.. Give me VINTAGE!

Have you driven a vinatge car lately?
Drive to work in the summer in a car with No air conditioner.. No power steering, no power windows, an AM radio and no power brakes.. Np power steering is murder..

I'm not talking about computer confusion recording..

A porta studio is a porta studio and the 8 track Roland ones that they are practically giving away on Ebay now levels any cassette porta studio. And if I remember correctly I always had to mix down to another cassette deck for the proper speed from the master tape in the porta studio.

Then you wanna take that tape and bounce it down to CD to load into a computer and then go to Soundforge etc..
Isn't that leaving the analog world to go into digital.

Digital does not distort and crumble everytime when it hits red. Actually I have never had to delete a track that peaked on my digital recorder in 5 years (many times) you cant slam it like tape of course..

Cassettes have to be hi bias. Maxwells where I live are $1.49 each I see some 3 packs but the big packs are never around anymore. You can order through catalogs for those silver generic bundles. I always find i need stuff in a hurry and I run to the store.
CD's cost me $8.99 for a pack of 50

Like I said if it just to be a purist I'm all for that.
As for the concern for the quality and marketing of your music today, the old cassette porta studios are not my first choice. And do not sound better.. former owner of 3 porta studios and I did cherish them then.. But my music is very important to me and i always invest what I can into it.. and fortunatly you can get something better for very cheap..
I'ts depends on what you want and what's is more important quality and the sound of your music or staying with with cassettes,,,

Just something to consider
peace
Sub



[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 09-06-2006).]

Heya Mr. Brooklyn!

I hear all yr sayin'. So by the Roland 8-track u mean the Roland digital 8-track?

'n YES I hadda 64 Rambler American 440 Rag Top and this was no bought-it-already-all-beautiful car but she was SUPPOSED to run well and I needed her to be my daily driver while I worked on her outside - lets just say she never did get me to my job, and 3 mos and many, many dollars later I had to wave gbye. I did get a song outa her. Come to think of it that was an expensive song...

I have to say there is something to be said for power steering :-P

So I hear what you are saying. Also about the 'investing in your music', and i know a cassette recorder and digital recorder are pretty comperable in price - I mean, were not talking a lOT of difference.

I appreciate y'all taking the time to share some info with me on this subject - gave me some things to think about, and it's good to hear from other songwriters!

Hi Anna,

You wanna laugh? i never lived in Brooklyn? but that is fun song right? I'm gonna reply back on the mp3 board to you.

Yes the Roland digital 8 track,, Anna I seen one used go on Ebay a VS-840 for a $112.00 and a VS-880 for $160.00

I mean how can you beat that? I'm so glad you understand where I'm coming from. I never push things at people unless i really feel it will help them and it works best for them for some reason.

I am the first to tell songwriters "You wanna write songs stay away from heavy recording gear. And computers are the next thing to avoid. I always suggest the porta studios.. Now of course they all go together playing,writing,recording but they can interfere with each other BIG time!
When you and or someone is ripping the guts of your computer out because you have to upgrade to install DSP card for your plugins that need there own card, but you have 98SE and to need to go XP so you do, but now your scanner and 5 other things dont work now.. so you go online to download drivers but SOFTWARE companies go out of business every single day and then some flat out tell you You CAN"T use an Epson Scan 250 with Mac OS 10 1.4 BLAH BLAH BLAH

OKAY_ how freaking far away are you from writing your song and the lyrics to your second verse? lol
This is NO exageration and it All has nothing to do with lyrics & melodies...

My recorder has been out to service since June, I have not worked since and still not working.
I was just mixing on the computer tonight because I cant use my Analog mixing board.. The lovely $1,600 software
program i use crashed 7 times.. I saved and gave up for now.

Keep It simple and have fun with creativity..
But give yourself a nice machine to work with.
And Roland is GREAT they have been in the game a long time great modules... great electric drums.. Guitar synths.. this VS- recorder sounds great.

Best of luck
Peace
Sub


[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 09-07-2006).]

Ok...so heres a question. Im about to purchase a USB interface for my computer. Can i still use my cassette recorder and than import them thru my interface to mix them on my computer?

If you have a computer with a standard soundcard with an 1/8" line in you can just plug in from the cassette deck using a rca to 1/8" stereo adapter. a couple of bucks, and don't have to use usb.
If you have to use usb due to using a laptop that only has a mono mic input you'll need an interface that adapts the rca to usb. The cheapest, basic one I've seen are about 40 bucks.

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Miltenberger Homes

"That ol' dog's so mean, he ain't done nothin' but eat nails and [naughty word removed] nickels ever since he was born"

Thanks for the advice Dak Lander, i'll give that a try and see how it workks.

You can actually buy better used analogue equipment at very low cost. I had one of those Tascam 4-tracks and a Teac 8 channel mixer about 20 some years ago.

Now I've got the Eagles TAC Scorpion board, 28x24x12x8x4 and two 16 channel decks turning together for 32-track.

The thing about digital is that it lacks depth; regardless of how much you think not, it's flat, like video is compared to film.

It's also a lot more fun and sounds better while you're recording. Digital tends to reproduce frequencies that will eventually burn up the cilia in the cochlia and make you basically deaf.

Digital was for cheap, that is, to get quick recording equipment into the hands of songwriters and players so that it didn't cost them an arm and a leg to make demos, but that was the point of it, demos.

I know because I design all of this stuff, including computers. Anyway you can hook up a computer to the analogue setup is fine, but it's the analogue setup that really makes the difference and sets you apart from the 100,000,000 other home recording guys. That, and being able to go out and perform what you write and play, live, without gimmicks and lipsynching.

The performance is the thing and digital just don't cut a live performance. Consequently, it can't capture a live performance either.

Analogue is cheap, if you know where to look. Digital is fine for working things out, but for the record you really want analogue gear.

Think about it: join the 100,000,000 other digital artists, or, rise above them.

Your choice.

Well after all this I think that for the most part i stick with analog. I did buy the M-AUDIO interface (USB). I think i'll experiment a bit, and try some final mixes on the computer. Any way, ill let ya'll no how its going.

Hi all,
If you are just needing a recorder to write songs and play an instrument Musician's Friend Catalog offers 2 cassette recorders for $99.00. One is the MF-P01 TASCAM, I think, and the FOSTEX X-12. Both are very basic and geared to the songwriter. They both have line outputs of which you could feed into a CD Recorder if you wished to copy songs to a CD. I suppose with the cords and adapters you could feed the signal into a computer recorder and also burn CD's. I have used a TASCAM Cassette Porta Studio for the last 10 years. It's all I needed to record my songs. If I want a Pro Demo I can send a CD to a DEMO service. You of course can get all the software and whatever to make your own Pro Demos if you wish.

TerryJames seems to be knowledgeable about reocrding, and his pro-analog point of view is supported by enough other people that I am not prepared to dispute it. But in this thread, based on the original question, I think his comment is off base.

Anna was asking about comparing digital recorders with 4-track cessette recorders. Although high-end analog gear may be wonderful, the results you get from cassette recorders are not the same at all. I don't think any knowledgeable recording engineer would maintain that the signal quality of a multi-track cassette recorder is superior to 44.1 digital.

I would also add that the best way to rise above the other 100,000,000 home recordists is to develop a really great ear, develop and nurture your creativity and talent, try new things, and spend long, hard hours getting experience. In the end, the equipment you use will be of little matter.

[This message has been edited by TrumanCoyote (edited 09-23-2006).]

I have a Tascam porta 02 I ve been using for 4 or 5 years. I got the live5 recording software with my M-AUDIO interface. I figure its time to learn to use the digital recording software. Its a little...well, maybe alot more complicated but with time i'll work it out.

BINGO! can't be any more DEAD on!
This is at least the 4th cigar I owe to Truman!

Sub

But it might sound better or Euphonicly more interesting.

I mostly produce records for other people but I am working on my own album right now. Lots of it was tracked in a multi-million dollar studio, but I have a track that was recorded on 4 track cassette that might make the album. The preformance is good and the sound it cool.



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Ronan Chris Murphy
Home Recording Boot Camp www.homerecordingbootcamp.com
www.venetowest.com

You guys r giving me a lot of info and perspectives here. I believe I'm gonna try the 4-track cassette to see if I can get the sound I want, and if not, I'll try out a digital. I may have access to a reel-to-reel but it's not a 2" and really, the 4-track is enuf to deal with. I realize the 8-track (or more) digital would prob be even easier to use, but I want that silly sound, I think it'll work for what I'm trying to do for this 1st CD. I looked up the Home Recording Boot Camp but it's not 'till Dec. so we'll see how things come out. I could be back here in a month as a digital convert... I have to say over the past few weeks I've really gone back and forth between "forget it, I'm gonna get the digital player" and... "I really want to use tape". And I will admit part of wanting to use tape is to say..." recorded solely on a 4-track cassette tape" and part of it is wanting to be able to touch and see what my music is on - if that doesn't sound too weird. Like digging your own garden.

Anna, I follow what youre saying. Im not making a choice one way or the other yet. Im going to experiment and keep reading the advice given here.

You can get a better shave with a straight razor than any other way. But how many of you shave with a straight razor. Analog recording today is like shaving with a staight razor.

I would take a a Studer 2 inch tape 24 track reel to reel over any digital thing this world will ever make!

That aside, & sticking to the subject- never choose a cassette porta studio over a digital porta studio. If you use a cassette porta you will have to buy many other things to use it to do anythng cool with it at all...

This means you have to buy a seperate compressor a seperate multi effects unit.. a seperate cassette deck to mix down to stereo. Attention - Are you adding this up? And the portas are priced the SAME...

I have submitted music to (majors) that was recorderd on a cassette 4 track porta studio. You need all that [naughty word removed] and a submixer - if you wanna use more than 2 MICS at once..

Don't forget you can only bus 2 tracks at a time remember? YOU can ONLY USE TWO MICS
Track 1 left -Track 2 right -Track 3 left -Track 4 right...

HELLO! If the recording of your songs means very little to you, use your 2 track regular tape deck and stick a microphone into it ...

hmmm! I don't remember my porta studio having phantom power so make sure you use a 57 -or 58 or what the heck a radio shack mic..

Cause now you can't use a condeser microphone!

This can not be debated game over..

peace
Sub




[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 09-30-2006).]

*laff* Sub you are so passionate!

Hmmmm... I COULD just sing and play into the cassette mic on the regular ol' cassette player - but then I get that hissing noise of the tape goin' round and round (yes, I've tried this!!!) heheh.

Home recording is to save the cost of studio recording and allowing the most flexibility for continuous experimentation to get exactly what I want even if what I want changes from take to take - or in the middle of the take, even.

Cost of digital recorder vs. analog recorder - not really an issue, I'm not giving the analog a whirl becasue the digital recorders are 50 bucks more or anything.

I'm verrrry simple. One guitar. Vocal. Harmony. Percussion of some type (could be cow bell, could be hand clapping, could be tamborine) I've added this up to... hmmmm... only 4 trax!

Or I could do vox & harmoniez and then mix down onto one track then do two more and mix onto one track then.... isn't that what the crazy analog cassette users do? I'm not even that motivated though - nice and simple for me! Raw, real.

I use the Shure Beta 87A - needs phantom power - I just plug it thru a mixer, and problem solved - for that matter I can plug my guitar thru the mixer also if I want - although

I know yr gonna love this

For almost every song, I like to record the guitar and vocal at the saaaame time - and I like to mic the guitar, not run it in directly.

I have thought about putting some bass on maybe a song or twwwwoooo.

This is where my experimenting comes in - but it's only a few songs werhe I may have some overlapping vocals or lots of percussion stuff and hand clapping, etc., noises, maybe bass, extra harmonies, etc. These I will play with last I think, after I get the more simpler one's down.

I put very little reverb on the vocal, and I play and sing it correctly or I do it over, I absolutely will not take parts of one take or parts of another and stick them together or do it in pieces in any way. It's a true performance or it's scrapped and I do it over.

This is prob why I have no cd.

My friend has a thing that takes the tape and plays it up onto a cd track and then... well I guess I have to do the thing that levels the sound so it's ok for broadcasting, etc. and whatever else u do to send it off to diskmakers to do.

Or diskmakers has that 'sweetening' thing where they fix the levels - but then my work is in the hands of another.

I really was hoping to find some enthusiasts on here that USE the analog cassette recorders and would spill forth some of their favorite things that they do with this process, or how they get it from taped trax up to a cd & mp3's - I guess I have to hunt them down in other places on the internet. But it was worth a try on here.

If it comes out at ALL I'm totally gonna throw it up and say''' THIS IS WHAT I WAS WORKING FOR I LOVE IT IT'S PERFECT!!!

But no guarantees u'll hear it and think the same...

Still, I'm gonna give that a try too

Or I'll be back sayin'... um... Sub.... what digital recorder do u recommend for the beginner

and u can laugh and laugh

and I will dig right into the digital stuff and figure out what I need to do to get what I'm looking for. And if I don't find it THERE... well, dammit. I'll worry about that later - like next months rent

Anna
-----
http://www.withouttheblonde.com
http://www.myspace.com/annatutor

Seriously...this is a problem. Certainly, you can do this, but on a cassette rig, each "bounce" will sound worse and be more noisy and lose high end--big time. Bouncing on a digital machine stays clean all the way.

The digital rig will give you room to grow--and I promise you--you will want to grow and expand after you've gotten comfortable with the process. The cassette is pretty much a dead end. You have made it clear that you want the capability to be experimental. Go digital. Then you can be as simple as you want, but you can push the boundaries when you are ready.

Yes Anna everything Truman said is true..

Also your thinking of doing all this on cassette then sending something off to $ Discmakers? $ That doesn't make alot of sense to me.

As far as running around looking for info on the cassette recorder.. you won't have to look to far.. Like i said I wore my two OUT! I used that thing! So Ask away!

I'll tell you what- I'll post something on this thread soon that i recorderd completely on 4 track cassette so you get an idea of where I'm coming from.

Like I said i loved those machines and have nothing bad to say about them.. if there wasn't a WAY better option now I wouldn't say 2 words.. You noticed I didn't even mention computer digital recording...

Yes I am very passionate especially when it comes to helping..

Peace
Sub

[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 10-01-2006).]

Truman thx for yr comments again

Hmmm Sub - u mention the computer recording. I thought that the same as the digital track recorders - I mean, I know one u do on your computer the other is a stand-alone unit but u find those to be different? I can't tell ya how much I dislike the computer recording where they can just grab yr sound 'line' and move it around and maniuplate everything. I mean, for some types of music esp. Electronica, etc. - it's amazing it's awesome it opened everything up for people but for my type of music it just dos not fit at all. I think of the digital portastudios as the same type of sound even though u can't do the same manipulation.


Well anyway - thank u for all the info.

For the cassette -

What do u think of miking the guitar instead of plugging it in directly???

What do u think of NOT using a click track?

I'm gonna get started tomorrow my friends came over today and hooked up their stuff (woo hoo borrowed is best no long-term contract there)!

I don't 'ping' the tracks - trying to use the tape as little as possible (very few plays ont he tape)

I got the 'run it hot' tip - so I'm going to try that on the tape.

Well I guess I don't have specifics until I actually try this out with this new machine but I'll be back!

Terry & Doug - thank u guys for sharing and for your encouragement! & Ronan thx for the record it hot tip - I just may try that home recording bootcamp in December.

Ray - believe it or not it's not just for writing I'm actually making an acoustic CD.

AcousticWriter - let me know how things are going for you when u start trying it all out!

[This message has been edited by Anna/Without the Blonde (edited 10-01-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Anna/Without the Blonde (edited 10-01-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Anna/Without the Blonde (edited 10-01-2006).]

Anna, I can say that I pretty much agree with the thought that a 4 track digital would be better in some ways, many actually. With that in mind, and, I think, understanding where you're coming from, go ahead and run with the cassette rig for awhile, particularly since you now have access to a unit without an monetary outlay. If you were to need to make the purchase of a new unit I would certainly agree whole-hearedly with Substudio but not where you are now.
As I mentioned before, I use a cassette recorder for lots of work. That's because it is a very good unit and I have it, not because it's the best thing to use. It also did not cost me anything. I too like the recordings done on tape and it's my feeling that, even with the slow cassette speed, tape just sounds better than any digital unless the digital has been tweaked.
Stay the course and see how you like it. If it works and you like it you can then make the decision as to spending the money. If you are then absolutely stuck on tape I'd look into a reel to reel machine, even 1/4 would suffice for 4 tracks. Again the looming and riding cost of tape has to be taken into consideration.
Lot of stuff to think about for you, and to try. Then make the decision.

As to the guitar, mic it, don't plug direct.

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Miltenberger Homes

"That ol' dog's so mean, he ain't done nothin' but eat nails and [naughty word removed] nickels ever since he was born"

Hi Anna,

Well the main reason about the computer is the situation we are talking about and going by YOUR needs.
You wanna use cassette- going to a computer is as FAR away from analog and a cassette as you can go. The simple factor is now out the window.

I understand what you mean about the manipulating but honestly having some of that ability is cool for ANY kinda music recording.

Also the analog cassette doesn't sound better than the computer or the digital porta studios, ever or at all.. besides the fact that you will have 8 tracks with the digi porta..
That was the whole point of I why i mentioned the digi porat studio to you..

Okay - Mic the guitar! - but you mentioned you have a mixer going to your porta studio deck.. so mic it and take a line out. Blending the 2 gets very cool results.
You can send them to 1 track but you gotta get your blend first.. Or send them to 2 tracks and bounce them together for a good blend. It is OKAY to bounce tracks..

I use click tracks 95% of the time.. Timing is very important. BUT! if someone is not used to it or it is getting the way of the sessions progress and killing the vibe.. LOSE IT.. It all depends on the situation. What i like to do is put on the click track I'll play to it dead on.. then i can take it away and the others can play to me.. I'll kinda become the click track guide.. But the drummer would still prefer to hear that click thank goodness..

oh but you may not be able to afford the click track.. that will only leave you with 3 tracks... for most of the session.

Also are you gonna be playing live together that makes all the difference then to.
I usually have to have players come in seperatlyey so the click is morre important. If we all got to play live then it wouldn't be quite as essential.

Do what ever feels BEST!

Listen have a GREAT time & enjoy.. don't forget to play us some music here or over on the mp3 boards.

Good Luck
peace
Sub



[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 10-02-2006).]

MIC THE GUITAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you play with out a click and it sounds and feels good, then work with no click. Tons of records are done with no click, especially classic ones. The only time this might be an issue if you want to overdub percussion later.

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Ronan Chris Murphy
Home Recording Boot Camp www.homerecordingbootcamp.com
www.venetowest.com

Bumping some useful older posts