This brings me back to the golden days of recording where it required talent! Loved it, thanks. Cool song by the way. It reminded me of like a classic video game soundtrack.
Thank you Robert! I love this work flow. It keeps you in the moment and on your toes! I find I listen very differently when tracking like this too and I'm looking forward to seeing how that affects my regular session work. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Me too! As long as the hiss isn't too bad it doesn't bother me at all. I just love the overall vibe and it's fun working this way. It forces you to make choices! Lol. Thanks for watching!
@@Ultimatestudiosincimo hiss is great if not in the entire mix. Like if I record a lush synth onto an old 50’s tube r2r for example, it comes out very destroyed with lots of hiss.... if I revolve cleaner sounds around it, it can make some amazing vibes and warm distortion etc and the hiss brings a cool feel... especially in a drum break like in trip hop or drum and bass.... brings a flavor like vinyl sometimes. But also agree with you that if it is too much in the whole mix you end up “fighting” to hear the good stuff! Cheers!
Thanks Wade! I actually had no idea what I was going to play when I started. Lol! Just wanted to do something rockin' and see what we could come up with.
I actually really enjoy the workflow of tracking to tape. When you take the visual of the computer monitor away the entire experience changes. I thought about getting a B16 but I'm considering a Tascam MS-16. The control room is going to get crowded really fast! Thanks for watching!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc I have my eye on one of those MARA machines :) The sound of tape is much more pleasing to the ears, I pulled up some old 4 trk drums done on a fostex 280 back in the 90's and even though I am an exprienced roducer now I was reminded of the sound of tape on drums.
Awesome video! I have three different 8 track reel to reels and absolutely love tracking to them. Favorite part of engineering for me. I like how we get to see the whole process. I was thinking of doing similar videos with the Otari Mx5050 8, as well as the legendary Teac 80-8. I want to do a step by step tutorial video for people who want to learn. Love your videos guys! Great song and great tape sound! Happy Tape Recording! Cheers
Thank you!! I am actually considering an Otari MX5050 8 next year. Though a Tascam MS-16 is on the top of my list. It is so much fun tracking to tape! Looking forward to seeing your video!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc ah yes I would recommend the mkiii-8. You can still get parts and new heads from Otari themselves as well as being pretty straightforward to align and set up. I recently had mine serviced to get balanced transformers installed on the i/o and it sounds amazing. I also found out Fostex made a special but rare synchronization box to sync to other machines. The MS-16 is also on the top of my list! I had the pleasure to try one out and immediately fell in love. I bought a Tascam 48 OB as well and that one also is fun and sounds amazing but there is just something about the Teac 80 that sings to my heart strings lol same with thr Otari. I would love to get a Fostex 8 track though because of the smaller width/format. I love lo-fi saturation and the Tascam 388 is super expensive these days so a Fostex is the next best thing imho. Keep at it and I also look forward to your future videos
man this just sounds so warm, when you did the processing with those hardware fx it really brought it up a level. i wish i could track to tape but i dont know where to start i dont have a huge board like this. do you think its possible to record in a DAW, then bounce tracks through tape and back into the daw? would that give any more warmth or rounded-ness? would it make the mix 'better' if im going for colouration? do you guys do that sort of thing if i send you wav files?
That is something I am thinking about doing. I will let you know if that happens. Printing tracks recorded in a DAW to tape and back can definitely warm them up! And while having the big console is nice it is not necessarily needed to do any type of tape recording. It all depends on how many mics you want to record with. Thank you for watching!
It's a version of the Zvex Nano Head. I borrowed it from a friend just for this session. He's had it a while. They have a blue one now but I'm not sure if it is exactly the same or not.
@@Ultimatestudiosinc Oh, thats cool. I never heard of them until now. Appreciate the info! I guess the Nano Head isn't just your everyday OD/Dist pedal but, I think you would like the Bogner Harlow Pedal. Maybe you've tried it? I just thought of it because of the transformer, but yeah, def one of my favourites. One of my favourite ways to use it is fairly conservatively with another OD. (Especially for Gtr Leads/Solos)!! P;)
Hey so im tracking my band to this machine. How do I do overdubs as there are only 8 channels? Can I bounce say drums to the computer and then record guitar over some of the tom mics or something, then bounce just guitars to the computer? Will it line up in time? As I know that the tape machine has time flux.
If you want to sync to your you can stripe SMPTE on one channel of the tape and slave the computer. If you want to stay mainly on the R8 you'll have to make some decisions and commit. You can bounce things back and forth from the computer but you'll always have to work from tape or the tracks will drift. If you record 8 tracks of drums you could print those is your DAW, mix them and then bounce back to 2 tracks on the R8 and then start overdubbing on the other 6 channels. If you're comfortable with committing you could submix while tracking. That's what we did in this episode and what I do most of the time. On a big setup I'll submix to 4 channels of drums (1: kick, 2: snare, 3/4: everything else) and then use the other 4 tracks for other instruments. Sometimes we'll submix at the point again and print a full rhythm bed stem back to tape and then 6 tracks open up again. There is more than one way to go about it depending on how many tracks you need but if you want to stay on tape you'll have to commit a lot. I recommend doing a little experimenting before you actually start to record. That way you can find a workflow that you're comfortable with.
When you record the drums, are you pushing the levels or keeping them tame? My drums come out gritty and I cant tell if the signal is too low or not high enough
@andriealinsangao613 Yes indeed! I found out that 8th track of my reel to reel was just broken, because the other tracks recorded drums without a problem.
It's a Zvek nano head I think. I borrowed it from a friend for this session and he's had it for a long time. They still make a variation of it but I don't know if it's exactly the same or not.
Something about the analogue systems, in theory they are not up to digital standards, in reality it has a certain mojo that digital lacks. May be it's our ear conditioning, I prefer the antiquated technology sound. Yes to Old School. No auto tune, no edits (well you can if you like chopping tape, but needs good ears)best tracked live. Check out an Australian band "The Tesky Brothers Live to 8 track, great modern soul music, conveys all the passion. Tape, an oldie but a goodie, the Fostex is at a prosumer level, try an old Scully, or a beautiful Studer, even what the journalists use to use a Nagara, they have to be maintained, service, aligned, de-maged, cleaned, etc, but worth the effort, and you do feel like an engineer (Euphemism) tinkering with them. Biasing alone is an exploration in sonics and fun. Vinyls back, so why not tape?
I don't think it matters if analogue systems are technically up to digital standard or not. It's all about sound, emotion, energy, workflow. I spent the first part of music career only recording to tape as that was how it was done. I personally love that workflow for many reasons and not just the sound. As for the Fostex being "prosumer"...who cares. It's a paint brush to be creative with. I know a lot of people recording to tape again which I think is cool and it sounds like you do too. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. I'll check out the Tesky Brothers too!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc My Tascam38 still functions fine even though not fully balanced but my love is the 2 track Otari MX5050, had an eight track version once, wish I kept it. Did some recording at a festival on the weekend to a ZOOM thingie, sounds good but no girth. Thanks for your reply and most importantly YOUR CHANEL, I Dig It! (Old hippie term) Fully Sick (Modern Aussie Slang) or M Jackson would say "BAD" Cheers!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc doing good, snd getting back into playing and recording with some former band guys every Saturday! Back to buying more gear I don’t really need too, but what the hell… ride the wave
Sounds awful on my phone speaker you guys need to move with the times no wonder you only have 5K views in 1 year sell all that cheap equipment and find another hobby and don't give up your day job. I just explained the value of music 🤣
Lol!! You're funny. I've made my living doing music for over 20 years and I've never been busier. You're welcome to your opinion but that is all it is, an opinion. Happy recording!
It’s amazing how good the R8 sounds when it’s fed audio from £100,000 worth of analogue outboard and desk! 😆
This brings me back to the golden days of recording where it required talent! Loved it, thanks. Cool song by the way. It reminded me of like a classic video game soundtrack.
Thank you Robert! I love this work flow. It keeps you in the moment and on your toes! I find I listen very differently when tracking like this too and I'm looking forward to seeing how that affects my regular session work. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I love tape! You can't beat the sound even with some hiss I think. Awesome sounding song guys!
Me too! As long as the hiss isn't too bad it doesn't bother me at all. I just love the overall vibe and it's fun working this way. It forces you to make choices! Lol. Thanks for watching!
@@Ultimatestudiosincimo hiss is great if not in the entire mix. Like if I record a lush synth onto an old 50’s tube r2r for example, it comes out very destroyed with lots of hiss.... if I revolve cleaner sounds around it, it can make some amazing vibes and warm distortion etc and the hiss brings a cool feel... especially in a drum break like in trip hop or drum and bass.... brings a flavor like vinyl sometimes. But also agree with you that if it is too much in the whole mix you end up “fighting” to hear the good stuff!
Cheers!
The toms sound AWESOME!
Thank you! Those big Ludwig toms always sound great and are fun to play!
That sounds awesome. Cool drum parts Charlie. Ernesto is killing it as always.
Thanks Wade! I actually had no idea what I was going to play when I started. Lol! Just wanted to do something rockin' and see what we could come up with.
This is so good to see, love the tracking to tape, Its been almost 25 years since I have sude my fostex B16.
I actually really enjoy the workflow of tracking to tape. When you take the visual of the computer monitor away the entire experience changes. I thought about getting a B16 but I'm considering a Tascam MS-16. The control room is going to get crowded really fast! Thanks for watching!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc I have my eye on one of those MARA machines :) The sound of tape is much more pleasing to the ears, I pulled up some old 4 trk drums done on a fostex 280 back in the 90's and even though I am an exprienced roducer now I was reminded of the sound of tape on drums.
That was a lot of fun. For everyone 😃
Thank you!
Love it!!!!!
Thanks Josh!
Love it !
Thank you!
Sounds Totally Awesome Guys EVH To the Rescue👌
Thank you! I was surprised when Ernesto went right for the EVH on the bass but damn it worked well!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc Indeed Bro You Guys Work Well Together
Awesome video! I have three different 8 track reel to reels and absolutely love tracking to them. Favorite part of engineering for me. I like how we get to see the whole process. I was thinking of doing similar videos with the Otari Mx5050 8, as well as the legendary Teac 80-8. I want to do a step by step tutorial video for people who want to learn. Love your videos guys! Great song and great tape sound! Happy Tape Recording! Cheers
Thank you!! I am actually considering an Otari MX5050 8 next year. Though a Tascam MS-16 is on the top of my list. It is so much fun tracking to tape! Looking forward to seeing your video!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc ah yes I would recommend the mkiii-8. You can still get parts and new heads from Otari themselves as well as being pretty straightforward to align and set up. I recently had mine serviced to get balanced transformers installed on the i/o and it sounds amazing. I also found out Fostex made a special but rare synchronization box to sync to other machines. The MS-16 is also on the top of my list! I had the pleasure to try one out and immediately fell in love. I bought a Tascam 48 OB as well and that one also is fun and sounds amazing but there is just something about the Teac 80 that sings to my heart strings lol same with thr Otari. I would love to get a Fostex 8 track though because of the smaller width/format. I love lo-fi saturation and the Tascam 388 is super expensive these days so a Fostex is the next best thing imho. Keep at it and I also look forward to your future videos
Yes please, I'm considering getting a Model 80 for dirt cheap and would love a step by step tutorial!
SWEEEEEEETTTTT !!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!
Very Intresting! Thanks
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!
Niiiiiiice!!🤖🛸
Thank you!
Well done listening to what’s coming from the recorder..
Wow!!!
man this just sounds so warm, when you did the processing with those hardware fx it really brought it up a level. i wish i could track to tape but i dont know where to start i dont have a huge board like this. do you think its possible to record in a DAW, then bounce tracks through tape and back into the daw? would that give any more warmth or rounded-ness? would it make the mix 'better' if im going for colouration? do you guys do that sort of thing if i send you wav files?
That is something I am thinking about doing. I will let you know if that happens. Printing tracks recorded in a DAW to tape and back can definitely warm them up! And while having the big console is nice it is not necessarily needed to do any type of tape recording. It all depends on how many mics you want to record with. Thank you for watching!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc let me know, thanks!
I have a R8 and the noise floor is horrendous. How are you able to deal with that? Was it recording levels a little hot?
What is that Pedal with the Txfrm and mini tubes? Total one off custom job or?
It's a version of the Zvex Nano Head. I borrowed it from a friend just for this session. He's had it a while. They have a blue one now but I'm not sure if it is exactly the same or not.
@@Ultimatestudiosinc Oh, thats cool. I never heard of them until now. Appreciate the info! I guess the Nano Head isn't just your everyday OD/Dist pedal but, I think you would like the Bogner Harlow Pedal. Maybe you've tried it? I just thought of it because of the transformer, but yeah, def one of my favourites. One of my favourite ways to use it is fairly conservatively with another OD. (Especially for Gtr Leads/Solos)!! P;)
What’s the red tube pedal?
Hey so im tracking my band to this machine. How do I do overdubs as there are only 8 channels? Can I bounce say drums to the computer and then record guitar over some of the tom mics or something, then bounce just guitars to the computer? Will it line up in time? As I know that the tape machine has time flux.
If you want to sync to your you can stripe SMPTE on one channel of the tape and slave the computer. If you want to stay mainly on the R8 you'll have to make some decisions and commit. You can bounce things back and forth from the computer but you'll always have to work from tape or the tracks will drift. If you record 8 tracks of drums you could print those is your DAW, mix them and then bounce back to 2 tracks on the R8 and then start overdubbing on the other 6 channels. If you're comfortable with committing you could submix while tracking. That's what we did in this episode and what I do most of the time. On a big setup I'll submix to 4 channels of drums (1: kick, 2: snare, 3/4: everything else) and then use the other 4 tracks for other instruments. Sometimes we'll submix at the point again and print a full rhythm bed stem back to tape and then 6 tracks open up again.
There is more than one way to go about it depending on how many tracks you need but if you want to stay on tape you'll have to commit a lot. I recommend doing a little experimenting before you actually start to record. That way you can find a workflow that you're comfortable with.
When you record the drums, are you pushing the levels or keeping them tame? My drums come out gritty and I cant tell if the signal is too low or not high enough
Are you also recording the drums to tape?
@andriealinsangao613 Yes indeed! I found out that 8th track of my reel to reel was just broken, because the other tracks recorded drums without a problem.
@@afarfryproductions822 Ah sh*t, that sucks!
Wrong tape, should be quantex 457, it’s thinner and what the deck was designed for.
What guitar amp is that?
I want one!
It's a Zvek nano head I think. I borrowed it from a friend for this session and he's had it for a long time. They still make a variation of it but I don't know if it's exactly the same or not.
@@Ultimatestudiosinc super cool. Thank you
Something about the analogue systems, in theory they are not up to digital standards, in reality it has a certain mojo that digital lacks. May be it's our ear conditioning, I prefer the antiquated technology sound. Yes to Old School. No auto tune, no edits (well you can if you like chopping tape, but needs good ears)best tracked live. Check out an Australian band "The Tesky Brothers Live to 8 track, great modern soul music, conveys all the passion. Tape, an oldie but a goodie, the Fostex is at a prosumer level, try an old Scully, or a beautiful Studer, even what the journalists use to use a Nagara, they have to be maintained, service, aligned, de-maged, cleaned, etc, but worth the effort, and you do feel like an engineer (Euphemism) tinkering with them. Biasing alone is an exploration in sonics and fun. Vinyls back, so why not tape?
I don't think it matters if analogue systems are technically up to digital standard or not. It's all about sound, emotion, energy, workflow. I spent the first part of music career only recording to tape as that was how it was done. I personally love that workflow for many reasons and not just the sound. As for the Fostex being "prosumer"...who cares. It's a paint brush to be creative with. I know a lot of people recording to tape again which I think is cool and it sounds like you do too. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. I'll check out the Tesky Brothers too!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc My Tascam38 still functions fine even though not fully balanced but my love is the 2 track Otari MX5050, had an eight track version once, wish I kept it.
Did some recording at a festival on the weekend to a ZOOM thingie, sounds good but no girth. Thanks for your reply and most importantly YOUR CHANEL, I Dig It! (Old hippie term) Fully Sick (Modern Aussie Slang) or M Jackson would say "BAD" Cheers!
This comment is from 1980- one day we will record completely digital perfect sound, and we will never look back
Lol! So much for perfect eh? Hope you're well Yetti!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc doing good, snd getting back into playing and recording with some former band guys every Saturday! Back to buying more gear I don’t really need too, but what the hell… ride the wave
100k worth of gear and still using sticky 456 lol
Sounds awful on my phone speaker you guys need to move with the times no wonder you only have 5K views in 1 year sell all that cheap equipment and find another hobby and don't give up your day job.
I just explained the value of music 🤣
Lol!! You're funny. I've made my living doing music for over 20 years and I've never been busier. You're welcome to your opinion but that is all it is, an opinion. Happy recording!
@@Ultimatestudiosinc That's great news you should invest in a McDonalds franchise once you have made it