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Mastering..Analog /Digital

  • 20-04-2009 11:59am
    #1
    johnnylakes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 164 ✭✭


    Is there a difference???? Do you have a preference?? If so. why?


Comments

  • #2
    studiorat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭studiorat


    Yes there's a difference. I prefer 1/2" when I get a decent machine that I trust, but you won't get an artist to pay for the tape. Problem is now that the machines are so seldom seen you can't be sure the machine you record on will be set up the same as the machine it's played back for mastering on.

    Reason? Tape saturation/hysteresis curve. It the way tape gently rounds off at the top of it's dynamic range with compression rather than just going to sh1te on the peaks.

    see here


  • #3
    johnnylakes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 164 ✭✭johnnylakes


    Thanks for the reply!
    Pretty much what I figured. Expensive the ould 1/2 ". Similar to the recording side (analog/digitsl debate). Tis good to hear it from those in the know...

    thanks


  • #4
    madtheory
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,892 ✭✭✭madtheory


    Get Cranesong plugins. Just like tape, without the hiss or the flutter, or the maintenance. Actually, the problem with them is they sound so nice it's hard not to have one inserted on every track :)

    It's weird like. When tape was around, it really got in the way- cleaning, checking azimuth, tweaking the bias, etc. in the quest for the best possible sound. I don't ever remember anyone saying how warm it sounded, they just complained about the hiss and the wobbling piano notes. I don't miss it at all.


  • #5
    studiorat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭studiorat


    I have those crane-song plugs. I love them, use them all the time. McDsp also had some nice tape emulations.

    I used to have to line up the machine every morning before the session. And then do the 2 track before mix down. Then maybe do an over-bias tweek just for the slight change in sound. I don't think any of the machines I worked with ever had wow and flutter problems. But they were constantly maintained.

    On another note I worked for a place who moved premises one time. The capstan motor on the tape machine died during the move. Most likely it didt't like being moved around. Anyway, it cost nearly £15,000 to replace and nearly put the place out of business before it even started.


  • #6
    madtheory
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,892 ✭✭✭madtheory


    Analogue definitely wobbles, there's always a small percentage, it's there in the specs of all the classic machines. There was an aftermarket capstan upgrade for the Otaris to bring them more in line with the Studers.

    Check out this solution:
    http://www.plangentprocesses.com/


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