Anyone Run their Mixes Through Reel-to-Reel Machine?

[al]

Hi,

 

I'm wondering if anyone here runs their stereo mixes though a reel-to-reel and then back into logic?

 

I've heard of people doing this as the final step for their mixes to, I presume, add some sort of 'analog' flavour to it.

 

I have a functioning 1/4-inch reel-to-reel machine and just haven't gotten around to trying it yet.

 

Later,

[dubstock]

Ive done it a few times. I actually have great resaults when Im doing mixes with an accoustic feel ir with an accoustic guitar as the central instrument

[al]

Hi dubstock,

 

Nice to hear you've tried that with great results. I will definitely try it some time. It's a shame to have a rugged old tape machine and lots of new tape, sitting there gathering dust.

 

I also want to use it to do some real tape-echo. In my old studio set-up, I'd patch it through the board and get some really cool delay going. Can't quite remember how I did it, but it was spacey!

 

Now, if I can just get the old spring reverb in my board working again, I'll be ready for authentic dub reggae!

 

Later,

[marcel72]

What kind of deck do you have?

 

I know a lot of guys that do this (I'll do it when I work in a place where a good deck is available), but on high quality 1/2" machines. The benefits of printing to tape can be outweighed by the negative effects of a cheap or poorly set up deck...

 

Unless you're looking for this as a lo-fi sort of 'effect', in which case you may also consider bouncing individual tracks 'through' tape rather than the whole mix...

[al]

It's an Astrocom. Can't remember the model number as I'm at work right now. I would guess it's from the 70s. It runs at 3.75 ips and 7.5 ips. Got it for $20 at Goodwill and paid about $20 to get it fixed. Got several reels of 'sealed' ampex tape for $1 each at Active Surplus.

 

Yeah, that's an idea, to process some individual tracks. I'll bear that in mind.

 

I also have a Teac 80-08, 1/2 inch machine. It isn't working right now. It suddenly stopped recording, but would play fine and then the connector between the built-in DBX unit and the deck got crushed in the process of moving it.

 

Maybe some day I'll get it repaired, if time/money permits and I can somehow get more space in my basement "man-cave".

 

Bye for now,

[cymbaline]

If I still had all my old analog gear Id totally do it. Im putting together a rather nice studio right now, and was tihnking of getting a Nagra just for that!

[al]

Yes, I'll hold onto my tape machines. I've gotten rid of guitars and gear in the past. And, in some cases, it was a mistake. I try to be more careful about that now.

 

By-the-way, marcel72 had asked about the tape deck. I got more info from the back-panel. It says Astrocom | Marlux Inc., Model 407, Oneota (sp?), N.Y.

 

-allan