I Want One! (Check Out Video)

[Tunesmith]

Still have my 4 track 10" reel to reel Teac 3340S

Wow! I started on a 3340S. The band's drummer also bought one, so we stereo bounced between the two. But when I got my Soundcraft 1-S board, THAT'S when things started sounding almost pro quality! I still own and use that daily. You can't beat the mic preamps in it; plus, it's a +4 (professional) level mixer... My Tascam 38 1/2" eight-track is history, but I refurbished my Tascam 22-2 mastering deck. Sounds fantastic! Those analog decks loved to be hit really hard with the input. People can't believe I never used noise reduction like Dolby with it, because there was ZERO tape hiss. That's what you get when you record analog WAY into the red (up to a point, of course!).

Ern

Way cool about you and your drummer!..I think Tom Scholz used to sync 2 3340's together using a coat hanger..can't remember the exact scenario but it inspired him to make the Rockman..well that is what I heard anyway! Could be a rumour!

And yes..no noise reduction!!

I'm having the 4 track tuned up. I can't wait to put on those reels and listen to the music from 30+ years ago I recorded on it in the raw.

Best,
Linda C

[mojobone]

I love me some tape gear, but I'm pretty much over the 'analog' thing; I worked out how to make it happen in the box, and mostly it's simple, judicious use of just a few flavors of saturation that does the trick. Trying to find decent tape these days is a fool's errand, and if you don't know how to calibrate and align your MCI or Studer or Revox, Ampex, what have you, you are way better off with the UAD plugin(s), and that might be just as true if you do know how, cuz NOS headstacks are getting hard to find. The interesting thing I found whilst listening to a very great deal of ahem, vintage music on modern high-res monitors is just how distorted the bass was on track that read as 'clean' over AM radio. I bet if you listen to John Entwistle's tracks in isolation, you'd get a rude surprise.

Mojo, did you watch the video? The owner talks about every issue you bring up, and has thought them all through. He even has a tape supplier.

As far as "distorted bass," there's nothing wrong with that! Listen to James Jamerson's isolated bass tracks on YouTube. They're dirtier than the L.A. River! That's why Jamerson's tracks stand out so much in the mix... And Entwistle's tracks are perfect for that style of music. He INTENDED his bass to sound dirty, and that's all tube amp distortion. I think of The Who as a lead bass player and a rhythm guitar player (plus wild drums). There would have been no Chris Squire (or Geddy Lee) without John Entwistle showing them the way... Squire had a much cleaner sound with adding that high end, but listen to Geddy's isolated tracks sometime. EXTREMELY dirty! It's just a power trio thang, I guess.

Ern

I actually did not watch the video, I've been studying how records are made since I was a little kid. Possibly Chris Mara said some similar things in his TapeOp interview. As hard as it is to find tape recorders in decent condition, finding a cutting lathe is even harder, which is one reason why I don't buy new music on vinyl.