Moog Music Forum

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could help me with this: I am looking for an alternative way of recording moog synthesizer music. I used to use a Grundig tape recorder but as this was no longer usable I have switched to digital recording. This is both cleaner sounding and easier to accomplish, but I feel making music is less fun with it, due to the fact that I always felt inspired musically by the turning reels while playing. I kind of miss this feeling of motion with my new digital equipment... Does anyone else still use reel to reel recorders or is it digital all the way these days? Does anyone have any recommendations on reel to reel recorders that are nearly or just as good as digital sound? I know that tapes are noisier and more clumsy to handle, but for cutting and splicing I use a pc anyway ;o) Just feel that I'd like to maintain the archaic tape feeling while playing...
Thanks fo any feedback
Martin

I still use a reel-to-reel machine (Tascam MSR 16) in my studio and have no intention of changing. Having said that, I also use Logic Pro on my lap top, and like yourself, use this for editing. I will also be using software instuments on my next album, which will effectively be a combination of analogue and digital when it comes to recording.

With regard to tape, I use Quantegy GP9 on my machine, which is almost noise free when used with dbx noise reduction, and has such a high level of headroom, it is almost impossible to record too loud with it! I have recorded with the track meters hitting maximum without even a hint of distortion.

I guess the crux of all this is that there is, definitely, still a place for tape and always will be. Digital certainly stands head-and-shoulders above it when it comes to editing but, for my money, tape sounds better - digital is too clinical for my anologue ears!

Hope this helps.

thanks for the feedback. do you have any recommendations for devices and special techniques for cutting tape? i`d like to experiment with cutting tape and using different speeds, tape directions and stuff like that.
martin

The only device I know of for cutting tape is a bog-standard splicing block. I have never heard of any special techniques for cutting tape, but that's not to say there are none!

With regard to special effects using tape, if your machine has a vari-speed control, this can be quite fun - the dreamlike vocals featured in Strawberry Fields by the Beatles were created this way. Turning the tape over, having recorded on it will obviously create reverse effects. Have you thought of playing around with tape loops? These too, can be interesting.

Generally speaking, if you have a digital set up, I would continue to use this for editing, as it is far easier than cutting tape.

REcord to tape (godd quality stuuf not cheap crap) then transfer imieditly to digital for editing - the most important part inthis process is your AD converters on your sound card