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Author: Analog on August 06 2008 Viewed 1404 times. 15 people liked this blog. You can rate it below if you haven't already.
People who enjoyed reading this: sAMsKi, bla, fora, reehc, proj, Roshi, ejectorset, DrexonField, license, Phreak, p, ModuLR, doofgoblin, mlbot, monty
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I posted on the forum recently to ask for help in repairing a Casette 4-track I'd borrowed off a mate to do some recordings. Unfortunately it looks like a send-back-to-manufacturer job, so that's that.
But I'd got myself really enthused by rediscovering the joy of 4-track recording. So last night i bought this beastie link on ebay, and now i can't wait to get it cranked up.
Here's some of my ideas to make some interesting analogue recordings for Blood Moon:
1. Side chain compression.
I own a Behringer Composer Pro 2 channel compressor which has side chain inputs that I've never used to its full potential. I'm planning on compressing the rest of the drumkit (recorded on a couple of overhead mics) with the bassdrum. I also have a nasty Tandy stereo 10 band EQ so am going to add Jack sockets to that to use.
2. Mixing down.
All mixing down is going to be done live. Again the compressor can be used for mastering (and the EQ) and i'm excited about adding effects in the mixdown too. I might even record, for example, the bass guitar in direct, then play it back through the amp (LOUD) during mixdown and use the zoom h4's mics to pick it up.; mix the amp-room-reverb as an efrect, mix it in with the clean signal. Or put some stuff through delays, phasers, tube distortion,. whatever to mix in.
3. Mic-ing techniques
I read somewhere recently that you can use a sub speaker as a mic in the bass drum. I really want to try this out. Also I have an acoustic guitar with a mic inside; i might try jamming that up against the guitar stack and recording that as an input. I also really like the mics on the zoom H4 so they will get used quite a lot.
Above all i want to get a thick, interesting, lo-fi sound from our loud drums, LOUD bass, and nasty cutting guitars. I'm so freaking excitied about analogue recording!
So what are your top tips for analogue 4-track recording?
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08/06/08
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sAMsKi
yay! i recently bought on of these : link
i am really enjoying it so far. sorry...no tips. x
08/06/08
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tmns
that's a damn good price for a 424 mkII. I used to have one, the sweepable mid eq is well good!
08/06/08
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fora
Congrats!.. I thought about revisiting Multitrackers..
Here are some pointers :
1 . Use Hi-Bias or Chrome Tapes
2 . Shorter Lengths yields longer durability, longer tapes (through experience) can get tangled easily and can break quicker.
3 . I think your Tascam comes with variable speed, faster the tape speed, higher the recording quality. (unless you want that ariel pink sound then ignore this!)
4 . Keep the amp low and boost the trim on the multitracker to peak around +3 without distorting the sound, this will give you a good signal presence whilst slightly compressing your recording.
Hope these pointers are of any use.
Enjoy!
08/06/08
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proj
This sounds really cool. Makes me want to pick up a 4-track 
08/06/08
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packetst0rm
Is there any portable cheap ones you might be able to use for field recording?
08/06/08
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Analog
Zoom h4! it has a 4track function!
If you mean tape, i'm sure there must be some battery powered ones out there...
08/06/08
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sweettrip
fora said: "
1 . Use Hi-Bias or Chrome Tapes"
or use standard tapes for a grittier recording.
saturate saturate saturate! from what i remember, when saturating, keep an eye on the EQ's bass knob adjust as needed for a more controlled saturation.
i have one of those Tascam. it's a great machine. i will use it to mix down a few things to tape and then back to digital just for coloring...
08/06/08
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ejectorset
i recently got a 424 mk II for a steal on ebay. i love it. i love tape. i just had to say that. i  tape!!!
08/06/08
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DrexonField
Very cool! I did a write up on my old 424 here: link
Many years of fun music making with that machine.
08/06/08
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bla
one day ill get my reel to reel 8 track going
one day.....
08/06/08
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license
word, I'm supposed to get reunited with my 424 this weekend. looking forward to it. I too tape.
08/06/08
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Phreak
if you noticed nothing they wrote makes much sense or matters to you. its because these retards just need to post something to satisfy their tiny brains
08/06/08
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p
Phreak said: "if you noticed nothing they wrote makes much sense or matters to you. its because these retards just need to post something to satisfy their tiny brains"
as opposed to your very constructive and informed reply ?
I've been recording to tape alot lately (mainly environmental sounds. I have a nice collection of tape recorders, dictaphones, a four track and a reel to reel (a consumer sony model that with the supplied 20 year old tapes can be very warbly). saturation is worth the added noise...hell the added noise is worth the added noise.
08/06/08
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ModuLR
A longing for methods of yesteryear struck me too. Anyway, congrats on stepping into the past. In the last year I've been abusing my 4-tracks, and I can honestly say I love cassettes. The hiss, the way it just glues everything together, how it removes the harshness/softens the sound is very appealing to my ear. Anyway, I'm getting off track, so here's a tip...
Try outputing your mix (or whatever buss track you want to process) from the laptop back into the 4-track. Yeah, another round of hiss, but I dig it.. hehe. Anyway, run the stereo mix to ch1+2 following fora's advice on levels while simultaneously running a hotter mix to ch3+4 (like +6 to +8). The hotter, the more distortion, saturation, etc. Now on playback, dial up 1+2, and add just a touch of 3+4. It's the same concept as parallel compression, reinforcing the sound but not messing with the transients... except you are using the 4-track as the compressor... sorta, or at least that's my theory. ha!
I'd <3 to hear what you create!
08/07/08
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doofgoblin
So what are your top tips for analogue 4-track recording?
I was always a fan of overdubbing vocals with the tape speed turned down (or up), and then returning the speed to normal for playback.
I know that machine you got there - in college, my roomate rocked one of those. it's great.
I always had this guy: link I loved it. It needs repairing now though. great sound and smokey yellow VU meters I see there's one on ebay for $30!
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