Gettin' "Old Timey"

Stablenet · Post by **Stablenet** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:46 am

I have a small, one room studio that I'm making decent records out of. It's a great workspace. Usually I'm pushing to get the best sound I can out of what I've got, and little by little I'm making improvements, finding sweet spots, etc.

I've had a request to go in the other direction. Not to do something "low-fi" per se, but more "old timey." I don't think they have any desire to copy anyone, but as a reference CD they gave me Bibio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eks4gB9tbE
I read up on this guy and he does it by using old as hell tape that's basically shedding it's oxide as it spools.

Since my studio is small, I don't use tape - all Logic 9.
The only thing I have that uses tape is an old Klemt tape echo. I do have some decent pres, and healthy selection on mics, and buckets of outboard effects, both rack and stomp.
Of course any crazy tricks involving buckets, plastic bags, yoga mats, condoms, scrap pieces of wood, a slightly over ripened tomato, or anything along those lines are always welcome.

I know a lot of like to get "vintage" sounds, but that doesn't usually mean "Alan Lomax."
Any suggestions, tips or tricks would be appreciated.

Thanks, board!

Gregg Juke · Post by **Gregg Juke** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:05 am

If you're going for "Alan Lomax," use a ribbon mike (borrow or rent if necessary), and record in mono. Try to get a little natural distortion.
Try EQing more towards that "telephone" sound.

GJ

SafeandSoundMastering · Post by **SafeandSoundMastering** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:13 am

Eq + early reflections are going to be instrumental in shaping the sound in lieu of the right mic and acoustic.

Good luck in the retro cause, there seems to be a trend developing here.

A.David.MacKinnon · Post by **A.David.MacKinnon** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:06 am

If you want to go really old-timey use a carbon mic or roll off tons of highs and lows. Anything recorded before the late 40's (when tape was introduced) had a very limited bandwidth.

Dominick Costanzo · Post by **Dominick Costanzo** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:46 am

One microphone.
Arrange band in the room for best sound / balance
Have them move toward / away the mic for solos.
No headphones.
Adjust your room acoustics to make it work.
Choose the mic to fit the music.

Galen Ulrich Elfert · Post by **Galen Ulrich Elfert** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:23 am

Is there a way you can bounce things through that Klempt, all wet, no feedback, so you just get the sound of the tape?

Stablenet · Post by **Stablenet** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:57 am

Great suggestions!
I'm going to use all of them. I'm pretty sure I can use the Kelmt that way, and I was thinking that might be the ticket.
Or *a* ticket.

Keep 'em coming!

Thanks.

Stablenet · Post by **Stablenet** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:03 am

Also, I'm thinking the Green Bullet might need to make an appearance.

I have 2 Cascade 731r's at my disposal.
My Fat Head has a blown ribbon.

Other old/ish mics:
2 635a's
An old EV lav mic from the 60's that's about the size of a 635a

Plus all of the usual modern things - SM7, 57's, 414, MK012's, PZMs

Pres:
Ampex 351
Altec Line mixer (transformers!) with 3 dedicated outs
2 Ward Beck 610's in a rack
2 Golden Age Pre73's
- and then some modern stuff.

I really wish I had a good EQ.

Gregg Juke · Post by **Gregg Juke** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:54 pm

What would you use the Green Bullet for?

If it's for harmonica, I've found that there are better choices (at least for me).

GJ

Stablenet · Post by **Stablenet** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:23 pm

The Green Bullet would just be a lower fi vocal option.
Using old style gear for old style sounds.

Chris_Avakian · Post by **Chris_Avakian** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:13 am

print it to cassette pretty hot?

i dunno... might work.

lyman · Post by **lyman** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:48 am

try to find a really old mic, and like somebody suggested arrange the players around it.

that's what we did on the intro for this song: http://thehighhorses.bandcamp.com/
It's just banjo, toy piano, and violin.

EDIT: i think it was an Astatic mic that came with record cutting machines in the 30's and 40's.

Dominick Costanzo · Post by **Dominick Costanzo** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 10:29 am

One mic doesn't mean lo-fi in any way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHhL3UIG-U

Much of "Hot" by Squirrel Nut Zippers was done with one mic.

Chris_Avakian · Post by **Chris_Avakian** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:32 am

that sound, i think is exactly how it was described, really really shotty tape, shedding real bad, recorded kindof hot.

i really think the cassette deck rout would be one good way to go for that sound. its not glamorous, or really technique based. i mean, mic them very minimally, yeah use old techniques for it, but its all going to digital. so your going to have to warm it up, and run it through some mud somewhere.

losthighway · Post by **losthighway** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:45 pm

Stablenet wrote:The Green Bullet would just be a lower fi vocal option.

Good idea. Kind of like a Copperphone.

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Gettin' "Old Timey"

Gettin' "Old Timey"

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