Tape Poll

[Rigsby]

I guess i'm under both the last two categories, i used to use tape (cassette 4 track and 456 at the studio, and i'd like to go back to reels. I still have some more to learn ( i didn't do the maintenance) and more to save before i go reel to reel again though.

[bigtoe]

"But Much Respect to Tape and all it represents."

i'm down with tape...but what does it represent? when digital surpasses it soundwise and stability wise - i'd be more into it. i don't think that's going to happen for a long time.

Mike

[I'm Painting Again]

Im in the process of upgrading to high end conversion for tracking and I plan on still using my 440b-2 for mixdown on rock projects..its a 1/4" machine..if 456 is made again and 1/2" is not incredably expensive I might change the machine to 1/2"-2 in the future..

[Mix413]

Tape is very much alive and well here. We use a JH24 pretty regularly for tracking then often copy it over to Radar in sync for overdubs and /or mixing. Sometimes fly to ProTools if requested by client, but much prefer to stay in Radar. Then mix to 1/4" or 1/2" tape. Sometimes it's an all analog chain with a mono Scully for tape slap and an EMT plate for reverb. It's a beautiful thing to be in a mix session with three sets of reels spinning.

[Mark]

Sometimes it's an all analog chain with a mono Scully for tape slap and an EMT plate for reverb. It's a beautiful thing to be in a mix session with three sets of reels spinning.

[Rigsby]

Tape is very much alive and well here. We use a JH24 pretty regularly for tracking then often copy it over to Radar in sync for overdubs and /or mixing. Sometimes fly to ProTools if requested by client, but much prefer to stay in Radar. Then mix to 1/4" or 1/2" tape. Sometimes it's an all analog chain with a mono Scully for tape slap and an EMT plate for reverb. It's a beautiful thing to be in a mix session with three sets of reels spinning.

On a purely asthetic note, your studio is beautiful.

[djimbe]

We have a 2" MCI JH-16, a 1/4" Studer A80, a 1/4" Scully 280b, and a 1/2" Scully 280. And CDB, thanks for posting that questionaire from ATR Services...I responded to those folks as well...

[JASIII]

yep. Hoping to add a 2 track mixdown deck soon.

[Derrick]

Oh yea! Both 4 and 8 track machines at speeds up to 15 ips. My interest is in cost effective DIY and sometimes for other bands wanting an alternative to the local "demo" studios that don't seem to have the ears to produce a better, more lively, musical sound. Tape machines are the heart of it when exploiting their characteristics and using those characteristics as a tool! I feel dealing with the limitations of 4 and 8 track tape and similar available gear to the 60s-70s gives me the ability to create some gorgeous, sonic ear candy. Hail hail musical imperfections!! It's that character sadly missed when using pure digital. Long live tape!

[moschops]

Yes. A Tascam 48 and a Tascam 464. I may be a fool but I don't worry too much about tape becoming unavailable seeing as I can still readily get new ribbons for my 1928 Underwood analog typewriter. But one never knows...

[CDB Studios]

thanks to all that has posted and polled.

I'm running an Ampex MM 1100 16 track at 30ips using 499 and 496 1/4" on my 350 at 15ips

I love tape, it sounds so...real

-Zach

[MoreSpaceEcho]

456 on a 1/2" 8 track. hoping to convince a friend to finally sell me the otari 1/4" 2 track he never uses....

[buddy holly]

i likey tape. my setup is based around an Otari MTR90 II 1" 8-track (499). But I still fire up the trusty Marantz cassette 4-track from time to time.
--bh

[Audio Archaeologist]

Come on people, there has to be more than 73 folks on this forum using tape!

[the brill bedroom]

Well, I would've answered sooner but I was busy convincing my wife to help me carry my Otari MX5050 in from the car (it had a play date at Roger's studio). She has a little technical nickname for it: "that heavy bastard." Calls me the same thing sometimes.