the INSANE BASF 900 story

@?,*???&? · Post by **@?,*???&?** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:47 pm

So I just bid on and won a reel of BASF 900 2" analog tape to have for an upcoming project that will require some MCI 2" tape machine tracking.

I won the reel for $5.25 on ebay and had to pay $20 shipping from where ever it was coming from.

This morning I opened the box from the Post Office and checked the spine- indeed, some bands former master and 4 songs on it. I opened the box and enclosed were the track sheets- which shows whoever was working on this stuff, was documenting it. Then I checked the credits on the track sheets- the producer/engineer credits are what floored me- EDDIE KRAMER!

Hilarious. I was gonna wipe these tapes and use them for another project. NOW, I have to transfer them and hear what his 'basic tracks' sound like.

Hilarious. Is this really the era we live in? With rock legends so cavalierly cast aside?

drumsound · Post by **drumsound** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 3:52 pm

Please tell us what you find and if you can identify the band.

AstroDan · Post by **AstroDan** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:18 pm

That is actually pretty awesome.

@?,*???&? · Post by **@?,*???&?** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:25 pm

I'm wondering if I should disclose the band. The studio was Platinum Post in Winter Park, Florida. Google says this is Full Sail? Is that true?

Is Full Sail selling the masters or was it the band...or EDDIE?

dsw · Post by **dsw** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:12 pm

Eddie Kramer. Could be another Eddie Kramer.
Could be a joke.

sonicmook56 · Post by **sonicmook56** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:29 pm

I would be surprised if that tape wasn't degaussed.

Is there a date on it?

@?,*???&? · Post by **@?,*???&?** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:31 pm

sonicmook56 wrote:I would be surprised if that tape wasn't degaussed.

Is there a date on it?

1998

It's reel 3 of a set of many. No notes on the calibration level. I'd guess a conservative +6. It is recorded at 15 IPS.

Justin Foley · Post by **Justin Foley** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:09 am

You should contact the band. You may have something of irreplaceable value for them. Sell it to them for the price you paid plus expenses (unless they're dirt broke, then just give it to them). I would imagine you would want someone to do the same in your shoes.

This is the thing that sucks about buying analog tape. I've sent off a few reels in a similar situation, although I've never cared who recorded it.

= Justin

@?,*???&? · Post by **@?,*???&?** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:07 am

Yeah, I know what you mean. I've got a reel of useless 1" 32-track digital tape that could use a transfer at least- but unless someone owns a dinosaur, I know that won't happen.

I worked at a studio that went this route selling or trashing many a 2" demo/album reel. Typically, we'd just box them up out of the 'current' tape locker and fedex them back to the major label within 90 days of the project ending.

The stray demo gigs were always up to chasing down the band or a member and getting them to either pay for the tape they used (sometimes, on a spec deal, payment for tape was waived), pick it up, or clear getting rid of it.

Not sure what happened here, but because of the engineer 'talent' in this case, these tapes are more valuable than the act that was recorded. Did Eddie do an amazing job recording this stuff? The track sheets show this was at least 4 songs in one day with overdubs. Was it his A-game? Don't know. But it will show a slice of life, one day in the life of Eddie Kramer.

btw, as side note here, the assistant engineers on this project were Cedric Booker and Alan Moon. Cedric appears to have no credits up on allmusic.com, but at least Alan Moon went on to assist on some other records.

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:29 pm

Are there phase issues with the drums? If so, it could actually be THE Eddie Kramer.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

Dan Phelps · Post by **Dan Phelps** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 7:36 am

If this is what I think it is, then I used to be friends with the band in question. They were selected to participate in a workshop with Eddie Kramer @ Full Sail. They got the chance to work with Eddie, and the school got to see how he would approach working with a band in the studio.

The band no longer exists, but if you want to PM me I could put you in touch with one of the former members.

Marc Alan Goodman · Post by **Marc Alan Goodman** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:44 am

Crazy. TapeOp makes this a small world.

@?,*???&? · Post by **@?,*???&?** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:16 am

Furilla wrote:If this is what I think it is, then I used to be friends with the band in question. They were selected to participate in a workshop with Eddie Kramer @ Full Sail. They got the chance to work with Eddie, and the school got to see how he would approach working with a band in the studio.

The band no longer exists, but if you want to PM me I could put you in touch with one of the former members.

Interesting. This is what I was hoping posting this would bring. I just PM'd you.

As for the tracks- I've not listened yet, but will be transferring next week. There's a mix in right now that runs through the weekend.

The track sheets do not reflect anything radical going on:

T1- Bass Drum
T2- Snare
T3- Hi/Hat
T4- Tom 1
T5- Tom 2
T6- Left Overhead
T7- Overhead Right
T8- Left Room
T9- Room Right
T10- Bass DI
T11- Bass Amp
T12- Guitar
T13- Guitar
T14- Guitar
T15- Distorted Room (gtr?)
T16- Scratch Vocal
T17- Vocal 1
T18- Vocal 2
T19- L Gtr Solo (or L Organ)
T20- Gtr Solo R (or Organ R)
T21- Vocal 3
T22- Click
T23- Blank
T24- Blank

The assistants appear to have dropped the ball on these track sheets as there is no documention of mic used, what the source actually was or date of overdub- and it appears there were overdubs. Usually those expectations come from the Producer/Engineer at the helm. Also, none of the vocal tracks are *starred* as Master Takes. If this was done quickly, there probably wasn't a composite done of the vocal tracks. There appear to have been 3 different singers in this band, no clue who sings lead until I listen.

mjau · Post by **mjau** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 1:19 pm

cgarges wrote:Are there phase issues with the drums? If so, it could actually be THE Eddie Kramer.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

I was waiting for that one.

JGriffin · Post by **JGriffin** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 1:39 pm

@?,*???&? wrote: The assistants appear to have dropped the ball on these track sheets as there is no documention of mic used, what the source actually was or date of overdub- and it appears there were overdubs. Usually those expectations come from the Producer/Engineer at the helm. Also, none of the vocal tracks are *starred* as Master Takes. If this was done quickly, there probably wasn't a composite done of the vocal tracks. There appear to have been 3 different singers in this band, no clue who sings lead until I listen.

If it was for a class at Full Sail, there likely wasn't a dedicated assistant, and probably no comping of vocal takes.

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