Reel-to-Reel Tape vs. DAT

[BIG J]

Here's the Situation(waiting for Heresy's Thoughts on this)
My pops has this old reel to reel Deck, I think itz 1/4" tape.
I'm considering Dumping audio onto the tape(and really hitting the tape hard), then importing it back into my DAW. I know a lot of people do this for the Analog warmth/Tape Saturation. Is this really worth it?
Someone with experience with this, What are your opinions about it?


also Is there much of a diffirence Between doing it on a reel-to-reel or on an ADAT?

 

[HERESY]

i dont think many people on this board have experience in doing what you are trying to do. i know i do. i would think that kev ski and sic wid it have experience in this realm also.

i dont know your setup or what kind of machine your dad has so its hard for me to say how hot you should record the signal. i take it that you WONT me multitracking to the reel but MIXING DOWN to it.

reel to reel and adats are different. DIGITAL AUDIO TAPES (dat) and ALESIS DIGITAL AUDO TAPES (ADAT) are not the same as analog tape. can you mixdown to DAT and go back in digital? YES!!!! but i dont know anyone who is mixing down to ADAT. i also dont know of ANYONE who is going from a daw to adats back to a daw for TAPE SATURATION.

you can mix down to REEL,CD OR DAT (mini disk if thats your thing).

how many ips is the tape machine? are the heads clean? is everything aligned? do you know how to send tones etc etc etc???? what brand is it???? does it have noise reduction?????

i say try it and if you like it cool (reels cost $$$$). if you dont like it sell your dads machine on ebay.



:h:

 

[BIG J]

The Brand Is Teac, Itz pretty old and needs some fixing, but since I have access to it, I thought I would try this out. It does need a new power cord wired into it, and the heads need to be cleaned.
But basically I'm just gonna be puttin' stereo Mixes on tape, then back into Cubase/ or Pro Tools to cut up, then Burn it onto CD.

Send tones? I'm interested in this, could you give me the low down on that?


As far as ADAT's and DAT's, I'm not tryin' to invest in one,cuz in the future they will pretty much be obsolete.

Thanks HERESY

 

[HERESY]

well basically you need "reference" tones at the begining of the material and they need to be at a certain frequency.

here hit these links. MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE FIRST TWO!!!!!!!!


http://arts.ucsc.edu/ems/music/equipment/analog_recorders/Analog_Recorders.html

and this one

http://www.sfu.ca/sca/Manuals/ZAAPf/c/calibtones.html

AND THIS ONE

http://www.audioamigo.com/articles/budbremner1.html


and this one

http://www.professional-sound.com/sound/feb297.htm.


make sure you pay attention to the first half of the last link. PEEP WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT THE DIGITAL SOUND.



:H:

 

[BIG J]

That is Great HERESY, That info Really Helps. Much Appreciated, Thanks Bro!
That last link Didn't work though, but itz all gravy, I'll let you know How this works when I get it setup