Mixdown Shootout - Metal Cassettes vs 1/4" Reel 2 Reel
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- In this video I compare a Technics RS-BX626 cassette deck with a Sony TC-377 Reel 2 Reel and Logic X. I'm using a Sony Metal-XR type IV cassette in the Technics, RMG LPR35 1/4 inch tape in the Sony and a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 usb interface with Logic X. So which do you prefer?
The song 'Make a change' is recorded on a Tascam 688 cassette portastudio, and I intend to release it as a single in the near future.
Check out my Facebook group if you're interested in multitrack cassette recording. / 374907983855233
I love how the cassette manages to separate the stereo, add harmonics in the highs and increase transients in the mids.
Thanks for having a listen, and I know what mean about the cassette.
Direct to DAW was my least favorite, everything was flattened out. I liked both the depth of the reel-to-reel and the detail of the metal cassette. I think I'll get the best of both worlds using cobalt cassettes in my Tascam 122 which can run at 3.75 ips.
Many thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. You’ve got a classic tape deck there with the Tascam 122 and should get great results! 👌
Thanks for posting an interesting comparison. I was surprised that the metal cassette had more top end than the DAW, and seemed a bit harsh to me. I prefer the old-school warmth of the R2R but that is definitely the most coloured render and you would probably need to tailor the mixdown to it as the vox seemed to sit back? Have you ever used a VCR? Great song btw!
Thanks for having a listen Peter! Yes both the R2R and cassette could be improved with some careful eq, I had to try really hard to resist tweaking them before posting. I was surprised too with the amount of high end on the metal tape too, although as you say it’s kinda harsh. Great to hear you like the song though and I’m planning to try to get hold of a Hi Fi vcr soon to see how they sound.
Sounds like the metal tape has more high end than the standard
Yes it does seem that way.
Hi , thanks for the comparison.
I've listened to it carefully and it seems that your Reel to Reel is a bit dull , specially on the left channel, at least that what I hear with my headphones ...
The best in my opinion is the metal cassette which is precise and got a more natural feel compare to the DAW.
I'm pretty sure you can even got better result with a top notch biasing and level adjustment.
You should also try a great type II cassette ( TDK SA , SA-X or Maxell XL-II, XL-II S , Sony UX... for example ) and run your R2R at higher speed ( if possible ) , that would be an interesting comparison as well.
Bests from France ;)
Hi thanks for having a listen and you’re definitely right about the reel to reel. It had just been fixed but it didn’t get calibrated for the right tape, so will need to take it back to get sorted. Good idea about comparing the recording quality of the classic TDK tapes, I’ll look into that!
@@wehappyfewmusic The black tape on the sony tc are no good i have found the brown tape to be way better on the sony tc maybe the black tape was after the tc was designed to play the brown tape. i have a 60's r2r and a sony tc 366 and a 4 track cassette tape recorder the sony tc 366 blows them all away with the brown tape the black tape just dont work right. I would have drop outs in one channel when recording stereo but with old brown tape playe and sounds perfect.
Also our cassette multitracks record at CM a second when the r2r records at inches per second so no way the cassette sounds better
The metal cassette tapes throw away the bass for high frequences i prefer type 2 for tape cassette muilti tracks. great video thanks made me realise not to waist money on metal tapes spend it on new r2r tape
Cassette and Logic sounds almost identical. The reel to reel sounds louder in the left side with my headphones. Might be a head issue.
Thanks for letting us know what you think! 👍 Yes, there’seems to be an issue with the reel to reel unfortunately.
@@wehappyfewmusic I thought so. Sounds muffled too. But the cassette is really impressive. Very good quality.
@@rocknreplay thanks yes the cassette tapes high end response surprised me too. I’m about to borrow a fully serviced Sony reel to reel so will hopefully get better results from that.
@@rocknreplay thanks! 👍
Thank you. Great content! Question: What are your thoughts on VCRs?
Many thanks! You can get some great results from VCR’s.
thanks for making this!
is it just me or is channel L and R sounding totally different on the tc 77?
@@travisraab yes the two channels sound like different machines. I’ve only heard this tc377 but that can’t be right, and I’ve just had it serviced. The joys of old gear 😅
@@wehappyfewmusic i'm so confused. as a matter of fact, someone just hit me up and offered me servicing for my machines. i asked him 'what is servicing?'. cause i'm not understanding
@@travisraab I’m no expert but I think It involves getting the machines transport working correctly; basically getting it to run tape at the correct, speed, tension and handle the tape without damaging it, re capping circuits, cleaning, replacing belts etc. I don’t think mine got re calibrated for new tape though. If your guy is offering a free service I’d defo jump at it! Costs a fortune otherwise.
@@wehappyfewmusic ok. what i mean is - who cares about all that if they didn't make both channels sound the same?
Bit late to this party but while not perfect I prefer the tone of the reel to reel.
Hi thanks for checking it out and I know what you mean.
Just a general comment.
Cassette technology was pushed to the limits, while reel to reel wasn't. Why?, because reel to reel didn't need to be - it was good enough, especially at 7.5 ips and higher. Also, the market by the mid-late 1970s was in favour of cassette, this is where much research went into.
I have 21 cassette decks, and two reel to reel machines. My 'old' Revox A77 1/2 track has so much dynamic headroom that even the Nakamichi cannot compete with. Ever wondered why reel to reel didn't really bother with Chrome/Type II tapes? ... it didn't really need to I guess.
Excellent points, yes the convenience, lower cost and popularity of the cassette made for some clever technological advances in a relatively short period. As you say though a good reel to reel is going to have more headroom and depth.
Metallic cassette
Thanks for checking out the video and sharing your thoughts!
The cassette for me in this case. For reel to reel it has to be a little higher end like some revox at least. Obviously any Studer 😋
For caracter and sound design a hanheld cassette recorder with type 1 or a micro cassette recorder.
Thanks for having a listen and taking the time to leave a comment! Yes a revox would be a more capable r2r machine, I’m hoping to get one at some point soon (preferably a 15ips model 🤞🏻). I’d love a studer but out of my budget sadly. 😅💰Good idea about using a micro cassette recorders for character, I’d like to give that a go! I’m currently working on a video comparing hifi vhs with cassette tapes and the results are quite surprising!
@@wehappyfewmusic haha also way too expensive for me with a Studer.
Aarh yeah, this other UA-cam guy did a comparison between VHS, Computer and Reel-to-Reel (Some Revox or Teac I think 🤔).
The Reel-to-reel sounded best, and the VHS sounded better than computer. I'm foreseeing that a Hifi cassette recorder recording to type 2 will sound better than VHS.
He also did a comparison between type 1, 2 and 4 tapes, and type 2 was definetly the best, type 1 next and type 4 garbage imo. Too much high end and too little low end. But he used Portastudio and they're specifically set up for type 2. So who knows, but most recorders I've had my hands on have the option to change between types.
@@nym053 yes I think that video might of been by made on tape? Those metal tapes are super expensive now too, so a bonus that type 2 sound better! 😄
@@wehappyfewmusic aarh yes 'Made On Tape'! Forgot the channel name 😅
Yeah he mentioned that as well about the high prices. Makes no sense haha.
congratulations your tone deaf type 1 or a micro cassette hahahaha
На Соньке заметен реальный провал в левом канале, по сравнению с Техниксом . Я бы на вашем месте вместо Сони выбрал бы Акай GX-4000D , а ещё лучше - двухдорожечный Таскам ))
Yes the Sony seems to have a problem with the left channel. I’ve got a Sony TC-399 now which works much better. Hopefully I’ll get a 2 track Tascam at some point. 🤞🏻
metal cassette sounded closer to the source imo
Thanks for checking it out and sharing your thoughts!
Something wrong with the left channel of the Sony reel to tell. Cassette was fine though.
Yes it’d just been serviced but the reel to reel is still not quite right.
@@wehappyfewmusic right channel OK, left not right at all. I wonder if there are some knackered caps on the board. The technics cassette absolutely smashed it. To 20khz and no doubt!
@@75eszhgclk I think you might be right and it needs recapping or recalibrating. Not sure it’s worth throwing extra money at it but at least it looks cool in the studio 🤣. Yes the technics smashed it with the high end response!
Logic DAW wins, but the cassette turned in a nice showing for a format with huge limitations. The Sony TC-377.......Ughh (awful). Cassette can surprise people if you know what you are doing.
Hey thanks for listening and sharing your thoughts. Yes I think the Sony has Issues 😊
a true comparison would be a JVC KD95 vs a Otari MX5050 BII-2.....you won't get much clarity out of that sony tape deck
A fair point, I think you’re right. 👍
hi used alot of formats over the years i have a tascam 238 that is playing allright it's very ill tascam cassette 4 8 channel cassette are very good
i have this sony model used one for years 4000ds is better i have 12 of them all working
cassette's at low speed are very poor i did get hold of a reel to reel DUBBING slave 1/8 tape main blowing the sound you can get old btr4 transport pimped to 1/8 tape
having the space is the thing out of all the decks i have used the winner is a OTARI MTR 12 1/4 1/2 DECK i have DAW as well wave lab 6 and m-audio pci cards 33 66 1010
the akai 1800ss is ace there's a full track head in the that clean all the tape clean i use it on 8 track loop tape no old tracks in the back ground
Wow, you have used a lot of tape gear! I used to have a Tascam 238 and would be keen to get another at some point. That’s interesting about the akai 4000ds, they seem to come up quite often and are often quite cheap.
i have a tc 366 and it will kick and 4 track cassete recorder's ass the compression of tape is wonderfull but digital to open reel is the ultimate. Never to tape to reel to reel it sucks
Yeah tape compression is a great thing!
sm900 two track tape beats cassette every time
👍
Hello, fellow 688 owner. I don't like the metal tapes, they sound too much like cd's. (which defeats the purpose) I'd rather use regular cassettes recorded with dolby S with a aphex aural exciter on the way in to brighten up the high end a bit....
Always nice to meet a fellow 688 user! Know what you mean about the metal tapes (although this is the first I’ve tried). Which Dolby S deck are you using?
@@wehappyfewmusic
Pioneer CT-W604RS
Dolby S does not screw up the audio, like, DBX or Dolby C does, and the only noise you hear is actually from the 688, and not the Pioneer!
@@dannydaniel1234 that’s good to know, I’ve never tried Dolby S so I may try and find a machine with it on (and as you mention Dolby C doesn’t sound that great)
@@wehappyfewmusic
No, it doesn't, and actually sounds worse than DBX.
Hey Danny, I just got a Tascam Porta 02 and I'm trying to get a real nice analog, lofi, warm sound with character. I'd had some nice Maxell metal tapes on hand which sound good, but as you mention, a bit hi-fi for what I'm after. I don't understand a lot of the lingo in this world, but should I just get a lower quality tape to get that sound? I don't know what dolby S is or an apex aural exciter.. are these things neccessary? I just want a lofi sound, so a little background noise/hiss is fine. I don't need a lot of top end as I want a warmer sound
When you try to demonstrate a shootout but you use a garbage Focusrite...
It’s not the best interface but it’s pretty neutral.