This bit of recording has better quality than anything digital coming out radio these days. Analog hardware for life, dont let these digital pushers fool you $$$
@EM. Don't compare bad music to good music as a way to compare the sound quality. In a blind test, if you asked the 6 best six engineers to mix the same song, 3 with only analog, and 3 all in the box, you wouldn't be able to tell which is which. The digital technologies in 2022 have equalled and even surpassed the analog sound. I know. I have an 24 track Otari, Dolby SR , API Legacy Plus 40 channels and every hardware gear you dreamed of. Had to move everything to our new studio so all the equipment was in storage for months. Had to mix all in the box on Studio One and PMC speakers while waiting for the construction to be completed. I won't go back to analog. That's all I have to say... After 35 years of mixing analog... Cheers.
@@billyschaller2106 You made my point. Past music is better than what is produced now. But its not a digital VS analog debate. Had these past song been done totally digital by the same top producers with the same dedication to sound quality, it wouldn't change the equation...
@@billyschaller2106 If we follow your impeccable logic, realistically it depends on the quality of your ears, acoustic environment, speakers, and room correction. But that is true for any format, analog or digital. So it’s irrelevant.
I‘m currently at SAE (Audio Engineering School) and some of the older teachers are always talking about how they miss working like you do in that video. I never really understood... but watching you mix that much sauce with not very much gear and no digital stuff at all makes me wanna experience every little bit of vintage production. Thanks for the inspo and greetings from Vienna :)
I grew up on analog. I ran a 16 track 2 inch studio from 1979 to 1989. I am dreaming of doing it again soon. I will be recutting my teeth on a hybrid console, hardware outboard gear and a 2 inch MCI 24 track. There is nothing like pushing an analog console and 456 grandmaster tape. Yes the downside is biasing and aligning every reel and 15 minutes of tape time and no instant recall. But for me being the cook in the music experience is everything. Then and only then will I add DAW. Love your work. Working analog has an experience I hope all the youngblood can experience.
It’s how it was done for decades. The players had yo play clean. The engineers actually had to pay attention to every element. Tape editing was 100% destructive if you got it wrong. So the players actually had to be good, clean, and the gear had to be perfectly set up. There was no “fix in the mix or post “it had to be right going to tape. Everybody’s day is in such a hurry to do things, faster and faster, and anything that sloppy is fixed by snapping it to a grid, Auto tuning, adding multiple layers of affects and pushing it out as fast as possible. People that haven’t spent time experiencing working on analog gear with a mixing console in front of them really have no idea what they’re missing and how rewarding it is.
Fantastic video, superb studio, great examples - well done! For some reason I just find myself more creative and inspired when recording to tape. No autotune, no quantize, no screen, all real and human.
I love to see people working this way. I’m just doing a bit of cleanup (erasing extraneous noises) on an album I recorded for a local band, all tape. The band stepped up and rehearsed quite a lot so they could play the parts without more than a dozen edits on the whole album. My setup is a Stephens 821b 24 track and a rather heavily modded Soundcraft 2400.
Nice. If a good engineer works with talented performer and great song, then there is no reason not to get great results in the end, even if using only these archaic pieces of equipment. Thanks for sharing.
@@LosFicosMusic it’s a combination of a lot of things applied the right way. But yes tape adds something that’s very organic and desirable. And it’s immediate.
Thanks for keeping the art of analog tape recording alive! Good to see sound-engineers resurrecting this format! Who maintains that amazing reel-to-reel? They always seem to need work especially after 40+ years. Thanks for the awesome video!
Thanks I refurbished the tape deck including a full recap. I also do the maintenance on both my console and tape machine. If I run into an issue I don’t know I do research, learn it, and repair it. Steve
Man, your channel is badass. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. I've learned a lot. Wish you were closer to Dallas...we'd track with you right now. We keep getting screwed by studios here.
This is an awesome song like I said before and I absolutely love the instruments and the mix. The thing that I really love is the very subtle imperfections in a few places with the musicians themselves. It really adds the human element to it. If this song was released as a single I would definitely buy it. It's just so good. Your added effects really liven it up too. You really know how to utilize this. The thing that I really like is you know what to do both in the analog and digital world and marry them together. I know I've commented on this song before but really got to listen to it on something a little better. Thanks again.
Thanks Paul, if there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s how “perfect” modern mixes and drums sound. It’s sucks what I love out of music and kills the feel. I don’t want grid snapped drums and auto tune vocals. I want it to be real with the best feel. Steve
@@RiotHomeRecording I know. Where I noticed was in the isolated piano. I worked at a Christian TV station years ago and I was up in the audio booth with the audio engineer and every week this awesome church group came in and I remember him isolating the vocalists to get a good level on them. I remember individually they sounded flat but when he mixed them together it was unbelievable. I think if he would have thrown auto tune in there, which wasn't available at that time, it would have taken away in my opinion. My main instrument is bass guitar and I love the sound of his bass in this recording. I have an Ibanez BTB776 6 string acive bass and I never could get a good sound in my recordings. I bought a beat up Precision bass two years ago and can't get over how good it sounds in recordings. Live the 6 string active bass sounds great. My theory is the 6 string is concentrating on a very wide frequency spectrum and is getting canceled out by the other instruments whereas the Fender is focused on a specific frequency range and just cuts through.
This sounds wonderful...but the different methods of the best way to master is so subjective....today I Mastered my first Self Produced and Self Performed and Written Song, on a Mega Radio Hit Quality level.... I used Acustica Audio Plugins and Tracked inside of Daw A/B the tracked mix, while being looped through Pipeline XT through my Headphones...in my Mackie FX 10 Mixer...comig from my SSL 2+ Interface, into my Analog Rack dbx EQ Warm Audio G Comp for Transistor Saturation ART Transy Stereo LInked FET comp for Compression and another DBX 266 XS as a Limiter...back into interface and going through loop on Export in Studio...one.... Now...that was some Hybrid Mastering that Achieved just as big and as warm as sound as your got off the mixing board and the Tape machine I also used Analog Black Box, Sand 3 SSL Pre Amp Plugins....and Black Rooster Mag...tape...to get some clean gluyey Saturation...... My point is.....its about 5 to 10 Diffrent ways to achieve what we both acclomplished..... I think the best thing your can do for yourself with learning how to mix and master is to find your Own Flow..... Own System and Own Plugin combination that endhances the plugins and makes them sound better together and compliment your Specific Analog Set up your using with your DAW.... THATS what the big people at the labels...are not gona share...because they dont want us beating thier sound.....with less expensive gear...but If you know your own system well enough....YOU CAN....i'm starting to beat them.....$500,000 studios.... With Aucstica Audio Knowing my head phones and monitors and how to use my analog rack and mixer together with the AA Plugins to get them to enhance each other Value of my Sudio..... $12,000 and getting a $500,000 sound and Quality.....sorry I was so long winded just wanted to make a point....LOL
This sounds wonderful...but the different methods of the best way to master is so subjective....today I Mastered my first Self Produced and Self Performed and Written Song, on a Mega Radio Hit Quality level.... I used Acustica Audio Plugins and Tracked inside of Daw A/B the tracked mix, while being looped through Pipeline XT through my Headphones...in my Mackie FX 10 Mixer...comig from my SSL 2+ Interface, into my Analog Rack dbx EQ Warm Audio G Comp for Transistor Saturation ART Transy Stereo LInked FET comp for Compression and another DBX 266 XS as a Limiter...back into interface and going through loop on Export in Studio...one.... Now...that was some Hybrid Mastering that Achieved just as big and as warm as sound as your got off the mixing board and the Tape machine I also used Analog Black Box, Sand 3 SSL Pre Amp Plugins....and Black Rooster Mag...tape...to get some clean gluyey Saturation...... My point is.....its about 5 to 10 Diffrent ways to achieve what we both acclomplished..... I think the best thing your can do for yourself with learning how to mix and master is to find your Own Flow..... Own System and Own Plugin combination that endhances the plugins and makes them sound better together and compliment your Specific Analog Set up your using with your DAW.... THATS what the big people at the labels...are not gona share...because they dont want us beating thier sound.....with less expensive gear...but If you know your own system well enough....YOU CAN....i'm starting to beat them.....$500,000 studios.... With Aucstica Audio Knowing my head phones and monitors and how to use my analog rack and mixer together with the AA Plugins to get them to enhance each other Value of my Sudio..... $12,000 and getting a $500,000 sound and Quality.....sorry I was so long winded just wanted to make a point....LOL
Fantastic video. You have great ears and true talent for efficiently conveying information. Like all the best engineers, one can see your true appreciation for each musical element as you work. It's like you're part of the band while you are working. : )
This sounds wonderful...but the different methods of the best way to master is so subjective....today I Mastered my first Self Produced and Self Performed and Written Song, on a Mega Radio Hit Quality level.... I used Acustica Audio Plugins and Tracked inside of Daw A/B the tracked mix, while being looped through Pipeline XT through my Headphones...in my Mackie FX 10 Mixer...comig from my SSL 2+ Interface, into my Analog Rack dbx EQ Warm Audio G Comp for Transistor Saturation ART Transy Stereo LInked FET comp for Compression and another DBX 266 XS as a Limiter...back into interface and going through loop on Export in Studio...one.... Now...that was some Hybrid Mastering that Achieved just as big and as warm as sound as your got off the mixing board and the Tape machine I also used Analog Black Box, Sand 3 SSL Pre Amp Plugins....and Black Rooster Mag...tape...to get some clean gluyey Saturation...... My point is.....its about 5 to 10 Diffrent ways to achieve what we both acclomplished..... I think the best thing your can do for yourself with learning how to mix and master is to find your Own Flow..... Own System and Own Plugin combination that endhances the plugins and makes them sound better together and compliment your Specific Analog Set up your using with your DAW.... THATS what the big people at the labels...are not gona share...because they dont want us beating thier sound.....with less expensive gear...but If you know your own system well enough....YOU CAN....i'm starting to beat them.....$500,000 studios.... With Aucstica Audio Knowing my head phones and monitors and how to use my analog rack and mixer together with the AA Plugins to get them to enhance each other Value of my Sudio..... $12,000 and getting a $500,000 sound and Quality.....sorry I was so long winded just wanted to make a point....LOL
That’s right! Most of the direct audio you hear in my videos is being captured by the DA3k. It’s a great master recorder. I always keep it set at 24Bit 96.k
This sounds wonderful...but the different methods of the best way to master is so subjective....today I Mastered my first Self Produced and Self Performed and Written Song, on a Mega Radio Hit Quality level.... I used Acustica Audio Plugins and Tracked inside of Daw A/B the tracked mix, while being looped through Pipeline XT through my Headphones...in my Mackie FX 10 Mixer...comig from my SSL 2+ Interface, into my Analog Rack dbx EQ Warm Audio G Comp for Transistor Saturation ART Transy Stereo LInked FET comp for Compression and another DBX 266 XS as a Limiter...back into interface and going through loop on Export in Studio...one.... Now...that was some Hybrid Mastering that Achieved just as big and as warm as sound as your got off the mixing board and the Tape machine I also used Analog Black Box, Sand 3 SSL Pre Amp Plugins....and Black Rooster Mag...tape...to get some clean gluyey Saturation...... My point is.....its about 5 to 10 Diffrent ways to achieve what we both acclomplished..... I think the best thing your can do for yourself with learning how to mix and master is to find your Own Flow..... Own System and Own Plugin combination that endhances the plugins and makes them sound better together and compliment your Specific Analog Set up your using with your DAW.... THATS what the big people at the labels...are not gona share...because they dont want us beating thier sound.....with less expensive gear...but If you know your own system well enough....YOU CAN....i'm starting to beat them.....$500,000 studios.... With Aucstica Audio Knowing my head phones and monitors and how to use my analog rack and mixer together with the AA Plugins to get them to enhance each other Value of my Sudio..... $12,000 and getting a $500,000 sound and Quality.....sorry I was so long winded just wanted to make a point....LOL
Even tho plugins sound great, the sound of gear speaks for itself in this video . definitely kudos to a real MCI console with transformers, tape machine and outboard gear
did they use outboard EQs (like pultecs) along with the eq on the console in the 80s? if so could you give me an example of what situation they would use them?
Yes, sometimes you might need the impressive and unique shape of the low end and the shimmer of the high end on a pultec but still have some work to do on the mids - thats where engineers could use the sweepable mid of the console eq, and this was not uncommon :)
OMG!!! You've got an MCI JH 428 console, at least I think that's what it is. I worked on the original generation of that console... the JH 416... that was black in finish and had illuminated fader graduals! These consoles cut a LOT of hits in their day. If you re-cap them you can make them sound much better... and if you can change out the opamps from the original ones to NE 5534s you'll have a very musical sound.
I love many records that have been done on MCIs, I'd love to have one when I can finally get decent studio space. He probably had it recapped, it's common practice these days, don't know about the opamps but that's cool information!
@@goyolake The opamps that were used back then didn't have the slew rate (speed) that newer ones have, so replacing them would be a very good idea. However, recapping and cleaning the switches would be a TRUE benefit for sure. Dave Harrison designed the 400 series console and did a remarkably wonderful job in bringing it to life. Cheers!
Man I am in my studio and that mix sounds crazy good. I am a little confuse, how my studio sound like this over RUclips. I do great mixes but there some space in your mix I can't explain
That sounds awesome. And seems like mixing is a lot more fun than today's starring at the PC screen and dialing in VSTs. Great video. As a dumb sidenote question for an interested layman/musician, how do sound from every effect (and there's a lot of them) return to only 3 channels?
Geez, even at the 6 minute mark where the tracks have a bit of sauce on them, amazing the difference it makes and how pro it already sounds! Digital is awesome for the ease and scalability and recall but man, I don't even do more than play around a bit with it and I find it to be a pain in the ass scrolling between things and loading effects here or there. Would love to have it all in front of me like you have here. Yeah it might be noisier etc.. but from a tactile perspective, how can you beat it. Also, with less you often can create more without being stuck on too many options.
This sounds delicious! Oh my. It's really nice to notice some production choices... like, no crash cymbal at the beginning of the verse; and of course, vocal production. Where I live, we often tell singers to sing "the german ü" as E and I vowels are often tinny and nasal. Loved the effectron too. I spoke to producers from the 80s, they'd often use doublers such as MXR 126 or effectrons for that effect, save tape tracks... and pan that tom track manually on mixdown. I have some questions tho. Did you use your PCM60 100% wet or is there some mix? Sounded to me as if there were volume changes when toggling in/out. Last but not least, would you mind making a video on manual fader riding, tips and tricks...? I'm doing most of my mixes otb and there seems to be very little videos (or articles, for that matter) on the subject. Cheers from Brazil.
I love Brazil! From my memory the PCM 60 I had approximately 70% Wet. I’ll try and go over real time fader rides in one of my up coming videos. The effectron is very cool too. Thanks Joao!
Steve this is absolutely fascinating to me as you work through this mix. Thanks man. I'd rather watch you than Netflix. :) Do you remember the band Head East? They remind me of a southern version. Tight harmonies. Were they called Head South? :) I HAD to subscribe and hit that bell brother. BTW I was supersized how muck I liked the room mics on the guitar.
OMG! When i heard the enhanced mix, i was blown away! Is the tape speed 30 ips? Is that the original studio tape from years ago? Did you have to bake the tape?
Kudos to those who tracked the band/song! That's so well tracked, it basically mixes itself! Thanks for sharing. Question: What type of console is that? Looks strangely familiar, but i can't put the finger on.
Not sure why at first I thought it could of been recorded on a 16 track but after finding more than 16 tracks with audio, it was a 24 track they tracked on for sure. Maybe they left tracks blank for more overdubs later...
Hey Steve, I love your videos. Say, back in the day would it be common or possible to mix it with just a mix buss compressor and the PCM with the console? How might they set the mix buss comp? Thank you again for all your work on this.
It’s funny you say that because recently I was listening to tracks on my console with only a Mixbuss compressor on it. And was thinking, wow all I did was get good levels on the faders with a little panning here and there and it sounded really good. Back in the 70’s they recorded great bands in good rooms on tape with a console. They would use a small handful of compressors on a few tracks and a plate reverb. And that’s it, some of the best records ever made used a very simple formula. I prefer this style of engineering over 60 tracks in a computer with dozens of plug ins on each channel.
@@RiotHomeRecording Thank you Steve. You"ve inspired me to give it a shot with what I have; an RNC, my TC M2000, and the 950 console. I am looking forward to seeing what happens. I love the less is more approach and you explain things really well. Keep the great videos coming. Very inspiring.
i have to agree with mos coments. i have no idea who this band is but it definalty sounds better then anything you can do on a pc with out a doubt. and thats with out processing.
To be fair, this could also be done on a puter, but there are some risks. It's a different workflow with puter recording than analog. I do both, but i prefer analog; workflow makes more sense and it sounds great.
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but plugins are and will always be a lesser quality copy of the original hardware. They have tried to emulate all sorts of gear since the 90's, and they're still not able to get it right. When you have the original stuff, you know.
@@BigTrouble324 Yes, I know. These machines still reigns supreme when it comes to sound quality, even in this modern era. My point here is that nowadays, you have the choice to create your own music using plug-ins through software. Compared to software plug-ins and machines, those equipment can be quite expensive, especially if you’re just starting out as a musician. Do you get my point now??
do instruments that are recorded with the 2 mics (like the keys in this video) have to be locked in to stereo panned position? what if I wanted to hear the keys strictly panned left or right?
That’s a good question, the answer is no they do not have to be locked hard left and right. You could put any of them fully on the left, right, center, or anywhere in between.
This bit of recording has better quality than anything digital coming out radio these days.
Analog hardware for life, dont let these digital pushers fool you $$$
@EM. Don't compare bad music to good music as a way to compare the sound quality. In a blind test, if you asked the 6 best six engineers to mix the same song,
3 with only analog, and 3 all in the box,
you wouldn't be able to tell which is which. The digital technologies in 2022 have equalled and even surpassed the analog sound. I know. I have an 24 track Otari, Dolby SR , API Legacy Plus 40 channels and every hardware gear you dreamed of. Had to move everything to our new studio so all the equipment was in storage for months.
Had to mix all in the box on Studio One and PMC speakers while waiting for the construction to be completed.
I won't go back to analog. That's all I have to say... After 35 years of mixing analog...
Cheers.
@@billyschaller2106 You made my point.
Past music is better than what is produced now. But its not a digital VS analog debate. Had these past song been done totally digital by the same top producers with the same dedication to sound quality, it wouldn't change the equation...
@@billyschaller2106 If we follow your impeccable logic, realistically it depends on the quality of your ears, acoustic environment, speakers, and room correction. But that is true for any format, analog or digital. So it’s irrelevant.
Two words. Nyquist Shannon. Look it up.
@@Leo9ine Yes, and … ?
I‘m currently at SAE (Audio Engineering School) and some of the older teachers are always talking about how they miss working like you do in that video. I never really understood... but watching you mix that much sauce with not very much gear and no digital stuff at all makes me wanna experience every little bit of vintage production. Thanks for the inspo and greetings from Vienna :)
You’re very welcome! Glad to hear, Thanks!
Analog roles
I grew up on analog. I ran a 16 track 2 inch studio from 1979 to 1989. I am dreaming of doing it again soon. I will be recutting my teeth on a hybrid console, hardware outboard gear and a 2 inch MCI 24 track. There is nothing like pushing an analog console and 456 grandmaster tape. Yes the downside is biasing and aligning every reel and 15 minutes of tape time and no instant recall. But for me being the cook in the music experience is everything. Then and only then will I add DAW. Love your work.
Working analog has an experience I hope all the youngblood can experience.
the raw recording already sounds mixed and mastered by it self wow, the quality of the recording made it perfect from the beginning. Amazing!
I don't know if i'd say that. It sounds 80% there mix wise and still needs a pass or two of mastering work.
@hi-friaudioman it depends of what kind of mastering you like. In my case i'm tired of overcompressed ultrapolished loud masters.
The sound the tapemaschine makes when spooling back is awesome.
It sure is!
Sounds just like the records I used to listen to back in the day. Great job!
Thanks Malcome, I’m getting another drum set.
@@RiotHomeRecording No sh*t! Wow, keep me posted.
The skill and the patience this takes is amazing.
It’s how it was done for decades. The players had yo play clean. The engineers actually had to pay attention to every element. Tape editing was 100% destructive if you got it wrong. So the players actually had to be good, clean, and the gear had to be perfectly set up. There was no “fix in the mix or post “it had to be right going to tape. Everybody’s day is in such a hurry to do things, faster and faster, and anything that sloppy is fixed by snapping it to a grid, Auto tuning, adding multiple layers of affects and pushing it out as fast as possible. People that haven’t spent time experiencing working on analog gear with a mixing console in front of them really have no idea what they’re missing and how rewarding it is.
Fantastic video, superb studio, great examples - well done! For some reason I just find myself more creative and inspired when recording to tape. No autotune, no quantize, no screen, all real and human.
Inspiring is a great way to put it.
I am so so so happy to see this.
I hope covid didn’t take out your business
Continue to make those great sounding records.
I love to see people working this way. I’m just doing a bit of cleanup (erasing extraneous noises) on an album I recorded for a local band, all tape. The band stepped up and rehearsed quite a lot so they could play the parts without more than a dozen edits on the whole album. My setup is a Stephens 821b 24 track and a rather heavily modded Soundcraft 2400.
This has got to be the best video on recording I have watched. I always loved the analog sound and process. Well done !
8:30 those drums sound very good dry. Digging that drum sound.
Thanks so much...I miss these days...the days when we listened rather than looking at graphics on a computer.
Sounds pretty good on the tape even before mixed in.
The sweet sound of analog great damn video Great mix
Nice. If a good engineer works with talented performer and great song, then there is no reason not to get great results in the end, even if using only these archaic pieces of equipment. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful classic this is how music was made to be heard !
man, real music. what a relief!
Thanks Andreas!!!!
@@RiotHomeRecording what would you say is the Main "Sauce" Tape?
@@LosFicosMusic it’s a combination of a lot of things applied the right way. But yes tape adds something that’s very organic and desirable. And it’s immediate.
@@RiotHomeRecording You are Amazing keep up the Great Work.
Thanks for keeping the art of analog tape recording alive! Good to see sound-engineers resurrecting this format! Who maintains that amazing reel-to-reel? They always seem to need work especially after 40+ years. Thanks for the awesome video!
Thanks
I refurbished the tape deck including a full recap. I also do the maintenance on both my console and tape machine. If I run into an issue I don’t know I do research, learn it, and repair it.
Steve
really enjoyed your explanations for why you’re processing each track the way you are. great video and mix!
Thank you Shayeasy!
i started mixing in 2003 but i still would love to expirience this level of engineering .. great work
That bass tone is killer
Wow, that console and tape machine look beautiful!
Thank you! They sound ok too.
Yes, i enjoy the music a lot
Damn, this sounds so beautiful!
Real instruments real sound real is realism real band I love your recording studio excellent
Man, your channel is badass. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. I've learned a lot. Wish you were closer to Dallas...we'd track with you right now. We keep getting screwed by studios here.
thank you for this beautiful lesson inspiring attitude
Loving that drum sound!
Wow, I could immediately tell it's got a softer/rounder sound with some of the top end gone. Definitely has an old school sound!
3:39 is the tracks at Unity with no processing.
22:51 is the processed tracks.
Thanks for watching!
@Memphis Keith I do care and would definitely like to see your girlfriends Instagram. What’s her User ID and password?
@riothomerecording I could use some services and expertise from you. How can I connect?
Great vid. Thanks so much for sharing it. Can't really go past analogue for quality of sound and the experience of using it.
Thanks for the video. I just love to hear that rig do it’s thing! Let’s all go back in time! Sounds better
Hell yea Kevin! Thanks!!!
Love that analog sound! So easy and comforting to the ear! :-) Thanks for posting.
Man I would love to do this. Props to you man, ancient knowledge right there!
what an amazing sound. thank you for keeping the music real.
This is an awesome song like I said before and I absolutely love the instruments and the mix. The thing that I really love is the very subtle imperfections in a few places with the musicians themselves. It really adds the human element to it. If this song was released as a single I would definitely buy it. It's just so good. Your added effects really liven it up too. You really know how to utilize this. The thing that I really like is you know what to do both in the analog and digital world and marry them together. I know I've commented on this song before but really got to listen to it on something a little better. Thanks again.
Thanks Paul, if there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s how “perfect” modern mixes and drums sound. It’s sucks what I love out of music and kills the feel. I don’t want grid snapped drums and auto tune vocals. I want it to be real with the best feel.
Steve
@@RiotHomeRecording I know. Where I noticed was in the isolated piano. I worked at a Christian TV station years ago and I was up in the audio booth with the audio engineer and every week this awesome church group came in and I remember him isolating the vocalists to get a good level on them. I remember individually they sounded flat but when he mixed them together it was unbelievable. I think if he would have thrown auto tune in there, which wasn't available at that time, it would have taken away in my opinion. My main instrument is bass guitar and I love the sound of his bass in this recording. I have an Ibanez BTB776 6 string acive bass and I never could get a good sound in my recordings. I bought a beat up Precision bass two years ago and can't get over how good it sounds in recordings. Live the 6 string active bass sounds great. My theory is the 6 string is concentrating on a very wide frequency spectrum and is getting canceled out by the other instruments whereas the Fender is focused on a specific frequency range and just cuts through.
This sounds wonderful...but the different methods of the best way to master is so subjective....today I Mastered my first Self Produced and Self Performed and Written Song, on a Mega Radio Hit Quality level....
I used
Acustica Audio Plugins and Tracked inside of Daw
A/B the tracked mix, while being looped through Pipeline XT through my Headphones...in my Mackie FX 10 Mixer...comig from my SSL 2+ Interface, into my Analog Rack
dbx EQ
Warm Audio G Comp for Transistor Saturation
ART Transy Stereo LInked FET comp for Compression
and another DBX 266 XS as a Limiter...back into interface and going through loop on Export in Studio...one....
Now...that was some Hybrid Mastering that Achieved just as big and as warm as sound as your got off the mixing board and the Tape machine
I also used
Analog Black Box, Sand 3 SSL Pre Amp Plugins....and Black Rooster Mag...tape...to get some clean gluyey Saturation......
My point is.....its about 5 to 10 Diffrent ways to achieve what we both acclomplished.....
I think the best thing your can do for yourself with learning how to mix and master is to find your
Own Flow.....
Own System
and Own Plugin combination that endhances the plugins and makes them sound better together and compliment your
Specific Analog Set up your using with your DAW....
THATS what the big people at the labels...are not gona share...because they dont want us beating thier sound.....with less expensive gear...but
If you know your own system well enough....YOU CAN....i'm starting to beat them.....$500,000 studios....
With
Aucstica Audio
Knowing my head phones and monitors and how to use
my analog rack and mixer together with the AA Plugins to get them to enhance each other
Value of my Sudio.....
$12,000 and getting a $500,000 sound and Quality.....sorry I was so long winded just wanted to make a point....LOL
love this tour and how in depth you show us your space! Nice MCI machine 😉
Wow Sounds Amazing Bro I'm A AnalogBaby So This Is Pure Enjoyment For Me Awesome Analog Session Bro 💯
Great mix! Great gear!
Interesting stuff thanks for sharing … kindest regards from London UK 🇬🇧 😊
Awesome! So insightful and interesting! Wow that pcm60 does so much!
This really brought beck memories for me, thanks for making it.
As usual, another great video. Thanks, Steve, for sharing it.
Thanks again Joao!!! Appreciate it, very much.
What a great video! I loved it.I thought the end product sounded fabulous.
Thank you John!
Thanks so much for sharing this, really shows how the workflow was different and special in its own way back then
Thanks rugosotv,
I appreciate it,
Steve
I've just discovered this channel. It's simply amazing. New sub here. Cheers from Buenos Aires!
Thanks Sac studio I’m glad you’re here!
This a great Video!! I just got an analog console and have been noticing it is sound better than mixing itb
Thank You Steve! For the inspiration
Thanks Omar it’s much appreciated, I’m sure you’ll enjoy working on the console it’s a very satisfying experience.
Steve
Nice work dude....I had some tape experience with Tascam half inch 8 track ....great times
I had a Tascam MSR 16, MSR 24, and TSR 8. I also had an Otari MX-70, and not just the JH-24.
Thank you!!!
Great video and walkthrough the mix. Great studio. Greetings from Stockholm.
Thanks!
This sounds wonderful...but the different methods of the best way to master is so subjective....today I Mastered my first Self Produced and Self Performed and Written Song, on a Mega Radio Hit Quality level....
I used
Acustica Audio Plugins and Tracked inside of Daw
A/B the tracked mix, while being looped through Pipeline XT through my Headphones...in my Mackie FX 10 Mixer...comig from my SSL 2+ Interface, into my Analog Rack
dbx EQ
Warm Audio G Comp for Transistor Saturation
ART Transy Stereo LInked FET comp for Compression
and another DBX 266 XS as a Limiter...back into interface and going through loop on Export in Studio...one....
Now...that was some Hybrid Mastering that Achieved just as big and as warm as sound as your got off the mixing board and the Tape machine
I also used
Analog Black Box, Sand 3 SSL Pre Amp Plugins....and Black Rooster Mag...tape...to get some clean gluyey Saturation......
My point is.....its about 5 to 10 Diffrent ways to achieve what we both acclomplished.....
I think the best thing your can do for yourself with learning how to mix and master is to find your
Own Flow.....
Own System
and Own Plugin combination that endhances the plugins and makes them sound better together and compliment your
Specific Analog Set up your using with your DAW....
THATS what the big people at the labels...are not gona share...because they dont want us beating thier sound.....with less expensive gear...but
If you know your own system well enough....YOU CAN....i'm starting to beat them.....$500,000 studios....
With
Aucstica Audio
Knowing my head phones and monitors and how to use
my analog rack and mixer together with the AA Plugins to get them to enhance each other
Value of my Sudio.....
$12,000 and getting a $500,000 sound and Quality.....sorry I was so long winded just wanted to make a point....LOL
Sounded great as soon as you hit Play. Print it
Wow - sounds amazing - thank you also for your explanation !
Fantastic video. You have great ears and true talent for efficiently conveying information. Like all the best engineers, one can see your true appreciation for each musical element as you work. It's like you're part of the band while you are working. : )
Thank you, I really appreciate your input, and thanks for the kind words.
Steve
An excellent video - well done --- quite interesting
Sounds so buttery 🎉
Man all of that analog is like candy to my ears.
Mine too!
Super awesome great mix I would love to get to use this rig thanks for making the video
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was fun to do. I prefer a console for mixing.
This sounds wonderful...but the different methods of the best way to master is so subjective....today I Mastered my first Self Produced and Self Performed and Written Song, on a Mega Radio Hit Quality level....
I used
Acustica Audio Plugins and Tracked inside of Daw
A/B the tracked mix, while being looped through Pipeline XT through my Headphones...in my Mackie FX 10 Mixer...comig from my SSL 2+ Interface, into my Analog Rack
dbx EQ
Warm Audio G Comp for Transistor Saturation
ART Transy Stereo LInked FET comp for Compression
and another DBX 266 XS as a Limiter...back into interface and going through loop on Export in Studio...one....
Now...that was some Hybrid Mastering that Achieved just as big and as warm as sound as your got off the mixing board and the Tape machine
I also used
Analog Black Box, Sand 3 SSL Pre Amp Plugins....and Black Rooster Mag...tape...to get some clean gluyey Saturation......
My point is.....its about 5 to 10 Diffrent ways to achieve what we both acclomplished.....
I think the best thing your can do for yourself with learning how to mix and master is to find your
Own Flow.....
Own System
and Own Plugin combination that endhances the plugins and makes them sound better together and compliment your
Specific Analog Set up your using with your DAW....
THATS what the big people at the labels...are not gona share...because they dont want us beating thier sound.....with less expensive gear...but
If you know your own system well enough....YOU CAN....i'm starting to beat them.....$500,000 studios....
With
Aucstica Audio
Knowing my head phones and monitors and how to use
my analog rack and mixer together with the AA Plugins to get them to enhance each other
Value of my Sudio.....
$12,000 and getting a $500,000 sound and Quality.....sorry I was so long winded just wanted to make a point....LOL
Cool stuff check gods word this make me feel like a real Studio like 1980 vibes
Excellent video my friend !!
For my taste ... perfect!
Let's remember that the best music in history was produced, recorded and mixed with simpler technology.
very warm.analogue all the way
Tape just sounds so much more organic than digital... So much better
sounds like you are in the room with the band
The unsung hero of this is the DA 3000. Wow I’m pulling mine outta storage. Holy chit. 😳
That’s right! Most of the direct audio you hear in my videos is being captured by the DA3k. It’s a great master recorder. I always keep it set at 24Bit 96.k
This sounds wonderful...but the different methods of the best way to master is so subjective....today I Mastered my first Self Produced and Self Performed and Written Song, on a Mega Radio Hit Quality level....
I used
Acustica Audio Plugins and Tracked inside of Daw
A/B the tracked mix, while being looped through Pipeline XT through my Headphones...in my Mackie FX 10 Mixer...comig from my SSL 2+ Interface, into my Analog Rack
dbx EQ
Warm Audio G Comp for Transistor Saturation
ART Transy Stereo LInked FET comp for Compression
and another DBX 266 XS as a Limiter...back into interface and going through loop on Export in Studio...one....
Now...that was some Hybrid Mastering that Achieved just as big and as warm as sound as your got off the mixing board and the Tape machine
I also used
Analog Black Box, Sand 3 SSL Pre Amp Plugins....and Black Rooster Mag...tape...to get some clean gluyey Saturation......
My point is.....its about 5 to 10 Diffrent ways to achieve what we both acclomplished.....
I think the best thing your can do for yourself with learning how to mix and master is to find your
Own Flow.....
Own System
and Own Plugin combination that endhances the plugins and makes them sound better together and compliment your
Specific Analog Set up your using with your DAW....
THATS what the big people at the labels...are not gona share...because they dont want us beating thier sound.....with less expensive gear...but
If you know your own system well enough....YOU CAN....i'm starting to beat them.....$500,000 studios....
With
Aucstica Audio
Knowing my head phones and monitors and how to use
my analog rack and mixer together with the AA Plugins to get them to enhance each other
Value of my Sudio.....
$12,000 and getting a $500,000 sound and Quality.....sorry I was so long winded just wanted to make a point....LOL
@@johnisrael5183 k your s
Man I'm subbed to your channel, great work!
Thanks Craig!
Great job!! This is fantastic!
Thank you very much Paul!
Amazing work Steve! Including not only the mixing but also maintaining the tape machine and the console!!
Even tho plugins sound great, the sound of gear speaks for itself in this video . definitely kudos to a real MCI console with transformers, tape machine and outboard gear
Hi friend i start doing hybrid and analog records and your videos help me a lots... thanks...!!
Great to hear! Thanks
thank you for a great deed !!! show us how to work in analog !!! is it so important!!! Thank you!!!
No problem thanks for watching!
Great video bro.
did they use outboard EQs (like pultecs) along with the eq on the console in the 80s? if so could you give me an example of what situation they would use them?
Yes, sometimes you might need the impressive and unique shape of the low end and the shimmer of the high end on a pultec but still have some work to do on the mids - thats where engineers could use the sweepable mid of the console eq, and this was not uncommon :)
OMG!!! You've got an MCI JH 428 console, at least I think that's what it is. I worked on the original generation of that console... the JH 416... that was black in finish and had illuminated fader graduals! These consoles cut a LOT of hits in their day. If you re-cap them you can make them sound much better... and if you can change out the opamps from the original ones to NE 5534s you'll have a very musical sound.
I love many records that have been done on MCIs, I'd love to have one when I can finally get decent studio space. He probably had it recapped, it's common practice these days, don't know about the opamps but that's cool information!
@@goyolake The opamps that were used back then didn't have the slew rate (speed) that newer ones have, so replacing them would be a very good idea. However, recapping and cleaning the switches would be a TRUE benefit for sure. Dave Harrison designed the 400 series console and did a remarkably wonderful job in bringing it to life. Cheers!
AMAZING MAN!
Man I am in my studio and that mix sounds crazy good. I am a little confuse, how my studio sound like this over RUclips. I do great mixes but there some space in your mix I can't explain
The console adds great dimension.
Tape
sounds very organic
That sounds awesome. And seems like mixing is a lot more fun than today's starring at the PC screen and dialing in VSTs. Great video.
As a dumb sidenote question for an interested layman/musician, how do sound from every effect (and there's a lot of them) return to only 3 channels?
Ouch, that overdrive on the lead vocals. They really pegged that compressor.
Nice job, Steve!
Thanks Sean, appreciate it
Geez, even at the 6 minute mark where the tracks have a bit of sauce on them, amazing the difference it makes and how pro it already sounds! Digital is awesome for the ease and scalability and recall but man, I don't even do more than play around a bit with it and I find it to be a pain in the ass scrolling between things and loading effects here or there. Would love to have it all in front of me like you have here. Yeah it might be noisier etc.. but from a tactile perspective, how can you beat it. Also, with less you often can create more without being stuck on too many options.
I agree with you.
This sounds delicious! Oh my. It's really nice to notice some production choices... like, no crash cymbal at the beginning of the verse; and of course, vocal production. Where I live, we often tell singers to sing "the german ü" as E and I vowels are often tinny and nasal.
Loved the effectron too. I spoke to producers from the 80s, they'd often use doublers such as MXR 126 or effectrons for that effect, save tape tracks... and pan that tom track manually on mixdown.
I have some questions tho. Did you use your PCM60 100% wet or is there some mix? Sounded to me as if there were volume changes when toggling in/out.
Last but not least, would you mind making a video on manual fader riding, tips and tricks...? I'm doing most of my mixes otb and there seems to be very little videos (or articles, for that matter) on the subject. Cheers from Brazil.
I love Brazil!
From my memory the PCM 60 I had approximately 70% Wet. I’ll try and go over real time fader rides in one of my up coming videos. The effectron is very cool too.
Thanks
Joao!
Steve this is absolutely fascinating to me as you work through this mix. Thanks man. I'd rather watch you than Netflix. :) Do you remember the band Head East? They remind me of a southern version. Tight harmonies. Were they called Head South? :) I HAD to subscribe and hit that bell brother. BTW I was supersized how muck I liked the room mics on the guitar.
Thank you so much you are appreciated! I’ll probably do more videos like this.
I do not recall a band called Head East but I’ll check them out.
Good Old Fashion Country Music!
Sound great Analog, clean recording prefer analog systems , keep good job
Has an older Elvis vibe to it.
OMG! When i heard the enhanced mix, i was blown away! Is the tape speed 30 ips? Is that the original studio tape from years ago? Did you have to bake the tape?
Kudos to those who tracked the band/song!
That's so well tracked, it basically mixes itself!
Thanks for sharing.
Question:
What type of console is that? Looks strangely familiar, but i can't put the finger on.
mci jh400 series, the predecessor to the jh500
Why would the tracks be grouped across the board/tape the way they are?
Not sure why at first I thought it could of been recorded on a 16 track but after finding more than 16 tracks with audio, it was a 24 track they tracked on for sure. Maybe they left tracks blank for more overdubs later...
Hey Steve, I love your videos. Say, back in the day would it be common or possible to mix it with just a mix buss compressor and the PCM with the console? How might they set the mix buss comp? Thank you again for all your work on this.
It’s funny you say that because recently I was listening to tracks on my console with only a Mixbuss compressor on it. And was thinking, wow all I did was get good levels on the faders with a little panning here and there and it sounded really good.
Back in the 70’s they recorded great bands in good rooms on tape with a console. They would use a small handful of compressors on a few tracks and a plate reverb. And that’s it, some of the best records ever made used a very simple formula.
I prefer this style of engineering over 60 tracks in a computer with dozens of plug ins on each channel.
@@RiotHomeRecording Thank you Steve. You"ve inspired me to give it a shot with what I have; an RNC, my TC M2000, and the 950 console. I am looking forward to seeing what happens. I love the less is more approach and you explain things really well. Keep the great videos coming. Very inspiring.
The best bro
Fantastic video!
you went to school for this? you are really effin good at mixing!!!!
No, I’ve been doing it by myself since I was 16 years old. Took a lot of trial and error and figuring stuff out. I’m still learning.
Thank you!
They called that - Passion
Nice idea man, I am set up where I can use any instrument to tape or digital. Kick is better on digital, snare is better with both.
@RiotHomeRecording , I'm curious what difference you hear between the original 70's 550 and the newer version of the 550A?
A pretty significant difference when solo’d. In the mix not so much.
i have to agree with mos coments. i have no idea who this band is but it definalty sounds better then anything you can do on a pc with out a doubt. and thats with out processing.
To be fair, this could also be done on a puter, but there are some risks. It's a different workflow with puter recording than analog. I do both, but i prefer analog; workflow makes more sense and it sounds great.
Imagine all of those equipments are accessible with the use of a DAW just add your preferred plug ins. How advanced our technology 😮
Not the same. I do all in DAW but if I had a choice it would be tape 100 percent
@@Prettynoise yes, I know. And for me the music produced using those machines are way more sounds better and professional.
Those plugins don't sound as good.. they sound fine and similar. but not as good..
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but plugins are and will always be a lesser quality copy of the original hardware. They have tried to emulate all sorts of gear since the 90's, and they're still not able to get it right. When you have the original stuff, you know.
@@BigTrouble324 Yes, I know. These machines still reigns supreme when it comes to sound quality, even in this modern era. My point here is that nowadays, you have the choice to create your own music using plug-ins through software. Compared to software plug-ins and machines, those equipment can be quite expensive, especially if you’re just starting out as a musician. Do you get my point now??
do instruments that are recorded with the 2 mics (like the keys in this video) have to be locked in to stereo panned position? what if I wanted to hear the keys strictly panned left or right?
That’s a good question, the answer is no they do not have to be locked hard left and right. You could put any of them fully on the left, right, center, or anywhere in between.
@@RiotHomeRecording got it, thanks! great video, earned my subscription 👌🏿
@@jalilrashad8714
Thank you...
were the keys recorded in mid-side?
I really don’t know, what makes you think they might have been?
@@RiotHomeRecording Just a gut feeling.
@@wearashirt I thought the same thing. The quieter track was likely the side mic.
Is this how 90s Eurodance songs were arranged?
How did you get that snare sound?! It’s perfect