Recording to Cassette

[SOИIC]

Watup guys, want to here about your experience of recording your sp beats to a cassette, what machine can you recommend to buy to do it (not too pricy) ? Do you need some extra gear (audio inter. etc) or it can be recorded straight from SP?

[Danswift]

I use a Sony CF 620 tape deck from 1972 and also a Yamaha KX from the late 80's and both are super nice and warm sounding but the CF 620 is the true analogue beast here.

I absolutely love recording live with one or two SP 404's direct to tape and although I also use a Sony Mini Disc recorder for final masters I would take the tape machines over the MD any day.

@O.P.

Most tape decks will allow you to record direct from a sampler through the AUX Inputs except the ones that use an old style DIN connection although you can purchase cables and adaptors that allow you to connect to those type of units also.

I'll also stress to be wary when purchasing any tape deck as there may be problems with the machines such as damaged/overstretched belts, pinch rollers, recording or playback heads etcetera ..these things can be fixed but it's not always a straightforward job, something I've had quite a bit of experience with over the years,unfortunately.

Depending on your budget some nice models to look out for are Marantz,JVC,Sony Yamaha Akai and Sanyo.. basically try to buy the best machine you can afford.

Have a look here at this link for a very thorough and detailed list of some different deck types from 1981-1990.

http://www.1001hifi.com/cassette-deck-1981-1990.html

Some advice if you're planning to record live to tape is to.try and get your arrangements spot on and use the freshest tapes you can get your hands on, preferably blank copies as they will degrade in sound quality the more you record over them.


Sony CF 620



There's some examples of SP's recorded direct to tape in the Soundcloud link below if you want to check them out.

[L0WC0$T_]

hi !
tbh, any tape deck with stereo in/out is ok (sp -> tape deck with rca cables)
I think old units needs amplificator (depends of the cassette player).

i had a Pioneer CT-W606DR for a moment (can be find for cheap) and it was really good (with a strong anti-hiss system).
you can view review of users there, it still works fine 10 years after https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_libra ... 06dr.shtml
i can confirm that it is very well made and clean
had an akai CS-703D (found in trash) with vintage akai speakers (trash too) and it sounded so warm ! (you can find both for cheap)

like Danswift said (undirectly), old units often sound "warmer" than new ones (with a cleaner and more transparent sound)

i'm personally fan of japanese audio brands especially sony but you can go with pioneer, onkyo, sanyo, aiwa, teac, akai (were sold under the name Roberts in the US, A&D, Tensai and Transonic Strato in Western Europe). I would be more prudent with denon, jvc and sharp (but this is personal)
brands are like colors... personal tastes

oh and watch if you want a simple or double deck (conveniant for copying tape)

@ Danswift : the "tone crossfader" on yours is a pitch control ? if yes this is clearly nice

[Danswift]

@ Danswift : the "tone crossfader" on yours is a pitch control ? if yes this is clearly nice

Alas,no.

It's a treble boost or cut fader Lowcost..I did know a dude that fitted a pitch control to his tape deck some years ago and it sounded great but I've never attempted to do that particular mod myself (although I understand it's actually not that complex to perform)

[SOИIC]

Thanks u guys for such an informative answer! @Danswift your tunes are straight bananas and that tape feel is uuuhh

[THEGREAT]

yo that Sony is a secy beast

in my experience .. tape does add a sonicly different feel .. no denying that . depending on the quality of the device and tapes your'e using .. result may vary

i had a twin tape deck .. it added some extra character to beats that gave a bit more depth to my sounds .. sometimes audio can become transparent when you tweak it .. the tape retained the audio very nicely

[zindan]

I think old units needs amplificator (depends of the cassette player).

good job inventing a new word lmfao

amplifier


to OP,

you plug your sp RCA out into the tape recorder RCA in.

[HAWTKARL]

ONCE YOUR AMPLIFICATOR IS WORKING

MAKE SURE YOU TURN ON BASS BOOST

FOR REAL

[zindan]

ONCE YOUR AMPLIFICATOR IS WORKING

MAKE SURE YOU TURN ON BASS BOOST

FOR REAL

OH YES

my vintage amp always has bass all the way turnt

[Danswift]

ONCE YOUR AMPLIFICATOR IS WORKING

MAKE SURE YOU TURN ON BASS BOOST

FOR REAL

[Crane]

I think old units needs amplificator (depends of the cassette player).

good job inventing a new word lmfao

amplifier

Zendan not everyone on the forum is from the United States.

https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplificator_electronic
https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplificator_audio

[L0WC0$T_]

I think old units needs amplificator (depends of the cassette player).

good job inventing a new word lmfao

amplifier

Zendan not everyone on the forum is from the United States.

https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplificator_electronic
https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplificator_audio

+1 ok i'm french

and what crane said make sense

amplifier = english

amplificador = spanish, portugese
amplificateur = french
amplificatore = italian
amplificator = romanian, latin

So in english you call those electronic components:
capaciTOR, resisTOR, oscilaTOR, inducTOR
(and i'm almost sure they're all based on latin like a lot of your scientific words)
but...
amplifier

that's very logic.

[zindan]

+1 ok i'm french

and what crane said make sense

amplifier = english

amplificador = spanish, portugese
amplificateur = french
amplificatore = italian
amplificator = romanian, latin

So in english you call those electronic components:
capaciTOR, resisTOR, oscilaTOR, inducTOR
(and i'm almost sure they're all based on latin like a lot of your scientific words)
but...
amplifier

that's very logic.

no one's talking shit bro it was just goofy

[forest]

and what crane said make sense

amplifier = english

amplificador = spanish, portugese
amplificateur = french
amplificatore = italian
amplificator = romanian, latin

So in english you call those electronic components:
capaciTOR, resisTOR, oscilaTOR, inducTOR
(and i'm almost sure they're all based on latin like a lot of your scientific words)
but...
amplifier

that's very logic.

That's what happens when you mix languages that come from different branches. All languages examples you used were heavily influenced by Latin and it's ancestors, so, it's kinda "natural" to us that speak Latin "derivated languages" to use the "right" affixes.

English came from another branch and uses other structures. Affixes and suffixes are usually where you notice it most and end up with weirding looking and sounding words if you speak a Latin derivated language.

Edit: and oh, about cassettes lol. I end up using whatever I got and I found that each machine has its own sound usually because it was poorly maintained, so, to me, it's more about learning it on the fly than having any pre-written go to rules. Computer/Vinyl > EQ > Cassette can do good.

Also, metal tapes are good if you can find any.

[MattCoops]

I record to a Realistic VSC-2000

Also, I do not limit myself to just one cassette recorder in my studio.
I have 2 portable hand-held cassette recorders, 3 tape decks and 2 (well, now 1) 4 track cassette multitrack recorders.

My girlfriend used to have a tape radio in her car, but she fancy now with a CD sha-bang.