The Logic Off Topic list

A great sounding recording begins with the musician playing the instrument.  After that, comes the instrument itself.  It would be wise to make sure that you are using the highest quality sounds that you can find.  Spend time grooming your sounds before you actually lay them down.  Make sure you have a proper monitor system.  A well tuned room can do plenty for your sound.  If you are recording acoustic instruments, be sure you have at least one really good mic pre, and a decent mic.  If you are recording electric bass or guitar, make sure your instrument has the sound you want and make sure you have  a head that amplifies the way you like.  
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-----Original Message-----
From: Roman Pirie <romanp@xtra.co.nz>

Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:25:26 
To:logic-ot@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [L-OT] What are the best ways to make our clean digital recordings more like analogue tape?


I compare my recordings to music I like of the last 40-50 years and my 
 stuff is soooo clean and thin sounding. I want more meat in my sounds. 
 I listen to alot of 70's jamaican reggae and the drums and everything 
 just sound way fuller.
 I bought an 'SPL Charisma 2' tube processor. I haven't used it alot 
 yet. I think tape is a way better distortion but I will use this tube 
 thing fairly sublty because I really want anything that will bring me 
 closer to an thick analogue sound. I have the UAD-1 plug ins and I am 
 sure they help. But not enough.
 I am just wondering what the experts are using at the moment. I 
 remember alot of praise for certain expensive boxes like 'fatso' and 
 'distressor' and crane song or something.
 I wish the UAD-1 had a really good tape emulation.
 I am going to buy a quality 2 track tape machine and bounce the 
 finished mixes to that as well.
 
 I think being able to individually process sounds as if they were all 
 going to there own track on a 24 track tape machine would be ideal. 
 Maybe people run sounds through stuff to get closer to the tape sound. 
 Damn my recordings sound clean. Especially when it's all instruments 
 miced and drum machines and keyboards. Way too clean and thin.
 
 I realise the common answers to this question are tube compressors and 
 maybe analogue mixers with warmth etc. I guess I am really inquiring 
 what the current favourites are.
 
 This will be an area I want to research and progress with. I want a 
 thicker sound. Right now my thinking is to:
 Run sounds through and old analogue mixer. I am currently using a 
 Mackie 1604VLZ.
 Process through my tube processor or something else.
 Try to mix with plug ins to add thickness.
 Bounce to tape with some tape compression.
 
 Roman.