I am setting up a test in which I record a band to a 24-track tape machine and to digital disk simultaneously. The idea to first compare a best final mix of the analog tracks to a best final mix of the digital tracks AND a mix where I try to recreate the sound of the analog mix in the digital domain. This is for a thesis I a working on.

My question for discussion is the best way to record the tracks to both mediums.

I have an old-skool large format Sony console currently connected to an Otario 24-track machine. What is the best way to send the post-preamp signals to a rack of (24bit) converters (visualize the rack beside the machine) and to the tape at the same time? And then what about returning the signals for monitoring?

I think the problem may be the level to tape. Where normally I pump the level a bit to get some saturation, this might cause cliiping at the ADCs. I know that nominally the machine should be 0VU=-15dBfs. You think that's enough to handle the transients? Would calibrating it at 0VU=-18dBfs negatively impact the recording? Am I confused? If so, tell me!

Would perhaps a better idea be to record nominally to digital, then dump it all hot to tape for saturation? This might make the recording process a bit easier, too. Possible?

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Would perhaps a better idea be to record nominally to digital, then dump it all hot to tape for saturation? This might make the recording process a bit easier, too. Possible?

No that would defeat the point wouldn't it?

Typically you'd take a feed from group outputs or direct outs for each channel.

Im used to having the direct outs go through a patchbay into the multi-track, this means you can easily "borrow" a signal and patch each channel into a duplicated recorder.
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Recording Studio Suntans

That's what I got to thinking also... but wouldn't there be a problem with level? Assuming I am running hot to tape, wouldn't that clip the ADCs? How can I tame the signal without adding more hardware, etc... Do high-end ADCs have pads at the inputs? I wouldn't think they would, unless they had preamps also ($$). I am still looking around for the best gear for the job...

I also thought that I might use aux sends to control the level, but that wouldn't be ideal either since I don't have enough sends for all the channels...

Jambrose wrote:

That's what I got to thinking also... but wouldn't there be a problem with level? Assuming I am running hot to tape, wouldn't that clip the ADCs? How can I tame the signal without adding more hardware, etc... Do high-end ADCs have pads at the inputs? I wouldn't think they would, unless they had preamps also ($$). I am still looking around for the best gear for the job... I also thought that I might use aux sends to control the level, but that wouldn't be ideal either since I don't have enough sends for all the channels...

Well you could turn down (calibrate) the input amps on the tape, so it goes into saturation at a lower level.

Stick a test tone on the desk, level this with 0 on your meters and for the digital recorder, then calibrate your tape inputs off of that.
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Recording Studio Suntans

Wouldn't I turn up the input amps, so that I need less level from the desk?

[quote="AC"]

Jambrose wrote:

Stick a test tone on the desk, level this with 0 on your meters and for the digital recorder, then calibrate your tape inputs off of that.

I'm not sure I understand this part above... I would set the tone to 0dBfs on the recorder? And then adjust the tape amps so they meter at, what, buried needle? How do I know if it's TOO hot going to tape? Should I set it so that -18dBfs is 0VU on the tape to leave headroom... Maybe some experimentation is in order with the 'ol mBox!