Topic: Analog Reconsidered

[intpseeker]

both sources were recorded with AKG 451/ck1s... same stand and configuration
one into Whirlwind 18V phantoms > Teac DA-P20 (DAT @16/48)
the other into AKG 18V phantoms > Sony TC-D5M (metal cassette no Dolby transferred @ 24/48)

http://archive.org/details/gd1994-07-26.AKG451.Darby.119445.Flac1648

http://archive.org/details/gd1994-07-26.AKG451.Darbys2nd.120292.Flac2448

http://archive.org/details/gd1994-07-27.AKG451.Darby.119473.Flac1648

http://archive.org/details/gd1994-07-27.AKG451.Darbys2nd.120300.Flac2448

I prefer the cassette masters transferred @ 24/48 

Thanks, Mike. Sitting here blasting Queen Jane, amazed by the quality of your pull and the gift it is to be able to hear Jerry better than if I was there.

[Captain Bringdown]

Still love analog I remember slamming the levels of my d5. Still got it and like 300 or so new maxells from the early/mid 90's

[axomxa]

I have a nak bx300 home deck and started out in the field taping GD back in 83.  Used to have all of the Sony analog portbales and have been contemplating picking up a Nak550 to use in the field retro style.  Might pull the trigger to mess around at festies this summer as there are several 550's on ebay in full working order;)

[acidjack]

is there any analog gear going for actual "mess around" type prices these days?  I've thought about it, for sure..

[bryonsos]

is there any analog gear going for actual "mess around" type prices these days?  I've thought about it, for sure..

I was curious too:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1311.R1.TR2.TRC1&_nkw=marantz+pmd+430&_sacat=0&_from=R40

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=Sony+d5&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=Sony++tc-d5&_sacat=0

[acidjack]

^^ That's about what I remembered from the last time I looked.... if you want one that works, they cost more than a digital unit, generally. 

That said, I'm sure they can be had from random yard sales (or the TS.com YS) for less, here and there.

[runonce]

I got all my reel decks at estate sales, flea markets or yard sales.

You can get them cheap - dont think I paid more than 10 bucks for any of my AKAIs (I have 3 M-9s and a X1000SD)

Generally all of these machines require some tinkering, cleaning, lubrication before use. (assuming they just came out of grampas garage)

Motor run capacitor problems seem somewhat common in gear this old - but some still hold speed well.

And remember there are 1/2 and 1/4 track machines - and they aren't compatible. (just in case you have an old box of tapes you want to play)

Once you're in - AudioKarma has a lot of valuable info.

I think we sometimes think people didn't have "good sound" back in this era, but as it turns out - they had sound that was pretty darn good.

Mostly - I got into this because I had boxes of family tapes as well as other boxes I had procured from local old-timers that I wanted to play and transfer...but after a while I got curious about recording.

[axomxa]

is there any analog gear going for actual "mess around" type prices these days?  I've thought about it, for sure..

Could'nt resist all this analog talk  Pulled the trigger this morning on a pristine fully functioning Nak 550 with all the orignal accessories (with an accepted offer $75.00 below the BIN   

Should have it by Thursday and if so I plan to pull the Black Crowes at HOB with it (along side the 680 of course). Guess I'll be using the big bag!!  Ahhh I can feel the adrenaline rush of timing the tape flip just right already   

[DiggerinVA]

Well I just checked my TC-D5M in for service. The take up reel is too weak to pull the tape. The dude looked excited to work on it, asked if I was in a hurry. Which I am not. You could see those gears turning.
If it is done by Furthur in AC I may take it out for the old AB, RCA out form the V2 to the D-5 and XLR into the PMD661. Could be interesting.

[Chuck]

A huge reason DAT was adopted so quickly with the Grateful Dead taper crowd was no tape flips every ~45 minutes. Especially when recording the Grateful Dead you knew you were going to miss some music at the flip.

[DiggerinVA]

A huge reason DAT was adopted so quickly with the Grateful Dead taper crowd was no tape flips every ~45 minutes. Especially when recording the Grateful Dead you knew you were going to miss some music at the flip.

That is why I spent the bucks and went pro for the better pre's.

[bombdiggity]

Maybe somewhat OT but what got me back into this after a "retirement" of sorts was just picking up whatever I had at hand that I knew still worked on the way to a spur of the moment show a few years ago, which turned out to be a Sony MS-907 (which wasn't even my B or C mic back in the day), my trusty old 1980's purchased D-6, and an XL-II.  Still the best sounding recording I've made in that venue after several more tries with digital recorders and other much better mics...   The soundman had something to do with it that night I'm sure (it sounded great to the ear), but it's not the gear in absolute terms as much as how appropriate it is in that spot on that night and how well you use what you have.  If it was all I still had I'd still run it now if I were at anything.  I can't quite bring myself to sell that or the DATs or...   Though if I could turn all that retro gear into another set of caps...  hmm... 

Oh and it is a slippery slope...