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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 1, 2015 8:24:19 GMT -6
I had convinced myself a while ago that the UAD Ampex (tweaking to my liking) was making the master sound a little punchier and brighter. I'd use 15 ips on 1/2 inch with a little added hi freq touch...then I would gain stage the input and output. But lately, I've been going without it and I think that it is the cause for a little fuzziness in a couple of mixes I've had. I mean, it could definitely be user-error - I just used my ears when applying it - but instead of relaxing things with "tape give" I think it's been stressing things a bit...Maybe after long sessions of mixing I wasn't really hearing the harmonic distortion/saturation it was adding in the very end...Anyway, opinions?
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 1, 2015 8:37:43 GMT -6
This happens to me too. Some mixes, the Ampex is essential, but some, it just makes it a little grainy. Try two things, the 30 ips mastering preset is a little cleaner than the 15 ips, and try the "Clean Vocal" preset on the mixes that have gotten itchy.
That preset solved the same problem for me on two mixes. On another mix, I dropped it altogether, but it's been on every song I've done, except for that one.
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 1, 2015 9:03:42 GMT -6
I've been starting with those Steven Smith Linear presets...
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 1, 2015 11:28:07 GMT -6
never tried them, try mine, see what you think..
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2015 12:13:48 GMT -6
Had the exact same experience with VTM on the master a year ago, but since then it's lived on my master, for what it's worth I think the Waves MPX rounds off transients in a much more pleasing way on individual tracks but I've also never used VTM the way it's suggested with 1/4" on every track and 1/2" on busses which I am going to try on my next project I'm mixing in a week or two.
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Post by jazznoise on Oct 1, 2015 13:20:24 GMT -6
I never understood mixing "into" something. I have used Tessle as a bus insert for some transformer goodness - but I guess I'm not a big fan of sheen. Limiters are good for checking FX levels to me, but that's about it.
My advice: do two weeks with nothing on the 2-bus and see how you feel.
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Post by dandeurloo on Oct 1, 2015 14:24:41 GMT -6
I have tried most all of them. They seem to cause more damage then good to my ears. Lots of strange phasey stuff happening. I basically never use them now.
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 1, 2015 14:35:52 GMT -6
Yeah. Kind've what I'm starting to believe too.
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Post by Randge on Oct 1, 2015 14:39:30 GMT -6
I have tried most all of them. They seem to cause more damage then good to my ears. Lots of strange phasey stuff happening. I basically never use them now. Yep, I totally agree. Definition is lost and it makes it feel flat. Real tape doesn't do that unless the machine isn't working correctly.
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Post by mrholmes on Oct 1, 2015 15:09:26 GMT -6
Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
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Post by Guitar on Oct 1, 2015 18:23:48 GMT -6
I love Ampex, I use it frequently since I've had it (but not always.) I'm in the camp that loves all kinds of things on the 2-buss. That way I can get by with less on individual tracks. Usually EQ, limiting, maybe a compressor, now tape sim and/or some other kind of saturation. More of a vintage sound. I usually use Ampex for adding grunge to everything at once, or for a softening, or a brightening effect, depending on how it's dialed in. I also really like the stereo widening preset on individual tracks. My mixing style is not particularly "transparent" I guess I could say. I look more for coloration and vibe. I've used the Waves stuff before but the Ampex beats it handily when compared.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 1, 2015 18:29:45 GMT -6
I only pop the 2 bus Ampex on after I'm around 3/4 done with tracking. I never use tape on individual tracks, that just seems like overkill to me.
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Post by mrholmes on Oct 1, 2015 18:46:26 GMT -6
Some of the Tape-Sims can ad some kind of a nasty saturation in the HMF to HF band. That was not the case with my M15A.
Some AE say that Slates VTM sounds like the real thing, but they also told me VCC sounds like a console - and it did not. I still have to demo VTM.
As always I end up picking best of both worlds.
My best selfadvise is not to change the tools too often.
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Post by Ward on Oct 1, 2015 19:37:02 GMT -6
I am so past the whole analog tape thing now, and never did understand the tape sim fixation that some seemed to suffer from... and suffer is the way to put it, if you ever lived through the analog era. We are SO Past that now. I am quite capable of creating finished sounds before they go to Pro Tool and then either mixing with finished sounds or sending them on to someone else to mix and receiving a very heartfelt 'thank you' upon opening the session. I do not need tape to do that, nor do I need tape simulation. And I know many other people here on this very forum and some in this very thread who are also quite capable of doing the same. and receiving the same acknowledgment in return. AS Randge pointed out, simulators do something totally unmusical to the sound that real tape does not do. I rely less and less on plugins as time goes on and more on sending finished sounds to PT. After producing 160+ records and engineering countless other album and demo sessions, I have a pretty good idea of what finished sounds are supposed to sound like so that they sound 'right' in the mix. And most of you do too... some more than me (bows to your greatness).
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Post by porkyman on Oct 1, 2015 20:01:53 GMT -6
i think in general they ruin analog sources and enhance digital ones.
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Post by ericn on Oct 1, 2015 20:17:40 GMT -6
Ain't nothing like the real thing! It sucks that the real thing means expensive tape , cleaning and alignment !
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2015 22:41:18 GMT -6
I used Sonar's tape sim pretty often and it worked for me. In Harrisons Mixbus there is a tape sim in every bus, 100% pre-set, you can only influence the amount of saturation with the drive you feed in. You can't even turn it off, like permaent tape machines on bus tape outs. Sounds marvellous. Absolutely not in the way of anything, fits the sound of the virtual console, absolutely nothing strange to it. In the workflow it is nearly invisible, but i think it helps the sound greatly.
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Post by Randge on Oct 2, 2015 7:29:23 GMT -6
I do use the stock plugin in Cubase that they brought back a version or two ago called "Magneto". That is a great plugin that sounds amazing.
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Post by wiz on Oct 2, 2015 7:44:28 GMT -6
I have found "any" of that stuff..... Has the buyers glow about it for a bit, then I end up getting rid of it.
It sounds cool, then next day, not so much.
Cheers Wiz
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Post by dandeurloo on Oct 2, 2015 9:44:43 GMT -6
I have always wondered about this. anamodaudio.com/ats1.htmlIt cost to much IMHO otherwise I would probably have one now. Actually, a mix I am working on right now could really use it!
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Post by ragan on Oct 2, 2015 10:49:16 GMT -6
I go back and forth on this too. Right now I'm in a UAD Ampex mood (like JohnK, I start with the Stephen Smith presets). Last record I produced I used VTM. Ampex brightens a lot. VTM is cloudier/pillowy-er, though in a nice way for some things. My mixes tend to need brightening so lately I like Ampex more.
I re-scrutinize the whole idea of tape sims everytime I mix something. Still don't know how I feel about them.
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 2, 2015 11:35:50 GMT -6
I have always wondered about this. anamodaudio.com/ats1.htmlIt cost to much IMHO otherwise I would probably have one now. Actually, a mix I am working on right now could really use it! I believe littlesicily had one.
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Oct 2, 2015 12:22:24 GMT -6
All I ever use them for is trashing up drums now and then.
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Oct 2, 2015 12:26:10 GMT -6
i think in general they ruin analog sources and enhance digital ones. I agree with this. I've spent a lot of coin on top gear that doesn't need help.
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Post by littlesicily on Oct 2, 2015 15:36:29 GMT -6
I have always wondered about this. anamodaudio.com/ats1.htmlIt cost to much IMHO otherwise I would probably have one now. Actually, a mix I am working on right now could really use it! I believe littlesicily had one. yeah i had one for over a year. it's def the coolest of them all (that i tried at least) but I decided i didn't need it, nor did it always "help". really depends on what kind of sound ur going for. for the retro vibe it's cool. these days i'm doing more pop. for mixes, i take my ITB submix and go out to a pair of 1073s and then a C2, then back ITB w/ some 2buss stuff. On occasion I use Kramer MPX on gtrs or vocals, but rarely on 2buss.
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