Mixing Drums Into Cassette - Building Texture

[@AdamFraserTv]

I could watch these videos like this all day . This is my world man . I’m completely entrenched in sound design and texture . Those sounded crazy good !

[@vvundertone]

Appreciate that! I'm excited to edit the remaining sessions I shot. Next one is best drum sound I've ever gotten to DATE!

[@Soundpaintmusic]

You my friend, have a FANTASTIC ear for drums! 10/10.

[@vvundertone]

Thank you!! I’m high key obsessed 🤣

[@blastofo]

You got some nice analog gear. I was born and raised on those tascam portastudios, playing in punk bands in the 90s.

[@vvundertone]

That’s legendary. Still got any tapes? You should upload that stuff!

[@AlejandroMartinez-ne8rw]

Me too. I still got my Fostex X 18.

[@matthewcassette]

Something magical about tape saturated drums. Love the channel. Your level of creativity is inspiring. Thanks for the great videos

[@vvundertone]

Appreciate that! I can never bore of saturating drums. Theres a million ways to do it they almost all sound brilliant.

[@kniferideaudio]

With 4 track cassette I ignore the meters completely and just hit it super hard. There is nothing about a cassette 4 track that is about retaining fidelity so I just blast it. The boost highs on the way in and cut when playing back trick can be a life saver. I also really preferred Tascam preamp saturation over Fostex most of the time. The Akai 614 units sounded really cool. I've switched to 2 and 4 track Reel to reel for most of my tape saturation because it is a little easier to get what I want fast. Keep it up. I love your channel.

[@vvundertone]

That point about fidelity is bang on. Although sometimes I do notice my fostex clipping ugly so I gotta semi pay attention haha. One day I hope to acquire a Tascam. Akai is absolutely the kind of saturation in my humble opinion!

[@MattCupan]

Ya, recording hard hits into "the red" onto cassette actually got a dope, hard sound.

[@DaniDogenigt]

@@vvundertone might be some transistor preamp clipping somewhere in the circuit. I get the same with some of my decks so I usually ride the zero edge as well

[@ArmchairAmbience]

I bought the Iridescent Loops pack, thanks sounds great...I would love more "One Shots", I am imagining there were more sounds in the project that could have been included. Thanks so much and keep up the great work!!!

[@vvundertone]

Thank you for your support and feedback! Finding a happy medium has been a goal of mine. Some people believe it or not have complained about vvT packs having too many samples in the past. As far as the one shots in this pack, that is literally all of them. I too am a bigger fan of one shots, next time I will dedicate a longer amount of time collecting unique one shots 🫡

[@ArmchairAmbience]

@@vvundertone That would be amazing, thanks for answering me! I have really been inspired by your samples...and am currently listening to Can - Ege Bamyasi ablum. I want more crunchy tape drums!!!

[@MarkyGoldstein]

This is great. More people should listen to tape and how it influences sonics for real.

[@vvundertone]

So much nuance!

[@Chris_231]

I like the work you're doing.

[@vvundertone]

ty!

[@Kyle_Noonan]

"I like when the gear fights me" Never really put it to words but yeah, felt. Keep it up dude! Digging the change of pace from typical geartube stuff.

[@vvundertone]

Haha yea if it’s too easy then it’s not so fun 💀

[@MAGOSAMX]

I love how rich and fat the low end sounds. Nice composition on the shots too!

[@vvundertone]

Comin from you means a lot g 🤝🏼

[@sovereigncosmicwildman]

Just came across your channel through this video. Dope drum patterns!! I need to phatten up my drums

[@The_Absurdistt]

That is some nice "Drip" coming off that EchoPlex. Cheers.

[@vvundertone]

Can't beat tape slap back 🥊

[@SylvanPaul]

If wes anderson was a music producer

[@NTD2827]

Wes Anderson Paak

[@no_wrong_notes]

Jason Schwartzman

[@eduardomanfredini8552]

I have a Fostex cassette hanging around here... I'm going to put that to use soon, nice video!

[@lokiop345]

Have you put it to use yet?!!

[@eduardomanfredini8552]

@@lokiop345 There is something wrong with the power supply, need service :(

[@Dandroid5000]

Geoff Barrow (Portishead) used to bounce his drum tracks back and forth on cassette, eq'ing each time, until he got a sound he liked........that's a big part of the drum sound on Dummy.

[@vvundertone]

Those are legendary drum tones. Sometimes once is not enough you gotta for the extra extra color!

[@StLaRok]

He also pressed some of the drum tracks to vinyl, then rubbed the record across the floor to get that “snap, crackle, pop” and more of a classic breakbeat sound.

[@feedyourspeakers]

What a great sounding texture! Sounds nice on my adam audio monitors 👍

[@vvundertone]

we love texture 🥁

[@marcopepe4046]

Great work. Congrats

[@vvundertone]

thrilled you enjoy. 🙏🏼

[@spchops]

Dope video, the sound at the end is killer 🔥

[@vvundertone]

ty bro !

[@greymatter800]

This is an analog ASMR ear/eye candy!

[@takeosuzuki_electronic]

Very nice sound!☺🥰

[@vvundertone]

Thank you!

[@BrentLane1]

This is great. I’ve been going back to recording my drums through the old Yamaha mt50 and crushing it into my 303 (vinyl sim gang haha) that works so well for that hard hitting sound. I love what you’re doing and just subbed!

[@vvundertone]

Appreciate you! That’s a great chain. Yamaha built some solid pieces with amazing spring reverb. And 303s are legendary!!

[@trevenfuger5615]

love the vids though, they are amazing!

[@relative_vie]

I bought this sample pack. those drms are hitting :)

[@vvundertone]

Thank you so much!! More coming

[@relative_vie]

Do you have a video about Cassette tapes, recording tips, and choosing the “right cassette tape”?

[@vvundertone]

yes I do. I got a few on the topic. But I think the video you would like most is cassette: the analog gateway vitamin

[@michaelmanning7234]

Might you be able to make a video on your signal chain and where these components plug in? I have a portastudio but got extremely lucky to find a this exact teac mixer and DBX 163 locally in Oklahoma. I have no idea how to route this because I’ve never recorded analog. (I used the portastudio to make mix tapes for my wife). Any reply or help would be tremendous. Great videos!

[@vvundertone]

I have been meaning to release a video on the mixer and there I can go in greater depth on how it’s all routed. Congrats on finding the gear! I know you will enjoy exploring all the different sounds you can now create!

[@Andyanddiana467]

Pitching drums is a common practice - a lot of engineers would use Eventide units to do this.

[@vvundertone]

Shoutout Eventide! The OG Fx's Gods

[@gimmenames9039]

This is great, played guitar along some of the drum parts. So much fun. Could you share some for download?

[@vvundertone]

Nice! I’m glad you enjoyed. The loops are in the description. I have yet to add a few to the free sampler pack yet but I will eventually.

[@nullfusion]

Wow!!! really nice skills!

[@vvundertone]

Happy to share! I’m happiest when bouncing to tape!

[@hapexzm]

@2:46 with the meters goin bananas 👌

[@hanstaagen2066]

First time viewer. Idk what you are doing but this was an entertaining video. (Ihave low attention span)

[@vvundertone]

Same here. On both statements haha. 🫡

[@johntrumpet]

Happy, non judgemental LOL! I was doing much of this stuff back when 4 track cassette was the only cost effective way to record at home. Marantz 4 track is the best sound.

[@vvundertone]

Speaking of which! My friend has a Marantz 4 track I am so curious about multitracking. Love how they each have their own flavor

[@andatebuenomevoy7540]

beautiful

[@vvundertone]

Ty g

[@GLDNSCTN]

Rad! Thanks Man!

[@gooneybird808]

Definitely a reminds me of can…good call

[@vvundertone]

That band is so inspiring 😮‍💨

[@SamNunezNYC]

Love your channel, I feel like you’d like the analog heat box if you’re okay with it not being full analog hahah but the tones you can unlock and fidelity it keeps is wild

[@vvundertone]

I ain't no purist! Whatever gets the job done. Heard many good things about this box. Would love to try it one day.

[@fightingforourlives]

Great informative video! But where did you get that jacket?! 😊

[@vvundertone]

oh man some antique store I used to frequent back in this town called San Luis Obispo.

[@fightingforourlives]

@ gotcha, great channel brother.. keep it up!

[@fitzgervld]

hey! been LOVING your videos! was curious, what kinda camera do you use for these videos? everything looks so sick!

[@vvundertone]

Thank you very much. I use a Sony a7s first generation. This video I attached a fisheye adaptor removed from a 90s hi8 which luckily shares the same size thread plus a 1/4 promist filter. Thats how I achieve the wide shot that’s soft in the corners by using high fstop. I plan doing a video on this particular topic in greater details!

[@fitzgervld]

@@vvundertone so sick! keep the great videos coming! :)

[@aygwm]

Nice saturation with the tape. I’m surprised a little cassette can sound that good.

[@vvundertone]

Its taken me some time to nail the sound but yes cassette can really flourish drums!

[@esbjornakesson3412]

Really nice to listen to

[@vvundertone]

Find a good drummer, add couple of mics an stay out the way of greatness 🤌🏼✨

[@relative_vie]

can you showcase how print / do the noise reduction process? curious what that looks like

[@vvundertone]

I actually have another video on this topic. "How To Record & Digitally Transfer Cassette (For Artists)" is the title.

[@sebastiangadd4250]

Is this a built track by one shots or are we listening to a drummer? I like the sound either way..

[@kasperzak]

Oh my days that snare sound!

[@vvundertone]

It came out not bad eh!

[@SantaIndolencia]

I HAVE to do that some time, I always have the feeling that my drums are missing something

[@vvundertone]

You will enjoy it! And also can’t forget subtlety pitching up or down to invoke a unique feel to an old tired loop!

[@SantaIndolencia]

@@vvundertone will do it for sure :)

[@NTD2827]

I wonder what those drums would sound like through a Danelectro Spring King

[@vvundertone]

I am indeed curious. I looked it up. Has a real spring in it, thats all I needed to know!

[@NTD2827]

@@vvundertone just know that the footswitch is kinda cheap

[@the44thfloor44]

Vvundertone drums 🔥😈🥁

[@vvundertone]

🥊 🥁 🤍

[@RickySmithNow]

sounds sick

[@vvundertone]

I’m looking forward to trying some new interesting locations for drum tracking next!

[@trevenfuger5615]

its like watching orin from parks and rec all grown up

[@caramelking-zf8wu]

Analog > Digital !! ~ The Timing Is Better !! ~ New Subscriber !! 🏁

[@vvundertone]

Wooo! Lets F GO!

[@lokiop345]

I like it

[@vvundertone]

Drums are the most fascinating instrument when it comes to production. It’s just a universe so easy to be get lost in!

[@Y-FLo]

When I was a kid I used to take my grandpas cassette tapes and put tissue in the botttom to record on them those were good times.

[@vvundertone]

That’s beautiful. Something I love about these physical mediums is the memories attached. Imagine finding one of those tapes and listening today? You surely would be flooded with new memories of him!

[@Y-FLo]

@@vvundertone Yes I would laugh and get teary eyed at the same time ❤️

[@prod_adrian]

interesting clip and informational channel! new sub. 🙂

[@vvundertone]

Thanks and welcome 🙏🏼💿💾🕳️

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Interesting however I dont want effects like Reverb baked into the drum loop because then I cant mix or adjust it in the DAW.

[@vvundertone]

Makes perfect sense. That is why for the digital loops we presented a dry and wet file to combine to taste.

[@merchannel7762]

Buddyyy how did you get the drums at 8:53 before going to tape? Pls was it 4 mics, stereo overheads, recorded hot or mild through compression to tape? Amazing starting point

[@vvundertone]

I have a previous video titled "Mixing drums with plugins" that go over the process of getting these tones. As for original capture yes 4 mics, all mono. All dynamic mics. One over head, one snare, one kick and then a "above kick drum" mic. no compression, no tape. all straight to Apollo. Afterwords tiny bit of compression in the DBX 163 on kick and snare before hitting cassette. The sound really is the drummer and the drums. Nice vintage kit and great playing

[@merchannel7762]

@@vvundertone really appreciate the detailed response! Thanks. That drum mixing video is super helpful too. If you ever consider a drum recording video I think folks would dig that part of your process as well. Peace

[@UnannouncedGuest]

i hate how my Akai reel to reel just won't record all I got now is an old stereo tapedeck . But that's sort of ok...

[@vvundertone]

Cmon AKAI! Get it together. Look into repairing it. Sometimes it’s not as difficult as we think. Also don’t forget it’s a beautiful microphone pre regardless of it recording to tape or not. Plug a mic in and output straight to DAW for nice juicy flavor!

[@Lowerhaightstreet]

@410 is the kick and the snare have any effects from the echoplex like a tiny bit of slap back ?sounds absolutely fantastic.

[@vvundertone]

Yes the echo plex going dirty in the tape is adding a lot to that grungy sound indeed

[@tapeexperiments]

dig. good drummer.

[@vvundertone]

Nico is smooth!

[@MrGingerPirate]

Is it a real drum-kit you're playin?

[@BougieButler]

Damn. This isn’t helping with my latest tape obsession

[@vvundertone]

😅 💸

[@rumpoleonthehilloldchap]

you in LA? do you know a musician called shags?

[@vvundertone]

yes I am in LA, but no I do not know shags

[@malakaiMCKILLA]

I thought the thumbnail was JP from Grandma's Boy

[@QuickstickD]

What mics did you use for the drums?

[@vvundertone]

I was using a generic shure kick drum mic. Weird modern looking one. Then a Shure 516EQ on snare, a Layfayette LRE-99 for overhead (occasionally a Turner S500 switched out) and a AKAI M7 on top of kick drum. Throughout the day I was switching them out trying different things so its kinda a mixed bag. I have another video on this session called mixing drums for vintage tones or something. That one has some video footage of the day.

[@morenoteslesstalk]

I have a deep love for pairing my 4 Yamaha MT50 with drum machines. I recently recorded something in that spirit using the 909 parameter on my Novation Drumstation and had lot of fun, both with the dry sound and many, many, many effects. Vid is available here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXK4gWxthZ2Ki9E

[@vvundertone]

Ty for sharing I’ll check it out!

[@НонэймНоластнэйм]

why dont you use type 2 casette?

[@vvundertone]

I do. I use it all honestly. It depends on my end goal. I used to use them exclusively but I started to realize the bass isn’t as smooth as type 1 and on this fostex they tend to distort much easier in a non-pleasing way. But I have both types near so I can make a decision based on the material I am working on.

[@dannyhayden1588]

Please excuse my question, but is he putting an artists pre recorded drums through his analogue gear? Like he doesn't create the drums but engineers the sound?

[@vvundertone]

Yes that is what I’m doing here. Although I do play drums too. It’s just recently I have been collaborating with more artists to expand the style of the sound packs.

[@dannyhayden1588]

@@vvundertone Thanks! I've never been able to create those lo fi kind of illmatic drums, I'll look at your sample packs

[@lakefraser]

but... you never told us what the magic tape was...

[@vvundertone]

Ooos! I decided to use another RTM to keep it consistent 👌🏼

[@robdot0]

ITS GIVING APHEX

[@vvundertone]

Oh absolutely! I hear that too. The God Father

[@robdot0]

@@vvundertone I meant you! lol

[@molca6293]

How are you bouncing your casette inputs from your 4 track seperately? On my four track I can only bounce a stereo mix from my four inputs into my DAW which really limits my mixing capacity.

[@vvundertone]

which unit? my fostex luckily has 4 tape outs. if I was you, because I am stubborn I would track each one individually and time align. But don't listen to me, I am certified insane.

[@bigdawgg1994]

@@vvundertonemy spirit animal

[@molca6293]

@@vvundertone It's a Tascam 424 mkiii, looking it at it maybe I can bounce seperately. Before I was bouncing individually and aligining but getting massive phase issues.

[@ramskiramski]

cool

[@sinenkaari5477]

For me i need to hear the room blend of the drumset in there or it will start to sound too separated and attacky. That's something compression or reverb can't make up for. The place where i can record drums atm has too dry sound so i've been trying to mess around with compression and reverb to get more depth to the sound but can't really get it. Usually i'm going for that 60's type of drumsound. These snappy sounds are great for Hip Hop thou

[@vvundertone]

totally get that. too many close mics and things become hyper realistic and quite lame. Ever try re-amping your drums? Take speakers in a acoustically pleasant space and setup some room mics to record the natural ambience. Its a sure fire way to get the tone you desire. Just a lil extra work.

[@sinenkaari5477]

@@vvundertone Yeah i've done that with Vocals sometimes on a reverby bicycle storage room with one of my genelec monitors and micing the otherside of the room with one condenser mic. For drums i think i don't have access to a suiting place atm. Also recorded some already soaked in reverb acoustic guitar there. For drums i there's something so real sounding with a room mic captured with the original performance. Speaker might be the next best thing. Now i can remember i also tried the re-amping on that more reverby practice space i had and it lost something compared to a room mic. Yeah i had some mic pointing at the wooden sealing there. It made guitars sound great also. I need to find more reverby high sealing place again.

[@andriealinsangao613]

​@@sinenkaari5477Crazy idea, but have you ever tried doing that (reamping) on a bathroom or something?

[@sinenkaari5477]

@@andriealinsangao613 What's the point you're making?

[@andriealinsangao613]

@@sinenkaari5477 What I meant by that is, put speakers in a space like a bathroom, play the drum tracks through said speakers and then record the results?

[@slapbackjunkie]

TONE.

[@vvundertone]

Can I get a thickness witness 🙌🏼

[@analitykapsychiatryczna]

I’m curious, which artists have inspired you and who do you enjoy listening to the most?

[@vvundertone]

Growing up it was Sonic Youth, Radiohead, and Aphex Twin that really shaped my initial love of experimenting and creating outside of norms. These days I listen to Ebo Taylor, Sun Ra, Bakar, Cleo Sol, all early Memphis Phonk, and heavy on the Habibi Funk! (to name a few)

[@analitykapsychiatryczna]

@@vvundertone nice ! i will check all of them

[@BuzZzHugz]

Not to be a D on the internet but start with a drum track that has vibe and energy. Listen to funk/ R&B drummers and the energy that’s infused into even a basic beat. The kick on this sounds like waiting for traffic while making a left turn.

[@BuzZzHugz]

Also the production value of this video is top notch.

[@smooom]

Fostex has a lot more depth in it's sound. I own three different Fostex' and five Tascam cassette recorder's and the Fostex almost always wins in the sound category.

[@vvundertone]

you have quite the FLEET. Yet to use a Tascam myself, although it seems universally regarding as the best so your opinion surprised me! Good to hear, cheers

[@Housemusicsouldierz]

Fat & crunchy!

[@vvundertone]

Indeed indeed!

[@TJ-bx5px]

Internet is the perfect place for wierd people.... Wtf is this....

[@vvundertone]

This is me creating a sample pack 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@zakhutson4576]

😂 keep practicing

[@vvundertone]

I practice everyday because I do this for a livin bud.

[@Sunkenballs12]

Lets hear your music clown

[@randomcultist398]

why are you balding could you like not do it

[@morganyoungisplayingdrums]

Jaki Liebezeit vibes @ 4:27

[@vvundertone]

Big facts. Not a lot of people can slide in that lane. Nico special.