Mixing With Mike Mixing Tip: Using Analog Tape Machine Emulations for Compression

[@kahlidwoods3287]

Man... your background info is intense!!! Very helpful to those of us who never got to play with analog tape machines :-( Thanx again for all your insight.

[@mixingwithmike]

Cheers Kahlid!

[@DjMiflyn]

Thank you for this tutorial! All your stuff is great, but this one just helped me figure out what was wrong with 1 particular mix that I told a friend I would be finishing today.

[@mixingwithmike]

djMiflyn Thanks djMiflyn! Doesn't get any better than that! Cheers! Mike

[@Seany06]

Hi Michael, What are your thoughts on Tape before or after EQ/compression etc on machine drums? I'm emulating early/mid 80s mixing style using drum machines/synths, and not sure which is more accurate, I've read some people EQ'd to tape, what was your experience regarding this? Cheers.

[@descargamusicalny]

Thank you for all the information you provide to the community. I have a question. I have the uad studer A800 plug in. Do you recommend using that plug in at the recording stage with the Apollo or just use it at the mixing stage?

[@NathanBrown-dk5wh]

I would say it's would be better to use at the mixing stage one idea is good to mix thought the emulation try it will really change your mix.

[@mixingwithmike]

descargamusicalny Mixing stage is definitely better. You don't need to be chasing analog record levels while trying to track. If you don't want to clog up your UA processors with A800 plugs you can always bounce the settings in before starting to mix. This way you can pay better attention to the settings to get the best sound. Cheers! Mike

[@mixingwithmike]

Nathan Brown Agreed

[@descargamusicalny]

Michael White thanks for replying. I am running an apollo quad but, running 32 instanctiations of the A800 plus the ART at the master buss is a bit much. Maybe I can run them in stereo busses and use it as some kind of analog summing plug.

[@mixingwithmike]

Hi descargamusicalny, This is also a good idea. I would recommend waiting until you mix is almost complete before applying it to the mix stems or mix buss. Otherwise it may swallow up your additive EQ and become less effective. Cheers! Mike

[@67Stu]

Great plugin! I loved it the moment I first used it. Very helpful video. Thanks!

[@mixingwithmike]

67Stu Cheers!

[@67Stu]

Michael: Please check me out at these two links: twitter.com/stupendousmusic jp.linkedin.com/pub/stuart-snyder/b9/112/a28 Thank you!

[@mixingwithmike]

How did you like NYU Music Production program?

[@67Stu]

I was a Music Business major. When I was was there, both the Music Business and Music Technology programs were undergoing revamping and modification, as they were in the same department. The curriculum itself was good for the time, as there were very few universities, colleges, or specialty schools that offered such programs. Keep in mind that this was in the days when digital recording was just coming into existence,CDs were just replacing vinyl, but we still had cassettes (but not for long) the internet was still new, and the music/record/publishing industry hadn't changed yet; but that was just around the corner as we saw in the next decade.

[@mixingwithmike]

Cool, I was in a similar situation at Berklee in the early 80's. They had just dumped 2 million dollars into the Music Production program with new studios and gear. it was sort of a big deal at the time.

[@worldsbestplaylist000]

who sang that song and your work is so crisp and smooth

[@mixingwithmike]

Artist name is Stone Walters Cheers!

[@dylanroberts1349]

Your the man MIKE!

[@mixingwithmike]

Dylan Roberts Cheers Dylan!

[@sonorityscape]

2 things... 1. You mention "hitting the tape". What is hitting the tape to cause compression. 2. You mention "over-driving the tubes". What are tubes and how can they be over-driven. For someone who has never worked with or seen analog gear, it can be difficult to comprehend the process the is take place. Cheers, Daniel