IK multimedia Plugin vs Tascam PortaStudio 246

[@travisraab]

a Real Tascam 288 vs 388 Plugin : kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6ralJiwnLGVd9U

[@Barncore]

Why did you boost the HF EQ so high on the plugin? It made it sound way too bright relative to the tape machine, so it was hard to truly compare

[@travisraab]

that's what the plugin sounds like

[@Dekutard]

i was gonna say why not cut the high eq on the plugin to match the real sound better 😆 but i’m sure it still wouldn’t do it justice.

[@wehappyfewmusic]

Great comparison! The IK multimedia may be way cheaper and look nice on screen, but it lacks depth and that real tape tone. That digital di tone 😳

[@travisraab]

I know, right?

[@МихайлоЧубака]

@@travisraab relax man

[@travisraab]

@@МихайлоЧубака ?

[@jjmanccc1024]

To some degree it doesn’t if you push the in and level and dial back out it will sound about 90% as good as the real

[@jjmanccc1024]

Those are all plug-ins If you push in and dial back out it creates depth about 90% of the time

[@maxgomart]

Couldn't agree more !!! These plugins just lack the warmth, the noise, the hiss, the soul, everything... I really think IK multimedia put more budget on the graphical interface than the actual sound... Reminds me of arturia...

[@maxgomart]

When you also take into account that handling a vst is just not fun, not intuitive and not encouraging experiments, trial and error, it's just a no go for me !

[@travisraab]

@@maxgomart yup! People hear with their eyes 👀

[@kassemir]

The point about the bloat-ware is spot on. I bought something from them once, and having to go through all that, rather than just getting an installer for the plug-in itself was so annoying. I know it might be for copyright reasons or whatever. But, when freeware is less hassle, something's seriously wrong.

[@travisraab]

you said it! they probably are mining bitcoin right now on our machines.

[@Byronic19134]

Freeware doesnt need copyright protection so obviously it's going to be less hassle you can just download it and put the dll in ur plugin folder. You for obvious reasons can not sell a product like that because anybody can just copy and paste the dll online.

[@samchoate1719]

here from that other video we just talked on... The distortion on the real 246 sounds much better for sure. The plugin is kinda brittle and harsh. However, does it offer oversampling? Or will it benefit from running your session at a higher sample rate? I always make sure to turn oversampling on when using any saturation plugin.

[@travisraab]

Some people feel that way. I can't remember if this was at 48.

[@travisraab]

Im not sure that sample rate will cure what sounds so bad to me. And what is so easily fixed by just using an over drive pedal into a tube amp. Or an actual tape recorder. It's not just the overdrive. It's the randomness. In my course I take a super duper deep dive into how to replicate tape in the box, which it looks like you are trying to do. None of the plugins really do it. You have to do like 5 different things at once to try and get closer.

[@cleuenberg]

Thanks for the comparison! The software does some random stuff but it's not sounding like the real thing. Go for an actual 246!

[@travisraab]

Totally, Christian!

[@Byronic19134]

You understand most people dont have money for a real one right and thats kinda the point.

[@jairobarsallo1229]

Did you mix the drums with one over head 57? Thanks, J

[@travisraab]

I wouldn't call it a 'mix.' I literally threw a 57 up and that was it.

[@orlaymusic]

Hey man, what do you use to bounce Out of the task, cam into logic?

[@travisraab]

can you be more specific?

[@orlaymusic]

@@travisraab oh for sure. I've been looking into getting a 246 but have zero experience recording to cassette. After you record onto the cassette is there a some kind of 1/4 inch out that you plug directly into your interface and record into logic? if so would you need an input for each track? im really green when it comes to recording in general but want to learn and lean into the analog direction a bit. sorry if the question is annoyingly basic!

[@travisraab]

@@orlaymusic Yes you would need an interface with four inputs (if you want to have control over each individual track) and you would need the correct cables. I go into this in more detail in my course.

[@oinkooink]

I didn't see whether the bass was cranked up on the plugin. Might have helped give it more weight. Coz it sounded thin. Edit: Ooh you had the bass cranked all the way and it was still way thinner than the unit. How could IK get it so wrong?

[@kites4121]

No offense, but you can get much better results with different settings in the plugin. Your tape machine has a much more noticeable HF roll off than the plugin. If you turn the bias knob towards the hot side, the plugin will compress a lot more. Try putting the bias around 0.7, then crank the input until you hear distortion and dial the input back a bit until it is more subtle subtle. Type 1 mode has a significant HF rolloff then type 2 mode. Set mode (type1/type2) and HF knob to taste, using less HF if you want a more lofi sound.

[@travisraab]

I have long since deleted this horrible plugin

[@dja.selekta]

@@travisraab don’t blame the plugin dude 😂

[@travisraab]

@@dja.selekta I feel sorry for anyone using it

[@MaggieKeizai]

@@dja.selekta Nah, it's a rotten plugin.

[@SPOD_ZONE]

totally lacks any of the body of the actual tape unit & just sounds like a generic DAW saturation. Bit of a bummer. Also, for sick direct guitar tones that you might absolutely hate, check out Ween - Pure Guava. All recorded direct onto tascam 4 tracks.

[@travisraab]

Ween rocks

[@alexandernathan831]

I have a 246 and love using it. It just sounds natural with some saturation and some “wawa” on the high end. I’ve used some cheap tape plugins and while I always think it sounds cool at first after some A/B testing I usually decide not to use it

[@Augenatic]

great videos man! the portastudio sounded so much better than the plugin to me, seems to me like digital saturation, whether it´s in these plugins or guitar amp simulators just isn´t there yet.. especially cranked.. however the 388 plugin did somehow sound way closer to the cassette deck to me. made me think, maybe in 30 years time, hipsters will be hunting for these plugins on obscure p2p sites in search of those crunchy digital 2020s tones, and we´ll be the oldtimers shaking our heads

[@travisraab]

i was thinking that too artem! lol

[@nicogj6313]

Im curious as to what your thoughts are on those zoom audio interface/mixers. I had a zoom r16 before using a daw and it was decent

[@travisraab]

never messed with them. they look like they sound bright?

[@nicogj6313]

@@travisraab They definitely give off that impression but from what i remember they have a pretty flat/dull sound. My old r16 didn't capture as much high end as i get with my Scarlett/Logic setup

[@travisraab]

@@nicogj6313 interesting! i guess i always judged it by its appearance

[@Mute67]

I think the 246 has more bottom end and 'roundness' to the sound. The IK sounds more clear high end and flat. The two tape variations on IK is more like lowering the frequency on tape type 1 compared to type 2. As for recording instruments I agree with you that you should use an amplifier to let the sound of the instrument come out and play in the open air. Especially synthesizers benefits from that.

[@travisraab]

Agreed! 👍

[@brandonlefton1346]

How do you feel about the new fender twin reverbs?

[@travisraab]

Fender new twin reverbs? Just reissues?

[@brandonlefton1346]

@@travisraab the new tone master twin reverb uses a digital power amp and digital modeling

[@travisraab]

@@brandonlefton1346 I'm sure it sounds like a giant piece of dog excrement

[@FrankZen]

Ok so I didn't realize this is just a single track that emulates the sound of the cassette kind of like their other tape models. I got it free with my portable recorder. I actually still have my Tascam 424 and recorded a demo with it last year and it felt great! Physical tracking will always rule.

[@urbanformat5333]

I agree, but maybe you should Pre the Plugin, as oppose to Post with the same setting of the hardware recording to do the TEST!

[@travisraab]

good idea rasheed!

[@urbanformat5333]

@@travisraab Salute!

[@jonesvox1]

I have a feeling these plug-in developers lol when they price this stuff. Once you put the cute GUI of the retro cassette spinning around the hipsters hit Buy Now. Lol You can’t get a calculator to sound like analog circuitry. You can only convince people something is worth the price/cool factor ratio. Cool vid as always!

[@travisraab]

💯. I totally agree. Thanks Jones!

[@aaronw8525]

Thanks for getting worked up!

[@travisraab]

I can't control myself Aaron

[@buddhiaudioparadise6925]

I found porta two trim sounds same to logic's distration Plugin. could not be able to compare with repro.doesn't work cassettes on that machine

[@peterolofson9037]

Love your videos man

[@travisraab]

Thanks so much Peter!

[@Nocturnal_Dysphoria]

can you make a video using the Porta 07? I am now obsessed with analog tape machines because of your channel lol keep up the great work bro !

[@travisraab]

Oh I should! John I hope that's a good thing 😂

[@vladimirmarants999]

That's just amazing, how the sound of hardware reminds defines all the records we've listened. For example, this sounds EXACTLY like 90s productions in general. And tascams overlooked on your channel made THAT 70-80 vibe. I don"t know modern (mostly digital ) equipment with such notable character. Maybe, that's because too little time has passed in "new era", but also maybe, because all that old stuff had more human touch while been manufactured on them. Like someone said that all that vintage gear had little differences in sound even within one model range, maybe they actually listened them more at factories before placing on market.

[@travisraab]

i feel you vladimir! good thoughts thanks for your comment

[@MadeOnTape]

I almost wonder if these companies find themselves trying to please a modern ear in a DAW because these cassette plugins ALWAYS sound too hi-fi. What i mean is, the high end still sounds digital. Still, I'm all about accessibility and you can do awesome things with the plugin, but I can assure anyone reading this that there are truly inexpensive analog machines out there to mess around with if you're curious about what Travis talked about here: "you plug in and it sounds good" love your vlog-style edits, Travis!

[@travisraab]

yes chris! AND... whoever made this plugin should be forced to use it haha

[@brandonlefton1346]

Going straight into the computer always feels wrong, but sometimes I think a clean unprocessed direct in sound can be nice in its own way. It's like pure guitar sound. Tracking a direct-in rhodes would be psychotic

[@travisraab]

Yeah i mean i do it sometimes. People do it. That was more aimed at people who think that's the normal way to do it

[@FLH3official]

In my opinion it's almost impossible to compare a plugin with its harware aged version, even 2 real 246s will not sound the same with the same cassette type and brand inside. And the same applies to virtual vintage synths or tape delays and so on. In a perfect world we should have both, the real thing and the often more convenient and easy to patch plugin version 😉 (I'm personnaly guilty of lazyness, I have some vintages synths, old tape decks, RtR or cassette, and I often use plugins...)

[@travisraab]

it seemed pretty straightforward. the plugin is garbage

[@FLH3official]

@@travisraab Well, yes, but no 😀, in my opinion. It depends of your aims and on the global mix. All these things are just tools, even if we usualy prefer the real thing over its digital impersonation, personnaly I do, sometimes the fine settings we can have on a plugin can be usefull. So it's a balance between happy accidents in an old weathered machine and control on our creation. And the audience can't see your GUI and your studio, only the sonic result matters.

[@travisraab]

@@FLH3official yeah what i mean is that of all the cassette and reel to reel plugins i've ever heard, this is the worst. I would never use it.

[@fatbackfunk]

@@FLH3official Precisely..!!!!

[@revevague6256]

I use "Sketch Cassette II" for some vibe in the DAW. Its awesome.

[@travisraab]

Cool I'll check it out Reve!

[@BetweentheBeans]

Also a fan of SketchCassette II. Nothing sounds like my 424, but this is a close second. Also, no bloat! I will likely buy more of their software in the future solely out of principle.

[@travisraab]

@@BetweentheBeans very solid

[@revevague6256]

@@BetweentheBeans totally agree!

[@saren6538]

@@BetweentheBeans which mk you have of the 424 and how would it sound compared to the 246 ?

[@moondrums]

In my opinion the 388 plug in for drums sounds the best in this shoot out.

[@travisraab]

word!

[@rtraktsdn1197]

Smaller dynamic range (by means of some gorgeous actual tape compression) and less of that digital clarity with the Tascam 246.. You can hear the wider dynamic range and less natural compression with the plugin.

[@travisraab]

I hear you! it's like a totally different thing

[@curtisburns]

IK just ain't nailing da squish

[@travisraab]

Not nailing da squish you said it

[@Brantdrangus8489]

Wow. Again the ik plug ins sound appalling. Far out. Thank you for this. ❤

[@jonl.b7168]

So true about the free vsts. Why don't the hardware companies also do free? Would be really good to get more free synths and stuff in hardware form.

[@johnisrael5183]

The Advantage you have with ik media....is the character and richness of the Porta Studio but she still gets some of the digital Clarity at the same time it sounds just like the physical, but cleaner, and you can use other plugins to create depth in the stereo image especially a "tiny bit" of Pro R , a "tiny bit of RC 20 Space and Tube and Waves Stereo Center Plugin.... now I got the same sound as the hardware but cleaner that sounds a little more professional a little less muggy

[@travisraab]

I couldn't disagree more lol but hey what do I know

[@johnisrael5183]

Well.... the better scenario would be to have the analog Tascam for individual tracks that you may be using within your production in your DAW.... but still use something like tape 24 from ik media... on your mix bus along with a little bit of waves Center stereo, and RC 20, a tiny bit of tube with a little bit of space

[@johnisrael5183]

I've got an analog rack myself but the problem is you get a bigger advantage , using the digital for its clarity, and still mixing in the warmth and the roundness sound of either certain analog tracks within your mix or like I'm doing just do an entire stereo sum in and out do your analog rack on export

[@johnisrael5183]

I basically use two Mackie mixers, stereo channels on both one going in right from my ssl2 Plus, then going to my rack then going back out to another Mackie stereo Channel then back into the SSL two plus the end back into the DAW through PipelineXT in Studio One on Export... now that's giving me a smooth warm analog sound but it still keeping the clarity of the Daw really nice smooth analog professional sound

[@travisraab]

@@johnisrael5183 what is an analog rack?

[@RemmyMusic1]

not even close . digital plugin has such a harsh bite to the distortion where as the 246 has cassette saturations is more rounded and warm without being too airy.

[@travisraab]

I agree

[@johnisrael5183]

The 388 sounds really Close to your Analog 246

[@johnballantyne3458]

Plugin sounds kinda OK if you want to give your recording a bit of that "vibe", but not really the most accurate modeling ever. Does it even have tape hiss? That's kinda important. I feel like you could get closer to an authentic sound if you combined this plugin with careful use of EQ and compression, though. But on its own it's kind of underwhelming.

[@travisraab]

agreed, John! nope doesn't have the hiss or anything

[@jedidiahgirio]

Strangest metaphor I've heard in a while lol

[@matthewray5343]

I would have used the other tape formula for the shootout. Much fatter and darker than the default one. Messing with the Bias would have helped a bunch too. At the end of the day you have the real one, so It doesn't really matter.

[@travisraab]

The plugin is trash

[@newmachine00]

Love your videos, so much quality. BTW Use the p1rat3d plugins. They do not come with fourty tons of crapware and they work even faster than the 0riginals

[@basroos_snafu]

Wow, the drums sound great now, a bit like on Abbey Road! I stand with my point that the real tape sounds better, just because it is the real stuff you're searching after. Have a nice weekend Travis!

[@travisraab]

Thanks basroos!

[@Thought-Forms]

Great comparison, that fill mix example solidified it out the gate. & totally hear you on that IK software they make you download. bastards!

[@travisraab]

You said it DJ

[@floretsports5910]

Result is clear hardware is hardware

[@fuzzcityrecords432]

IK Multimedia must be stopped ! ! ! !

[@travisraab]

haha !

[@isaintjames]

I hear warmth.

[@isaintjames]

only from the real deal.

[@travisraab]

you're right isaintjames! i agree

[@buddhiaudioparadise6925]

k I found real one has bottom end punchy and detailed, warm sounding.also fullyness.I don't know how to say it.And it create some kind of dimension in mix(to my ear). plug-in sound - the tonal character of saturation of tape could be hear.but more top end with digital harsh tone.Doesn't it? I can hear it.I can't feel it like real one.I love how the real one sounds. Does these machines can repair???? I have one called midi studio 644.Doesn't work tape recorder.I'm upset.any way.good video raab.love it.

[@travisraab]

you can fix your 644! lots of free resources online. check out tetrakan

[@buddhiaudioparadise6925]

@@travisraab thank you!

[@OHHnoYOUdidntMAN]

damn. the Tascam 388 plugin on your other video was great, but this Porta One plugin sounds like garbage imo 💀 Wild how it varies

[@travisraab]

they both sound bad to me lol

[@johnisrael5183]

The Physical 246 Sounds better....I like it

[@frequincyrecording4286]

I’d rather put $200 into different tape types and use my 246 and 238.

[@saren6538]

can i ask what do you prefer the sound of ... the 246 v 238 ?

[@frequincyrecording4286]

@@saren6538 I think it’s negligible compared to the differences in front end. The 238 has no mixer, so I use my SSL, Neve or CAPI preamps and output is routed through a board or a Rupert Neve Designs summing mixer. I sometimes use the 246 preamps but often use outboard preamps for it as well. I think those factors are a larger impact on the sound than the actual recorders themselves. Both machines are in good shape and well serviced.

[@mekkoband3488]

The real thing is really deep vs. IK.

[@travisraab]

You said it 👍

[@benlogan100]

Owned both. Prefer the plug-in

[@travisraab]

Cool Ben!

[@R74-b7p]

Maybe do a blind test? And see if people can actually hear the difference instead of visually listening.

[@travisraab]

I did a blind test on this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6ralJiwnLGVd9U

[@altair1984lima]

topp

[@travisraab]

thanks altair lima!

[@Jerkyhammerstopwatch]

Digital is frankly demoralising at the bare bones level vs Analogue = Instantly compelling (Simply Alive)

[@travisraab]

You said it! I agree 💯

[@fere_gg]

honestly, not even close!

[@travisraab]

Yeah you're right

[@ricksnowden2150]

I have a Tascam 424, that finally gave in and I've got all the IK Multimedia overpriced tape emulations. Their marketing really got to me.... But alas I almost never use the plugins and constantly find myself trolling marketplace for used Tascam hardware to find that sound again. A lot of the punch is in the preamps, which can be sourced by other means, but the glue, the magic glue, is in the tape itself. Still yet to find a compressor that can do what tape can. Plugins ain't there yet...

[@travisraab]

I hear you rick! agreed

[@MrPaultheguitar]

To be honest it's a Rabbit hole but I do like portastudios just want to get songs done it can all get I was working in the lab late one night

[@dweingast]

In ALL cases, the tascam just blows away the plugin. It soundls like REAL music. the plgin does not

[@travisraab]

Agreed

[@bonemasterj]

I recommend signing a Non Disclosure Agreement with the guitar before the alleged molesting.

[@travisraab]

Good thinking John

[@fuzzcityrecords432]

CAN'T BEAT ACTUAL TAPE!

[@travisraab]

you said it! agreed.

[@EytanKoch]

Out of all your shootouts, I think this one showed the most obvious differences.

[@travisraab]

💯👍 agreed

[@wm1573]

Tested "her"? Bruh

[@Byronic19134]

I can hear the difference but to saying the IK sounds like crap is just way off base because it doesn't so it makes the video come off completely high brow and snobbery as if everybody could afford a real tape machine.

[@travisraab]

Why does anyone need a real machine? Why does anyone need the IK stuff? Why would anyone add something to their mix that makes it sound like crap?

[@sliduyzamnoyu]

It’s sounds digital sorry mate

[@travisraab]

what sounds digital?

[@sliduyzamnoyu]

IK MULTIMEDIA

[@travisraab]

@@sliduyzamnoyu why are you sorry?

[@sliduyzamnoyu]

@@travisraab sorry you tried comparing the obvious