i improved my (Analog) Mix

[@travisraab]

How I improvised this song : kzbin.info/www/bejne/inqzgHaqdslqhJY

[@Prod.Countryjames]

The mixer sounds so amazing

[@jonathanredman8497]

It’s all coming together Travis. Enjoying the development process since the Tascam arrival.

[@spooktasticaparanormal]

Hey Travis, its really great to witness your dedication and attention to detail. Happy recording my friend. Happy recording. Paul. 😇

[@theuniversityoflife8704]

Oh yeah! The snare without toms is more of focussed groove, good thinking, and great channel, totally love your journey with the 388. Its got a nice bit of weight to the sound, it sounds so good!

[@travisraab]

Thanks! It's got a lot of weight it's very heavy

[@hrorm]

Yesss ! Back in the cozy Sound Barn ahaha !! You achieved something here cause the sound is undeniably good.

[@travisraab]

You think so? Thanks

[@hrorm]

@@travisraab Listen to the drums man. Thats a delicous drum sound. Never recording drums on digital again. If you take a listen to Nachtmysticum Assasins Black Meddle Part 1 album, thoose drums were also kept on analog all the way up to mastering. Digital is great but when the recording guy compresses cymbals it sounds horrible. Focus out of the middle and just listen to the L & R of the recording. Great job.

[@travisraab]

@@hrorm I'll check them out man Thank you :)

[@Hamfantasy56]

Basic: one mono-omni mic on top of the drum set - Intermediate: a pair of mics (or a stereo mic) on top/front + mic for the kick- maniacal: a mic for every drum piece + stereo room

[@travisraab]

I'm a bb

[@jocknarn3225]

Agreed; no substitute 4 the orig manual! Loox like u kept that 388👍👍👍. Ur enthusiasm inspires!

[@Haze763]

Love your home and studio space out in the woods man. Looks cool af!!! ✌

[@R.Es1]

This came out dope. The 388 sound is great. A beefy , nostalgic , warmth to it. Any chance you could show us in an upcoming video, a simple straight forwards way you go from the 388 or the other analog recorders to protocols or your recording software? How you wire and connect and track out? Hopefully not asking for to much. Thank you and we appreciate your videos!!

[@travisraab]

It's pretty basic I almost always go stereo out from my 388 to my interface. If I had an interface with 8 pres. I would consider going 8 out of my 388 and then mixing in the box. but alas

[@R.Es1]

@@travisraab ah ok. Thank you

[@FernandoLopez-gf2sr]

You sounds amazing! Always. thank you.

[@jfog123]

I'll have to dig out my 388 again.

[@BernardBotejue]

Love when you make videos about the studio

[@travisraab]

cool man ! ill make more

[@murielpalmer-rhea8250]

You are a big part of my “Morning Online University” and I am SO hungry to find a refurbished TEAC 388…but the intervening time I have you to learn from.

[@sanmaran1]

really enjoy your videos, We are alike.....Try this, Try that! I have my 388 and the effects returns are the same.....going to give mine a thorough cleaning........Glad you got those tapes. Nice gesture for sure.....Keep up the good work, your getting there!

[@ElijahAlbuquerque-MusicStudio]

Track sounds amazing! I wish I had a bit of time to use that track for soloing! Love ur mixes so classic sounding 🎉✨

[@ElijahAlbuquerque-MusicStudio]

Would love to see how u use the guitar effect pedal! I do that a lot too ✨ don't have a very good analog guitar effect pedal tho 😆 but I use it anyway 🎉

[@travisraab]

@@ElijahAlbuquerque-MusicStudio are you sure he only uses one drum mic?

[@travisraab]

You mean how I use the M9?

[@bobzmuda3940]

beautiful *mac demarco-ish* jam 😘 also, great thinking replacing the toms with shakers to tighten the snare up

[@travisraab]

Hi Bob thanks 🙏

[@jerrylada461]

Whenever I do stereo overheads (or toms in your case) I like to pan the right mic (floor tom mic) all the way to the right and the left one like 30% left, because it isn't physically left of your kick and snare. It may make your high tom a little less out of context! And I fully agree with Country Sky Studio here, try making a one mic video sometime? Or a 3 mic setup sum to one track for the sake of comparison? Keep them coming though! Love these videos.

[@travisraab]

Cool thanks!

[@wehappyfewmusic]

The track is sounding great! I’d love to find some time to add something too it, although I don’t think I could make it any better. 😃

[@travisraab]

That would be cool!

[@wehappyfewmusic]

@@travisraab Right, I’ve written some okayish lyrics and recorded a vocal idea on my Yamaha MT8X II to your backing track. Do you mind if I post it and tag you in?

[@travisraab]

@@wehappyfewmusic yeah do it!

[@wehappyfewmusic]

@@travisraab here it is😅 Tascam 388 + Yamaha MT8Xii - Analog Jam kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZSWqmisbr2SkLc

[@burtreynolds2969]

Sounds killer man!

[@travisraab]

Thanks Burt!

[@tri-unetrl3966]

0:49 had me rollin... what is what is it!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@earDrops72]

Vintage goodness in the present....so nice

[@juanjosehernandez8684]

I think I like a mix between mix1 and mix2. the clarity from 1 and the punch from 2 nice music men, I like so much the things you do;)

[@travisraab]

🙏 thanks 👍

[@GoLongboardBroseph]

Great idea! And improved mix

[@travisraab]

Thanks, Dan!

[@sfn4702]

Yes. This content right here! Thank you

[@travisraab]

Is this what everybody wants to see? Don't even know how to classify it

[@TheGizmoGuitar]

Amazing as always!

[@travisraab]

thanks M!

[@madzoo4399]

HibI Have a beloved Tascam m216’and I just love it!!!

[@countryskystudio]

Top Shelf Stuff...as always Travis! So, just a thought: I know you've said you "just can't do the 1-mic on kit"....however, I really think you should give it a try. I would love to see you do a vid on that. With 1-mic, it's all about placement and preference of how much kick you want in mix, but it just seems with that room and your playing style, 1-mic 'could' be magical! 🪄

[@travisraab]

David ooooof for you I should probably try it

[@ElijahAlbuquerque-MusicStudio]

ZackGrooves does a one mic setup and I love his mix! But he doesn't post a tutorial, really wanna see some tips on how to do that ✨

[@SleepingLionsProductions]

I bet the reason why your FX return keeps getting cut off is probably because those potentiometers are dirty. Usually stuff like that happens if the mechanism inside the potentiometer isnt making clean contact

[@whisperthiefmusic]

Could you gate the tom mics so you don't get the snare in them? Or thinking about it, first port of call would be to position the tom mics differently to mitigate more bleed? I dunno, sounded great to me!

[@travisraab]

ni ce idea! thanks whisper thief :)

[@billyrayvalentine7972]

Love your videos. I would recommend a wood beater to go with your pinstripe head on the kick . And yes use that black kick pad on the drum head. It will give you more punch. I think felt beaters have a purpose but for recording you get a cleaner punchier sound and you can trim back the high end if you want more bottom end. 👍

[@travisraab]

thanks for the suggestion i'll check it out , billy!

[@rocknreplay]

Okay. Quick question. I see you have your Mac on your desk. Are you recording to tape and then bouncing to the Mac? Or just using the 388 as an analog mixer?

[@travisraab]

This song is recorded to tape. Then the final stereo mix is bounced to tape. Then I master that on the computer. There are songs that I just use the 388 as a mixer, but I indicate that. Also you can hear the tape can't you? It's incredibly noisey.

[@rocknreplay]

@@travisraab I don't hear it on the video, even with my headphones. I think my tape has hiss though when there are quiet parts. I grew up with cassettes so I'm used to that! LOL

[@travisraab]

@@rocknreplay maybe im just that good at getting a good signal to noise ratio! jk. i hear it very loudly. i wish it was less noisey

[@rocknreplay]

@@travisraab you probably are! But I think you mentioned it in the video. People that use reel to reel and other analog equipment want that hiss. It’s what makes analog…analog.

[@travisraab]

@@rocknreplay 90% of that is tape. The 388 pres are very quiet.

[@eduugr]

For the last years all I have been thinking was moving to the country side... you are really convincing me with your videos ;P

[@travisraab]

Do it!

[@frontboi]

Nice piece. Please can you advise what mic is best all rounder for vocals and percussion during production.

[@travisraab]

vintage neuman u47. you can also use an sm57

[@uhhrik]

Hey there, where did you find that dust cover for your 388? I'm in hot pursuit for a cover for mine since a sheet ain't cutting it anymore. Thanks!

[@travisraab]

A subscriber made it by hand for me! I'm very lucky

[@marcblanchard6144]

Love your sound! Capstan motor dead on my 388! Where can I find one! Please help!

[@travisraab]

I think there's one on reverb

[@marcblanchard6144]

@@travisraab can’t seem to find it if by any chance you see it send ref thanks for reply though

[@Mute67]

Interesting to hear you change the toms to shakers and tambourine. I missed the Tascam 388 improv last weekend. What do you find most difficult when you make a song? A great video as usual!

[@travisraab]

Great question I'll have to think about that

[@EricRabb]

Ok, get some electronic contact cleaner. Remove the knob from the effects potentiometer. (Yea the plastic “blue” knob, just pull up on it) now spray contact cleaner down into the shaft. Place the contact cleaner tube where the shaft and metal meet, spray for about a second or two. Here’s the fun part! Twist that effects potentiometer fully from right to left like 20 or 30 times to “clean and lube” the effects potentiometer. Same works for dirty faders and switches. Repeat as necessary.

[@travisraab]

Thank you!

[@mrmansville9340]

@@travisraab If you have to use anything use dedicated fader lube. Potentiometers have a special grease that provides the satisfying friction and the contact cleaner will dissolve this stripping the lubrication and loosening the action. Working the knob back and forth alone eventually clears most crackling.

[@travisraab]

@@mrmansville9340 good thinking!

[@bassplayeronly]

Nice analog sound

[@Haze763]

What are you using for your flange/chorus effect? Love it!!

[@travisraab]

its either the electro harmonix deluxe mistress, or the line6 m9

[@Jerkyhammerstopwatch]

Would you ever include your routing in one of your videos?

[@travisraab]

Which routing specifically? Which machine do you have?

[@JuanMotta]

Thank You!!!!

[@travisraab]

My pleasure Juan

[@stevemungarro2713]

Love your videos! BTW, Where did you get the cover for your 388?

[@travisraab]

Thanks Steve! One of my subscribers made the American flag 388 cover for Me! I'm lucky

[@Hamfantasy56]

How those used tapes sound? did you rec this nice arrangement using one of those?

[@travisraab]

I used lpr35. I haven't gotten around to these yet I'll have to check them out!

[@joemaletskii]

I just got a tascam m-216 And I need some advice … because I don’t think it had phantom power … should I get a preamp? If I do , anything you recommend ? Vintage ? New ? Thanks !

[@travisraab]

well maybe just get a phantom power box? 20$

[@joemaletskii]

@ oh … I didn’t know they made those , I’m new to the tascam producing world !

[@rdake4542]

Just a random question, but what is your favorite multitrack analog tape recorder?

[@travisraab]

I think the 424 is pretty good. There's lots of them and they aren't too expensive. They take XLR. They have nice clicky buttons. They are one of the most recently made. They are blue. They play normal tapes and also go fast.

[@George-gk2zs]

what version of dbx is in the 388 ?

[@travisraab]

i'll have to check

[@ConorJameson]

Who's this Tom guy you keep talking about?

[@travisraab]

his name Tom DRUM 🥁 he invented the phil

[@marcosaruca5283]

You should look into the glyn h Johns recording method your basically almost there lol

[@travisraab]

Cool thank you!

[@mrmansville9340]

It's just a really infectious groove I did a 300 mile work trip played it several times in the car cruising around middle earth. Getting the brain to tape transfer done for most is the hardest part. You nailed that. Looking forward to putting the second version thru the HiFi in the lounge and pulling up a beanbag.

[@travisraab]

Pulling up a beanbag... Gangsta!

[@Marco-HidalgoMusicRecords]

3:19 lmao!!! excellent!!!!!! 🤣🤣

[@travisraab]

😂😂

[@PROJECT-de9pd]

You can get the 388 in the box if you want to. Simply define the shift it's giving you and then use Plugins to get you there. It's not hard really.

[@travisraab]

I made a video comparing the plugin to the 388. It's on my channel. The plugin sounds horrible.

[@PROJECT-de9pd]

I'm talking about plugins. Preamp, EQ and Saturation using different Plugins.

[@travisraab]

@@PROJECT-de9pd yep, check out my course where i break down how to do it members.travisraab.com/tape-recording-tactics

[@frankr6475]

Eliminating the toms brightened up the drum tracks for sure

[@travisraab]

yeah frank!

[@sojourner-kl6ei]

rhodes would be sweet on that

[@travisraab]

Lay it down baby

[@lummox81]

Sounds good! Please take your kitty to the vet.

[@travisraab]

Which kitty

[@greatwhite4761]

I that machine

[@vanessalouzon]

yeah second snare sounds much better

[@vanessalouzon]

...but the stereo toms were quite nice!

[@travisraab]

yeah it's always a work in progress Vanessa!

[@bonemasterj]

I don't think you should put a Tom on a Snare stand unless you want to get cancelled/banned in the E.U. Pretty sure it's in the Brexit agreement. Totally fine in jolly old England, BTW.

[@travisraab]

Well you're gonna get your wish cause I'm already over it. And it broke my heart. Why can't I achieve the drum sound of my dreams?

[@bonemasterj]

@@travisraab Have you considered Beat-Boxing?

[@travisraab]

@@bonemasterj I beat box every day. Dude drum sounds are driving me insane...

[@burtreynolds2969]

@@travisraab Have you tried running your drum mic through the tone beast into the 388? Also, if you can get your hands on a cheap compressor and put it into the send/Rcv on the drum channel, it will add some good punch.

[@travisraab]

@@burtreynolds2969 yeah I was thinking about doing compressor pedal on the effects for some parallel compression. Yes I've used the tone beast on drum mics it's cool!