> It goes without saying that the ability to record and edit audio in the digital domain brings enormous benefits, enabling us to produce punchy, cutting-edge music entirely within our computers. However, there’s still something undeniably special about audio processed in the analogue domain. Wouldn’t it be great, then, if you could make your digital recordings sound more analogue?
Thanks to an increasing number of extremely talented plugin developers, this has very much become a viable possibility, as they painstakingly model the gloriously chaotic analogue processes behind magnetic tape, valves, transformers and more. Of course, all of these things have been around in plugin form for ages now, but the current generation focuses particularly on the subtleties and nuances, emulating the effects of tape and desk circuits used at regular operating levels.
In general terms, the analogue recording chain runs from a mic or DI, via a preamp, desk channel and sometimes desk bussing, out to a tape deck. The resultant multitrack recording is then replayed via desk channels and summed to stereo. Within this process, there’s an awful lot going on that simply doesn’t factor into a DAW setup.
Probably the most significant element is the tape machine, where various pre-emphasis and playback EQ circuitry combines with your chosen operating level, biasing and, of course, tape type to greatly influence the outcome.
Beyond this, desk bussing also influences sound, and when you punctuate the signal chain with transformer and amplification circuits, some of which may be valve-based, there are clearly many sources of analogue colouration being brought to bear.
In these walkthroughs we’ll put some of these tools to the test by taking some pristine digital sounds and analogue-ising them. We’ll apply our plugins on an ‘as needed’ basis, using tape, transformer and/or valve processing on individual sounds or groups of tracks where they’re best suited. Don’t forget to check out the accompanying audio examples.
Drum and tape – a match made in heaven
It’s often said that drums and tape make the perfect pairing, but why? And is this still a meaningful suggestion in the digital age?
If you’ve ever recorded drums on a high-quality professional multitrack tape machine, the experience of playing them back and hearing the sound change can be both exciting
