#149 - 7th September 2024 - glitchin'
Today, I set sail to create a TapeCore version of our next release.
What that is? I have no idea.
I made the term up to express that it is supposed to sound very lo-fi, perhaps wobbly and saturated - in the good analog way of course ;)
To do that, I first cut some low frequency content from the final master version.
From my last experiments I remembered that the tape recorder added low mids. Also, I imagined the tape to struggle a lot with low end content, hence the precaution.
To be precise, I set a hi pass around 40 Hz 6dB slope and reduced <250Hz by 3.5dB. I also set a lowpass around 11kHz.
Then, I recorded this signal on tape with the Tascam Porta 02 tape recorder that I still have on a loan. Input signal was high enough to have the loudest signals run the preamps a little in the red. Another thing I had learned from my previous experiments. A little red is great. A lot is shite.
From the tape, I went back into the mixing console, used one AUX to go mono into the Echo Fix Chorus Echo and mix only Chorus, without Delay back into the main signal.
AUX 2 went into the CxM 1978 on lofi settings, also mixed slightly in the background.
The mixing desk sum went into the Louder Than Liftoff Silver Bullet, Neve Mode, no EQ, but tight, vintage and aspect ratio activated (it's a standard, I never question it and just keep these on).
I might have heard the tape recording three or even four times to do the adjustments and mix all the signals on the console.
When I was ready for my print to back to digital recording run, right in the middle of the track the tape slipped (I think?) twice and then the entire recording went to a bit faster playback.
I kept it. I figured if you're out for TapeCore (TM) what more can you ask for than an actual analog equipment glitch that happened by chance?