I archived a bunch of original songs from 4-track reel-to-reel to digital format. The tracks lost a lot of their warmth in the process, especially the string synth tracks that were done on an ARP string synth.

Can anyone recommend a good plug-in to add some of that warmth to the digital tracks?

Thanks,

D.C.

 

Kramer Tape is good, and Nomad Factory Magnetik

 

Agreed - those and -- PSP Vintage Warmer

 

+1 for vintage warmer

 

Did u get the input to the digital recorder from the same outputs where it sounded warm?
Just curious about the digitisation process you used, since technically it should be a carbon copy frequency-wise of what was playing back. ie - the warmth on the original should still be there.
Typically analog warmth plugins are used on sources recorded digitally, since the warmth is actually caused by distortion introduced by the tape and analog recorder.

 

All the above answers...agreed.

ever try Roundtone products...tape too. but i prefer kramer most of the time...almost on each group i put this kramer stuff..

 

Run it through Harrison Mix Bus and be Amazed awesome mixer link found on here tape saturation is what you seek
http://audioz.info/audio-software/pc/37453-download_harrison-mixbus-v206.html true analog mixing

 

"Warm" is one of those terms thrown around a lot but is very subjective as to what it means. I'm not sure that is the term you are looking for here. It usually refers to the way harmonics introduced by the recording process combine to make things less brittle and harsh sounding. It sounds to me you are talking about the higher end frequency degradation that comes from storing magnetic tape for extended periods. How long and in what kind of environment were the tapes stored? Are you playing back on the same machine they were recorded on that has good heads, alignment, etc.? I have old 2 inch, 24track tapes and to re-play them after all these years you need to send to a place that puts them in an oven for a while so when they unwind the emulsion doesn't stick to the back of the tape. You really can't replace a magnetic domain that has been lost. A modeler can only imitate what is missing. You want as much of the original signal as you can get before you start letting machinery fill in what it thinks should go there. If the emulsion is not flaking off, you might be better off to put some very selective frequency compression and EQ,in combo with hiss reduction. I'm getting old. I remember a little about working with tape when that was all we had. lol And sometimes, when I'm staring at a blue screen or error message, I miss it.

 

Thanks for the replies. I used the same make & model tape deck (Teac 3340) to do the transfer. The heads seemed to be in good shape.
The tapes were stored in plastic bins in the attic. They were there for ten years. I didn't 'bake' them. The tranfer was direct from tape outputs to Phase 22 PCI card.

I'll try some of the suggestions.

 

The Waves MPX Tape Distortion sounds really nice on the Master-Track. It can add
some vibrato and slap-delay too for the "authentic shit". But its too big for putting
it on a single Track imo.

The Voxengo Overtone GEQ is my way to add some more of that harmonic content
for naturally lush sounding recordings. Its subtle but very good.

I think "warmth" is a combination of distortion and EQing afterwards. Maybe with
a high shelf filter. If you ever recorded a track on a simple tape and back to your DAW you
will think there is less bass and more treble. To make it fit in the mix you probably
have to filter some of the high harmonics OUT afterwards and thats why its called
"warmth" - (i dont know - just a thought :D) the mids are more focused and compact.

I would say adding warmth is more a mixing thing than a puristic detail thing.

 

I was gonna say PSP Vinatge Warmer too. Just be aware that most of its presets have O.T.T. compression settings so keep an eye on that.

 

meh.

you're right but EQing alone wouldnt be as effective as adding some gain to the signal too.

The EQ section on the Vintage Warmer, though limited in options, sounds great when you give it a hearty boost.

 

DUY DAD-tape and DUY DAD-Valve

 

You can't get back what you've lost in the process.


Two options:

1) You archive your songs again with a better signal chain. => Safe.

2) You add something different with any "warmth" plug. => Experimental.

Good luck.

 

hello, audioz-ers,

beside the above mentioned things (also about the warmness thing), one of these might be helpful...

Sound Toys Decapitator (mode a, t, p, n, e, in this order, however this is very program material dependent)

URS Classic Console Strip Pro (input stage, maximum intensity, tube 1, tube 2, iron settings)

URS Saturation (transformer american, transformer british, discrete mic pre british, tube)

Izotope Ozone Advanced (multiband exciter, lot of settings, maximum drive, mix as needed)

Izotope Alloy (multiband exciter, warm setting, maximum drive, mix as needed)

Softube Focusing Equalizer

Softube FET Compressor

Softube Trident A-Range Equalizer

Izotope Trash (read the recipes manuals)

Nomad Factory Limiting Amplifier LM 662

Nomad Factory Studio Channel SC 226

Nomad Factory Blue Tubes Analog Track Box

Wave Arts Tube Saturator

Nomad Factory Blue Tubes Valve Driver ADR 2S

Sonnox Oxford Inflator

D16 Group Redoptor

SPL Analog Code Twin Tube

112 dB Redline Preamp

112 dB Big Blue Limiter

112 dB Redline Equalizer

Nomad Factory Tube Screamer

speaker distortion (very basic) can be found (is modeled) in...

Magix Vandal Guitar Amplifier
Peavey Electronics Revalver

free plugs that sound good

Goldberg Bootsy EQ Mark II
Goldberg Ferric TDS
Jeroen Breebaart Ferox
AAY Audio ATube
Voxengo Variable Saturator

most probably there are lot of other things, these are what i have used in the past....

the first couple of the plugs are able to enhance really deep sine sub basses, too (very rare, very dear capability)...

all the best...

 

Kramer Tape + Slate VCC on every channel and the master *yes*

Watch out for the emulated noise in the waves vintage stuff

 

Yeah I often get duped into a game of "Find The Noise". Some times I wouldn't notice until an hour into a project when I take a break.

Then I gotta search through each VST/i and see whats causing it

 

My choice:

112dB Redline - Preamp
Antares Avox Warm
Cakewalk Tubeleveler
CDSoundMaster - VTM-M2
Magix - Am track / Am phibia
Mellowmuse - Satv
Nomad - Magnetic I / II
PSP audioware - Vintagewarmer2 / Mixsaturator2
SKnote - Roundtone / StripBus
Sonimus - Satson
Sound Toys - Decapitator
URS - Saturation native
Virsyn - Vtape
Voxengo - Lampthruster / Warmifier / VariSaturator / Analog Flux Tape Bus
Wavearts - Tube Saturator
Waves - Kramer Tape Stereo

There are a few plugins, I know, but everyone has their sound.
Note that almost all change the eq, and many are cleaner than others.
When I say clean I mean to add warm/saturation/harmonic content without destroying or add noise to the original sound.
Remember to be subtle. usually everyone go above applying effects.