New Analogue Project

[robokid]

With so much music being made, distributed and heard in the digital domain, sound quality is lost. I propose to release a record made with analog equipment and recorded to 1/4 inch tape, then mastered from that straight to lacquers then pressed as vinyl so that no digitization takes place at all and all clarity remains.

I've hunted around and worked out how to do things a bit cheaper to help cut down on costs. This means pressing only 100 units of 1 sided vinyl, but means it can be sold to people more cheaply.

Once I've got one release on the go, I hope to get a few more out - but obviously its a tricky thing to start so need a bit of a hand really.

more details can be found here:

http://www.kapipal.com/ff37a16dde884...92ce82d2e9 78

With everyone helping me to pull it together, I reckon it could get off the ground, and make unemployment seem a little less tedious.

Cheers

Robokid

[JE:5]

Looks interesting for sure, maybe you could have some nice indivual artwork on each one to make them even more special.

[robokid]

I did think of that, but am in two minds as a generic label would help to keep costs down - though the flip of the first one would hopefully contain the names of all donators. Its a really tricky one as its all about shaving off a few quid here and a few quid there - and i have a feeling that the revox tape machine i got for recording onto - may end up costing more than i bargained for.

That said - I'm well open to suggestions and ideas.

[Molotov]

instead of getting everyones names squeezed onto the label, you could etch them all in on the un-used side of the vinyl? I'm pretty sure I've got a 1-sided record somewhere with loads of writing on the flipside..

[soulcheck]

Originally Posted by JE:5

Looks interesting for sure, maybe you could have some nice indivual artwork on each one to make them even more special.

hand drawn obviously

[mdk]

i look forward to the mp3s

[LukeHandsfree]

That's a great idea... how is it going to (or how is it allowed to) be sequenced/arranged? All analog sequencers too? No digi whatsoever? Or just no digi in the audio signal path?

[robokid]

Originally Posted by Molotov

instead of getting everyones names squeezed onto the label, you could etch them all in on the un-used side of the vinyl? I'm pretty sure I've got a 1-sided record somewhere with loads of writing on the flipside..

I really like that idea - proper good.
the problem is though - that it means getting a lacquer for the flip side - etching it (not a massive problem) and getting the metalwork made from it - which adds another £70 / £75 to the total cost.

might see if i can wrangle it though as it wouldn't need to be as precise as the side with the grooves. - cheers

As for sequencing thats where it falls down.
Basically in keeping with a Chicago sound from the late 80's i've been using a boeing drum combo (707 and 727) which is digital. Not owning the machines i've used samples but feel that because they were samples on the machines this isn't a problem (they are also lightly warmed through a TLA fatman). They, and my analogue boxes run through an analogue desk - sequenced by a computer (synth tweaks are manual), with effects that are digital. Its a compromise, but i simply can't afford it any other way at the moment. The analogue which makes up the signal path will ideally stay that way by recording to 1/4 inch tape and mastering straight to lacquer.

I guess its all about a set of limitations helping with creativity rather than sampling and resampling. nice simple rich sounds and (digital) drum patterns. I hesitate to mention submissions for release, because though i want that, i'm not too keen on gobbing off to people about releasing their work before i've got something solid in place already. Should that happen (might sell some boxes if things look bleak) then i'm well interested in other people's music.

As for artwork - handdrawn could be good. I have a simple design i like - but if the flip is etched, then the label is feed up. Again - i need to get closer to the goal before I take submissions - I don't want to be just another person full of hot air and empty promises.

[V Knid esq]

All I really have to add is I am pro this project.

[dan gulberry]

Originally Posted by mdk

i look forward to the mp3s

I'm still chuckling.

[Loz]

Originally Posted by robokid

As for sequencing thats where it falls down.
Basically in keeping with a Chicago sound from the late 80's i've been using a boeing drum combo (707 and 727) which is digital. Not owning the machines i've used samples but feel that because they were samples on the machines this isn't a problem (they are also lightly warmed through a TLA fatman). They, and my analogue boxes run through an analogue desk - sequenced by a computer (synth tweaks are manual), with effects that are digital. Its a compromise, but i simply can't afford it any other way at the moment. The analogue which makes up the signal path will ideally stay that way by recording to 1/4 inch tape and mastering straight to lacquer.

I sense a couple of problems with your "all analogue" idea here.

Not to be too nitpicky, and I look forward to hearing and buying the result, but if you look at the circuit boards of the 707 and 727, there are a lot of resistors and capacitors between the sample chips and the audio output. That makes quite a lot of difference to the perfect reproduction of the sound every time it's played.

[emef]

i'm sure i dont understand music very well
but from tape onto vinyl
wouldn't that be where some of the music is lost?

i saw a pressing plant in guatalmala that had children on bikes powering the vinyl lathe
i tell you ... those records sounded sweeet

[robokid]

Originally Posted by Loz

I sense a couple of problems with your "all analogue" idea here.

It seems I'm watching quite a bit unravel now I've popped the idea in the public domain and started thinking about it. Bugger.

Its really tricky as we all know how important that next bit of kit is and how much we need it, whether its old or new, but if the music isn't getting played then it all seems a bit pointless. I'm unsure how the Kapipal donation system will work, and will probably end up scraping money together (redundant bits of kit, projecters etc) to put something out, but know I just need to get something concrete which is not another synth with aspirations attached to it that is going to take me a step further from putting some music out.

I'm not too sure that tape to vinyl would cause music to be lost. Digitising the music by its very nature turns the music into steps / on off switches, rather than flowing lines. I'm not going to get into dicussions about how perceptible the loss is or isn't, I just think that many records made before the digital era sounded pretty damn good and they were all mastered to tape. The early Trax Records stuff is a good example of electronic music recorded to tape then vinyl - and that also sounds good. I'll be using a revox a77 for recording - not a little cassette player.

[emef]

haha old trax records are pressed really badly

[robokid]

Originally Posted by emef

haha old trax records are pressed really badly

aren't they just - wondered if that'd be mentioned - not all of them were though (but the copy of "we are future" i got was so badly split and fucked it cost me two needles) and I won't be going down the recycling old vinyl route - mind you - maybe for the authenticity value it might not be such a bad move...............

[don___quixote]

do you have any examples of previous work youv'e done? i'm all up for helping to fund worth while arts projects but well: i'd like to know it was worth while.

i hope this doesn't sound to harsh btw.

[robokid]

Originally Posted by don___quixote

do you have any examples of previous work youv'e done? i'm all up for helping to fund worth while arts projects but well: i'd like to know it was worth while.

i hope this doesn't sound to harsh btw.

Okey Dokey - Balls on the line time.

these have been recorded into a computer and the soundcard leaves some nasty noise (another reason for the recent revox aquisition) also they are unmastered as I feel this should get done by someone who knows what they are doing and quite frankly - i don't.

As such the sound is quite raw, and I got some good feedback for these tracks from Lets Pet Puppies, and Guy at Bunker Records, though i'm working on new bits to be released and can't lay them down till i pick up the revox and some virgin tape.

http://soundcloud.com/perseus-traxx

[emef]

Originally Posted by robokid

aren't they just - wondered if that'd be mentioned - not all of them were though (but the copy of "we are future" i got was so badly split and fucked it cost me two needles) and I won't be going down the recycling old vinyl route - mind you - maybe for the authenticity value it might not be such a bad move...............

aye my copy of we are future is pretty fucked too

[robokid]

Originally Posted by emef

aye my copy of we are future is pretty fucked too

I chucked mine and got a re-press - the split cost me too dearly for it to risk happening again