Analog Recording Setup Tascam MSR 16 Soundcraft Sapphyre 

Thank you! In college we had to learn signal flow in the analog studio and I have understood it well since. I don't mention it in the videos but I do have a college degree in audio engineering. I use my channel to teach. The Fostex R8 is a great machine too and is a lot of fun to use them. I really enjoyed mine when I had it. Thanks again!

Thank you! I like making the videos and hope it's helping people with their analog gear. It takes a lot of time to make videos with analog gear so I really appreciate your comment. Thanks again!

Thank you! I think the weather is supposed to get better in a few weeks or maybe never. Lol

Thank you! It's always lots of fun setting up analog gear. I guess I just like routing signals and patching things a lot when. it's necessary.

Thank you! It was a lot of fun to make too!

It's calibrated for +6 or 355nW/M. Works great with the ATR tape. Very analog sounding even with dbx on

@@TwinCreekAudio Sounds great. Thanks much

It was a little confusing for me due to how I have the console set up too.

I noticed that when I was editing but I was just playing random stuff to test levels.

That's a good question. The Sapphyre does have -10 switches on the back of the channels which makes this easier except the switches are not as easily accessible so I have to climb behind the console to switch them. I have my Sapphire setup with different channels for the tape machine and the digital audio interfaces and have the -10 switches set accordingly. I had a Soundtracs Topaz and I cut the jumpers to mod it to +4 but I was using it with an MCI JH-16 which was definitely +4. I think your best option would be the mod and then use some line level converters if you decide to go with a tape machine that's -10 like my Tascam MSR-16. That's going to be the best way to have an easier option later as there will be less possibility of extra problems and signal degradation. I have definitely been able to track with a control that was +4 to a -10 device by dropping the fader level so that can work if you prefer not to mod the Spirit. The Spirit is a really good console. I had a Spirit Live at one point and the Mic Pre + preamps really impressed me. I had a Ghost at one time as well and I thought the Spirit actually sounded better. The Ghost is a bit dark sounding to me but is very quiet and has great EQ. I just preferred the sound of the Spirit which is closer to my Sapphyre. If it was me, I'd mod the console and probably try to buy a tape machine that's +4 but those are a lot more expensive on the used market than the narrow gauge multitracks. On the other hand, the narrow gauge multitracks by Tascam and Fostex are extremely reliable when compared to an old MCI or something along those lines. Best of luck and let you know what you decide or if you have anything else you'd like to discuss.

@@TwinCreekAudio Grady you are ace. I'll defo do the mod cause 90% of usage will be for hybrid mixing and this is a must. Good point: I'll only do it for the second batch of 8 channels! The 16 channels are normaled to the 8 group outputs. That should give me two options depending on if I tape send 1-8 or 9-16! Glad you mentioned this. I'll give you news after execution.

Awesome! Thanks! Look forward to hearing how it works out.

That's a great question. I don't always mention my interfaces in the videos. I have several different interfaces but the main ones that send the audio to the console are Audiofire 12s then the mix output from either control room or main mix is sometimes captured back into the Audiofire or sometimes a MOTU 828 with an Audiofire 8 connected to it using ADAT. I also have an Audient EVO that's used in videos where I need a loopback for things like screen captures.

@@TwinCreekAudio oh nice ok. And how do you combine the two audiofire’s then into the computer? Just clock the two and then FireWire?

They are daisy chained with FW400 and a FW400 to 800 cable with Thunderbolt adapters. They are synced via word clock and I'm using an aggregate device on macOS Monterey with the official Echo FW drivers that should work all the way up Monterey. After that, FW support is removed from macOS. I have also used the Audiofires with Windows 10 and the 5.8 drivers successfully and just had to remember which devices was which with the second usually having -a beside the name.

@@TwinCreekAudio ok. Thank you so much for clearing it up for me. I’m currently looking to start branching out of the box, and wanting to start utilizing a hands on mixing and recording experience with some sort of console. Just not sure where I should get started. I’ve been looking at super cheap mixers/consoles like the Carvin mx 1622, and older soundcraft models. Just want to make sure I get the correct converters/interface hookup with my 17’ iMac.

Sure, I try to answer all questions in the comments as I have time. It helps other people that way as well so I'll try to help as best I can

@@TwinCreekAudio Can you check out the TAC Scorpion2 console? Is it possible to make it work tape in/tape out like you did with the soundtrack console? I have one scorpion console in my area for a reasonable price

@@ingoodmusic yes, the Scorpion should work well in a hybrid setup. It is a split design with the tape returns in a separate section above the submasters but can also be switched to the main channels. I am only somewhat familiar with the Scorpion console so It would probably be very helpful to consult the manual if you can find a copy of it for the finer details.

@@TwinCreekAudio I look at the back of it and see only- Mic/Line/Insert/Direct So, no Tape in/out like on soundtracks

I made the follow up but it got a copyright strike so I deleted it. It was original music too but that's how YT works sometimes I had already made another video recording with the MSR-16 anyway so I linked the old video.