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An analog question for those who record

I am going to buy either a reel to reel or a VHS recorder to record my vinyl onto for repeated playbacks. Is recording vinyl possible by simply hooking my preamp up to a VCR hitting record and dropping the needle. This would be ideal as it has a long run time via the VCR tapes. I have heard VCRS have good analog sound. Should I just go with a reel to reel? Cassettes arent really an option but I have heard some recordings from vinyl onto cassette that sound great. I also am aware of digital recording using audacity and have used it hundreds of times. However I like analog and if I want digital I will just pop in a cd. Do you think there would be a huge difference in the quality one way or another.
davidnboone
vicdamone
850 posts
 
Understandably, your not that interested in ultimate analog playback but with a reel to reel you could easily get very close. The mix down from a two inch master is the ultimate. Played back on, even a modest, quarter inch reel to reel at 15 ips and possibly some pre recorded R-R media would be the next step down the chain and the potential of consumer analog.

Check out the recent audio shows, many of the manufactures are displaying using Tape Project gear. Vinyl is simply in the ballpark. I owned a Nak Dragon for a very short time, nuff said. On the other hand if cassette playback gets you there than even lesser Nakamichi is the way to go.
duaneadam
36 posts
 
I had never heard of Tape Project, that is just sick. I can't imagine a better sounding source other than sitting in the studio listening to the 1st generation multi-track. Even at $300 per album, it's probably worth it.
qdrone
1,039 posts
 
Dbx noise reduction units can be put between the in of your cassette deck and your pre for tape quality that will blow your mind. The DBX 3 expander is a very good unit that will would give you the analog sound you want and the sound quality of CD's but analog sounding.
qdrone
1,039 posts
 
MY mistake,what you want is a DBX Model 222 Type II Tape Noise Reduction System.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,793 posts
 
Davidnboone, if you are doing cassette you will have to find a machine and get it refurbished. Pioneer made some very interesting high-end machines that used Dolby S about 20 years ago- very nice sound, very quiet. Otherwise a Nakamichi is the thing. Nakamichi parts are probably getting a bit tricky as they have been out of business for a while, but you can get belts from Russell Industries. They also can refurbish old idlers and the like. They bought out the old Projector-Recorder Company. Here's the link:

http://www.russellind.com/prbline/index.html
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