Semi OT---Tape Masterer

[rockgardenlove]

Any ideas on how I might be able to master my digitally recorded music tracks onto tape, and then get it back onto my computer?  I have a Firebox audio interface, and I was thinking of something like this:

Interface line out->tape recorder head->tape->tape read head->interface line in

My goal is to get my digitally recorded stuff to sound a bit less "sterile."  The recording I can get are almost too good quality wise, the just don't sound very lively, they just seem kind of cold and harsh.  I could of course do the whole recording process on tape, but its so much easier to edit on the computer.  If I could get a decent setup like this I could record drums, send them through my tape machine, then record the bass, then send it through the tape, then record guitar etc. until I have a nice big mosh of beautiful partially compressed tape sounding tracks, and then I could master it all into one track by playing it through the tape machine...

Yeah so, what might be a good way to go about this?  I don't wanna pay too much cash, I was thinking of using VCR heads maybe...would it be especially tricky to do something like this?  Would I be better off cannibalizing or just building from scratch? 
Is it really just as easy as this:
http://www.streettech.com/archives_DIY/audioAdapter.html

I was sort of assuming I'd need to build some kind of preamp for it, and a post amp too to get the signal strong enough to write to the tape...  Something like:

Interface line out->12at7 preamp->tape record->tape->tape play head->12at7->interface line in

I'm interested in using tubes to get more vintage warm tone.  Any suggested clean tube amps like that that might work for my purposes? 


So, am I crazy or what?  How possible is this?  I think a VCR size tape/player would be easiest to tweak because of its size, and possibly higher fidelity too.  Thoughts? 


Peace!

[MartyMart]

Well, this is "right up my street"
I used to use an old "Energy VKP-1" tube pre-amp for "warming up" various sounds, pre-the digital
recorder/software on input.
Often, I use a friends large "Studer two track" to mix to tape, and back in analog, this has all
balanced in/out so sounds superb.
These day's to "analog up" some sounds or mixes, I use a plugin, "PSP Vintage Warmer"
This along with UAD's mastering Eq and Limiter is a great way to "de-sterilize" a mix or
set of tracks.
Google PSP Vintage Warmer and see what gives .... or go to "Limewire" .... but I never
said that .....

mm.

[rockgardenlove]

Trust me, I've tried TONS of those VST plugins, etc.  None of them remotedly do it for me.  I want the REAL THING!    (Even if it is crazy mojo.)

And plus, building it yourself is just so much more FUN!

So yeah...the principles behind a tape recorder are pretty simple...I just need a circuit to get the signal strong enough to write to a tape head,  and then to amp up a signal from the read head until I can feed it in a line in.

Thats basically all there is to it, right?

[rockgardenlove]

Screw the VCR head idea, I just found out they need to spin around and do all kinds of crazy stuff. 

If I were to take a simpler twist, how well might an LM386 driving the record head work?  How much current is needed to get the audio to write onto the tape?

[MartyMart]

How about picking up an old two track or 4 track recorder ?
They are almost worthless now, you could simply "record monitor" from
tape and re-record the output from a pair of tracks, via their own "line out/monitor out"
into your soundcard, so no "boosting" required ??
I dont see that you need to "hack in" to the input/replay head with a booster at all

MM.

For me the PSP nails the "tape compression/grunge" sound without any extra "noise"
a cheap recorder would be a bit too "low fi" for my taste 

MM

[rockgardenlove]

So the power from the line out will be enough? 

Does that look along the right lines?

And how much might an old recorder go for?  For me almost nothing equals around 20 bucks.  30 is pushing it.  I have no money.  Serious GAS over here. 

[rockgardenlove]

Noone has any ideas?