Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Jump to content

Retro Reel Tape Effect


CurveBound
 Share

Recommended Posts

I freaked out when I heard that Helix 3.10 had a tape saturation effect with Retro Reel.  Doing a lot of home studio recording, more often than not I would add a tape saturation plugin to guitar tracks.  Tape plugins bring a nice "3D" quality to digital tracks.   I've been wanting an effect like that in the Helix for sometime now. To the point I was considering buying a JHS Color Box to put in the chain somehow. 

 

The Retro Reel is an exciting development.   

 

In my findings briefly testing it out, if you use the Saturation subtly it pronouncedly raises the mids. I'm not one for super scooped mids, but additional controls in the effect for that frequency would be nice.  I like that includes selectable tape speeds 7.5,15, and 30 IPS. That shows Line 6 was interested in the nuances of tape effects. I'll have to do more experimenting with the relation of saturation and textures levels to each other, and see if I can find a magical combination.

 

 

With it being listed as a modulation effect, I don't know if Line 6 made it for the exact purpose I use tape plugins, but I'm excited to experiment and see if I could make it a nice "Pixy dust" finisher at the end of the chain. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I played with this briefly this morning.  I created a new preset to jam on some Night Ranger, and through a TS808 in front of the 2204 Mod with dual 25/v30 cab, and the Retro Reel....had to add the Horizon Gate to tame hiss like crazy.  

 

 

Does the Retro Reel seem hissy or noisy?  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, themetallikid said:

I played with this briefly this morning.  I created a new preset to jam on some Night Ranger, and through a TS808 in front of the 2204 Mod with dual 25/v30 cab, and the Retro Reel....had to add the Horizon Gate to tame hiss like crazy.  

 

 

Does the Retro Reel seem hissy or noisy?  

 

I wonder, since it's supposed to simulate a tape recording if that's just the way it is. Maybe adds to the sound without perceiving/hearing it? kind of like how 60 cycle hum is supposed to add to some amps sound.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

59 minutes ago, themetallikid said:

Does the Retro Reel seem hissy or noisy?  

 

You are probably young. :) that hiss it's the fingerprint of a magnetic tape, and mostly caused by the layer of magnetic particles, that are the active part on a tape surface.

  • Thanks 1
  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not that young, 43, probably just less experienced in true 'studio' magic and tricks of the trade.  That thought did cross my mind that it would just be the general sort of tape hiss/white noise sorta sound.  I didnt really spend a tone of time with it, just something I noticed while dialing in a quick preset waiting for my daughter to get ready for school.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, soundog said:

I want to model an album left out in the sun, and you have to tape a quarter over your stylus to play it. And the spindle hole was punched off center.


Plus, as an option, a badly stored reel of tape that has “print-through” when played back.  ;-)

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ha. All of my old 1/4" 8-track (for Fostek deck) and 4-track (Sony deck) are starting to flake. I've gotta digitize them before its too late! I'm not a fan of hiss, but I do like the saturation, compression, and eq of tape. Some of the DAW plug-in tape emulations are quite good, so I'm interested in hearing how the Helix Reel-to-Reel sounds.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, soundog said:

Wait, you can do tape and vinyl? OK ... I want to model an album left out in the sun, and you have to tape a quarter over your stylus to play it. And the spindle hole was punched off center.

 

As long as we're hitching a ride on the Wayback Machine then let's go full vintage and add a wire recording effect.  Seriously though the Retro Reel is a great addition.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_recording

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, themetallikid said:

I'm not that young, 43, probably just less experienced in true 'studio' magic and tricks of the trade.  That thought did cross my mind that it would just be the general sort of tape hiss/white noise sorta sound.  I didnt really spend a tone of time with it, just something I noticed while dialing in a quick preset waiting for my daughter to get ready for school.  

Were you cranking the saturation when hearing that hiss?

 

Past a certain point, the Saturation will turn "fizzy"

 

I'm using the effect very subtly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, soundog said:

All of my old 1/4" 8-track (for Fostek deck) and 4-track (Sony deck) are starting to flake. I've gotta digitize them before its too late!


A few years ago, a friend and I were asked to transfer a bunch of rather old multi-track reels into the digital realm. Needless to say, they were in such a bad state that we needed to “bake” them before we could use them - tricky and not for the faint hearted. Don’t want to try that again.
 

I also found large aluminium flightcase containing about 50 cassette 4 track tapes, probably around 30 years old. Strangely enough getting the audio off those wasn’t too bad - it involved a lot of head cleaning and de-magnetising, but it worked. Sadly, neither adventure revealed any world shaking recordings - just something to embarrass a few folks who thought they could be the next big thing.

 

C’est la vie.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, HonestOpinion said:

 

As long as we're hitching a ride on the Wayback Machine then let's go full vintage and add a wire recording effect.  Seriously though the Retro Reel is a great addition.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_recording

 

I have an old Webster-Chicago wire recorder that I refurbished. It still works, and seems like black magic. When I bought it, it came with a bunch of wire reels and there were recordings of a preacher's sermons on them. Kinda spooky....

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, datacommando said:


A few years ago, a friend and I were asked to transfer a bunch of rather old multi-track reels into the digital realm. Needless to say, they were in such a bad state that we needed to “bake” them before we could use them - tricky and not for the faint hearted. Don’t want to try that again.
 

I also found large aluminium flightcase containing about 50 cassette 4 track tapes, probably around 30 years old. Strangely enough getting the audio off those wasn’t too bad - it involved a lot of head cleaning and de-magnetising, but it worked. Sadly, neither adventure revealed any world shaking recordings - just something to embarrass a few folks who thought they could be the next big thing.

 

C’est la vie.

 

Too bad those tapes didn't have some early tune scratchings of Neil Young or Elliot Smith or ??. Or communications with the spirit world.

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...
On 4/16/2021 at 12:11 PM, soundog said:

Wait, you can do tape and vinyl? OK ... I want to model an album left out in the sun, and you have to tape a quarter over your stylus to play it. And the spindle hole was punched off center.

 

I once needed to emulate a warped record sound (don't ask!). Anyway, here's how to do it: Vibrato effect, delayed sound only, speed 1.33 Hz  to warp a 33 1/3 RPM record, or 1.80 Hz for a 45 RPM record. The more you turn up the vibrato width, the greater the warpage. 

 

I've heard if you leave Helix out in the sun the virtual record will warp more, but I suspect that's an urban legend. :)

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...