How It Works
Each artist will be invited to come to the studio in Silverlake, Los Angeles, track a previously unreleased original song over a session or two, recording onto our 8 track tape Cassette Machine. Then Cam will either mix the session live off the tape via analog board or in pro tools depending on what serves the song. An all analog process from start of preproduction to pre-mastering. Cam will then master the mix digitally while NAC, the cassette manufacturer will professionally master the songs for cassette reproduction. All of which is free to the artist.
The Idea
What separates this project from other comps is the philosophy that human performance is captured most accurately when humans play together in a room, live recording onto analog tape and that the process will shape the product. As much as is possible, artists/groups/bands will record the song live or at the rhythm section live together. The energy captured by this is what gives life to the recordings. There’s an authenticity that the listeners can hear. Besides its pleasing aural qualities, the techniques and limitations make for a unique process compared to digital recording. Due to the limit of 8 tracks, planning out the song’s arrangement is essential and helps shape the world the song lives in an intentional way. With an analog board, Cam will buss together the drums into a stereo track (track 8) as well as other instruments to maximize tracks available. Although this may seem limiting in today's era of endless digital tracks, keep in mind Sgt. Peppers was recorded with 4 tracks using these techniques. Why tape cassette? Besides the obvious affordability advantage over a reel to reel machine, the Yamaha MT8X has a great sound as well as being a very reliable and advanced tape cassette multitrack recorder. Its warm and professional sound with DBX noise reduction creates a much more hi fi sound than some would assume. It’s been recently serviced/recalibrated so it’s operating at peak performance as well. With the studio quality of microphones/outboard gear driving a well performed song onto the tape, a finished production/mix can happen much faster than a purely digital recording. Along with the gear, there’s a plethora of instruments to play with along with two mic lines in two iso rooms for amps and a separate isolated drum room.
Meet your engineer,
Cam Bina
With over 10+years of experience, Cam will be there to help facilate your songs journey from live recording to finished mix and master. Since moving to LA a few years ago from Austin Tx, Cam has most recently produced/mixed work for Rah Rah Rabbit, Harry Katz and the Pistachios, D. Marin Perez and Gilbert Louie Ray Band as well as others. Cam is also a songwriter/artist who’s released several albums since 2008, all self made all the while (and to this day) learning the craft of the studio. His last record "Buddy" was recorded completely onto a 2”tape machine and was mixed off the tape via an analog board by himself. That process was the inspiration for this project.
