...wicked
The thing I miss about tape is that it was a known quantity. Take it to another machine and thread it up and you're off and running. No plugins that don't load, no antiquated operating systems or other minute horse-dung that'll stop the show. As long as you know how to rock the reels and make a splice your'e good to go. 
 

That was pretty much true with 2" 24-track, but for a while there were multiple formats, like 16-track...I did some recording at Apostolic Studios in New York, and it was 12-track. Zappa did a lot of work there too. Then there were the Stevens 40-track machines, Otaris that used 1 inch... Nor was there any guarantee that the recorders were aligned similarly. These days, exporting a project as WAV of AIFF files seems like the most bulletproof way to work among different studios. But different project files with plug-ins and such? No way. It's a jungle out there.

CL2Zero
This may sound odd.
What I miss the most about tape is the smell.
I always kept the tapes tails out. (Tascam MS-16, 16 track, 1 inch machine)
So, if you were getting ready to work on something you had to rewind it.
When the reels got up to speed the air moving would waft that tape smell right up in your face.
I LIKE it. That is what I miss the most. My Tascam 32, 1/4 inch 2 track just doesn't quite do it.
I still use two Tascam DA-38s and two Alesis ADAT XT-20s.
I use them when I feel nostalgic.

So you're saying you like the smell of rust?

Head alignments, constant preventative maintenance and the cost of a 1" reel of Ampex 456... NOPE!

John

CL2Zero
This may sound odd.
What I miss the most about tape is the smell.
I always kept the tapes tails out. (Tascam MS-16, 16 track, 1 inch machine)
So, if you were getting ready to work on something you had to rewind it.
When the reels got up to speed the air moving would waft that tape smell right up in your face.
I LIKE it. That is what I miss the most. My Tascam 32, 1/4 inch 2 track just doesn't quite do it.
I still use two Tascam DA-38s and two Alesis ADAT XT-20s.
I use them when I feel nostalgic.

So you're saying you like the smell of rust?

Nope!
Tape had its own smell that can't be explained, I guess.
But, I definitely miss it.

CL2Zero

John

CL2Zero
This may sound odd.
What I miss the most about tape is the smell.
I always kept the tapes tails out. (Tascam MS-16, 16 track, 1 inch machine)
So, if you were getting ready to work on something you had to rewind it.
When the reels got up to speed the air moving would waft that tape smell right up in your face.
I LIKE it. That is what I miss the most. My Tascam 32, 1/4 inch 2 track just doesn't quite do it.
I still use two Tascam DA-38s and two Alesis ADAT XT-20s.
I use them when I feel nostalgic.

So you're saying you like the smell of rust?

Nope!
Tape had its own smell that can't be explained, I guess.
But, I definitely miss it.

That was a joke.

I will never forget going to a close friends house to see his new backyard studio. A very nice building about the size of a 4 car garage. He built it from the ground up himself and spent a lot of time and blood sweat and tears on it. We stood basking in the glory of his accomplishment having a discussion about digital versus analog recording before we entered his dream come true. We walked in to the control room and he plopped down into the chair at the console and hit the play button. Music blasted thru the monitors and our hair was blowing in the wind! After deafening us both for about 5 minutes he looked at me and said, " YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT THE SOUND OF TAPE!" At which time he directed my attention to......... 3 Tascam DA88s! I had to go outside to keep from hurting his feelings, I was laughing so hard I pulled something in my stomach.

My simple answer ...NO.
 
If I want to record analog ...I'll hire a person who loves to work with it.
It is a most favorable "sound" ...yet ...I'm cool with digital these days and most likely until I have no more days.
 
God Bless OTARI, et al... R.I.P.

Sidroe
I will never forget going to a close friends house to see his new backyard studio. A very nice building about the size of a 4 car garage. He built it from the ground up himself and spent a lot of time and blood sweat and tears on it. We stood basking in the glory of his accomplishment having a discussion about digital versus analog recording before we entered his dream come true. We walked in to the control room and he plopped down into the chair at the console and hit the play button. Music blasted thru the monitors and our hair was blowing in the wind! After deafening us both for about 5 minutes he looked at me and said, " YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT THE SOUND OF TAPE!" At which time he directed my attention to......... 3 Tascam DA88s! I had to go outside to keep from hurting his feelings, I was laughing so hard I pulled something in my stomach.

Epic!
LOL

One thing about this world of DAW's is that you don't need to take any decisions. You can always undo, add another track or tweak things ...


I believe that this may hurt the music a bit

Indyman : To-date top recording studios still use tape ..live drums sound much better recorded to tape then transferd to digital.. tape is now 400.00 or more a roll ... nothing for a top act ..to pay. If you want the Ray Charles ..Cleo Lain ..Summertime ..sound   your going to need all the right tools... so yes I miss my Mx-80 !