How do I get tapes onto the computer

[dupedd]

Hey there ya'll, I decided at the suggestion of a fellow forumite to move my question from another thread into a new one and it sounded like a good idea, so here goes:D .

I'm just about to get into digital/computer recording. I've only really dabbled with scratch and simple band recordings with my old Tascam 424 and 488 analog consoles but would like to get recordings off of them on to my computer, a Dell dimension XPS T700r P3 (Upgrading as soon as I do my research. Looking at new MAC's for simplicity's sake). I also picked up a BOSS BR 532 in the emporium last week used to start experimenting with digital recording.

What do I need to do to get the tapes on to my computer?


I tried plugging the 424 straight to the computer mic input again last night and I was able to record only 60 seconds of it in decent 16 bit quality on Microsoft Sound Recorder. I then went and dowloaded a free version of Audacity and imported it from there, recorded and then imported it to my itunes. VERY cool...I can't believe I'd never thought of this before, but the max recording time 60 seconds will not do so I looked and found Easy HI Q recorder with unlimited recording time but it's $30 after a trial period.
What do I need to do this right? I'd like to eventually be able to get my recordings onto a program where I can manipulate them further and add tracks and such but for now just transferring them as is will do.
Thanks :D

[GuitslingerTim]

You need a multichannel soundcard with multiple inputs, and software that will allow multiple tracks to be recorded simultaneously. Each track output on the tape units will have to be connected to an input on the soundcard in order to split the tracks up during the transfer.

One drawback to the method is a lack of means for syncing the recorded audio tracks to an exact starting point within a digital recording; however, with advanced software you can move an entire audio track around within the recorded timeframe, so the limitation can be overcome.

[dupedd]

Hmmm, but all I have on the tape 4track are RCA outputs for sending all tracks at the same time, there isn't a means to do it track by track. I mean, right? Is there something I'm missing?..

[sinasl1]

isn't there 4 individual rca tape out jacks, each one corresponding to an individual track on the 424?

[dupedd]

Well, I'll be...I just checked and you're right. I've only ever used the two RCA line out with all four tracks at once, mixed from the machine. I've never gone all four switched to 'tape out'. I've never even noticed the numbers 1-4 there under the RCA jacks,:o.

So then a soundcard with multiple inputs...I wonder if I shoud maybe wait until I get my new computer if I'm going to be upgrading soon anyway. If I got a new Mac would I still be needing to get a multiple input soundcard for it? Soundcards aren't the same as something like Firepod(interface>?), right? Yeah, whoa, newbie:AOK


On the synching...If I can record all tracks simultaneously, why won't they be synched up just by nature of starting at the same time?

[GuitslingerTim]

On the synching...If I can record all tracks simultaneously, why won't they be synched up just by nature of starting at the same time?

The four tracks will be in sync, but you will be unable to make the tracks start recording at a specified time within the digital recording. In other words, you will have to start the digital recording process and then press play on the tapedeck. If the recording begins in the middle of a measure it makes it hard to use a metronome, midi, or other applications that require precise timing. But as I stated earlier, good DAW software will allow the user to shift an audio track around within the timeframe.