Interfacing FD-8 w/ Computer

[adam]

I'm buying a computer and want to interface it w/ the FD-8 to edit/master/cds/mp3s. I know you can use the S/PDIF out to transfer 2 tracks at a time. How do you save the tracks to the computer and then reassemble them into the song you are working on?
My computer set-up will include a CD-RW and CD-ROM, basic sound card with S/PDIF (for now) and probably Cakewalk 9. Do I need any other software to make CDs and MP3s? I read about "mastering" software and other programs. Are these necessary? I will be using the FD-8 for all the recording (for now) and the computer to edit and to create cds/mp3s. Is there any edit/mastering only software as an alternative to, since I won't be using the computer to record? Thanks for the help!!!

[Purple-Tortoise]

Usually your cd burner comes with Adaptec cd creator or something, that's all you need to burn. To record the wav file to your hard disk use any wav file recorder like the one that came with your computer or the one that came with your soundcard. You probably have all you need. As far as "mastering" goes well, there's Sound Forge xp , but , it's always better to have a pro mastering house master your disc because they will have much better equipment. My belief is mix down to your hard drive, then leave it alone! Every time you perform some edit on your mix the computer recalculates all those 0's and 1's thus affecting the overall sonic quality. People believe that just because it's digital it will sound good/same no matter what you do or where you tranfer. But it's simply just a digital myth.

[adam]

cool. thanks for the info. When I was referring to mastering i really meant mixdown. for my purposes that's as far as i would take it for now - making cds for friends, family, occasional club gigs, and the random intersted stranger. thanks again!