Will I lose sound quality on the drums if I....

[mplnckstrat]

mix my 5 tracks down to stereo 2 track, then burn them with my Tascam CDRW-700. I want to save the original tracks in case something goes amok later on in the recording process. So the question is: Can I burn them on the CDRW-700, and then re-record that 2 track mix onto a fresh tape in my DA-38 without losing much???

[NYMorningstar]

Once you mix to stereo you won't be able to seperate the individual tracks. A better idea is to save each track individually and then you will always have the option to remix them. I'm not sure if you can do that on the Tascam without it being real tedious.

[mplnckstrat]

I'm not worried about being able to mix them further, I just need to know if the sound will suffer. After I mix down to 2 tracks, I'll have 6 more for bass, guitar, vocals, etc...

[Qwerty]

While there is a mathematical probability of the stereo file being slightly different from the mixed individual tracks, you will not be able to hear it given decent summing in your device.

I would encourage you to keep the individual tracks - you may be happy with the mix now, but tomorrow is another day, let alone next month........

Q.

[Gidge]

how much quality you lose depends on what you are mixing thru and mixing to......if done right you wont lose alot of quality but i dont see where you have much choice.....3 tracks left after drums won't cut it......

one option is to get some type of card for your PC (if you are on PC) to load your individual tracks on and mix on PC.....you can record 8 tracks, send 8 separate tracks to the PC but also send a mix back to one track on a new tape....now youll have 7 free.....record to those 7 and then send those 7 individually to the PC along side those 8 from before....this could technically go on forever......

[faderbug]

Originally posted by mplnckstrat
mix my 5 tracks down to stereo 2 track, then burn them with my Tascam CDRW-700. I want to save the original tracks in case something goes amok later on in the recording process. So the question is: Can I burn them on the CDRW-700, and then re-record that 2 track mix onto a fresh tape in my DA-38 without losing much???

why don't you bounce to 2 tracks in your DA38? or even better, switch to computer based recording and upgrade to 48+ tracks?

[mplnckstrat]

Actually, I did mix them onto tracks 7&8, but now I want to save the original drum tracks AND use the mix for guitars, etc on the other 6 tracks. As far as computers go, I like to play with the knobs rather than a mouse. I see the monitor screen enough as it is.