How to record 4 tracks at once?

[mitchpeasley]

Hiya,
I'm pretty new to this stuff, only having gotten hold of Cool Edit Pro 2 a few weeks ago, and never having used computers in association with music before. I've my old trusty 4 track tascam portastudio (I bought in 1982) from which I'm trying to convert my songs onto CEP2. So far I'm only able to record 1 track at a time onto CEP2 which means I have to try to sync the tracks. While I have done this ok, it's hard to get it exact. It would be much better if I could record all 4 tracks at once so there would be no need to sync. I have a pretty basic soundcard - not even sure what it is. Can I record 4 tracks simultaneously with a not-too-flash soundcard?
Cheers
Mitch Peasley

[tarnationsauce2]

Originally Posted by mitchpeasley

Hiya,
I'm pretty new to this stuff, only having gotten hold of Cool Edit Pro 2 a few weeks ago, and never having used computers in association with music before. I've my old trusty 4 track tascam portastudio (I bought in 1982) from which I'm trying to convert my songs onto CEP2. So far I'm only able to record 1 track at a time onto CEP2 which means I have to try to sync the tracks. While I have done this ok, it's hard to get it exact. It would be much better if I could record all 4 tracks at once so there would be no need to sync. I have a pretty basic soundcard - not even sure what it is. Can I record 4 tracks simultaneously with a not-too-flash soundcard?
Cheers
Mitch Peasley

Nope, sorry.
A regular computer soundcard had 2-channels (or 2 tracks), L&R. You could record 2 tracks at a time, that way you only have to sync twice per song, instead of four times.
Otherwise you'll have to buy a new audio interface with at least 4 simulatneus inputs.

[superspit]

cheap and effective way????....buy an extra basic sound card, this will become channel's 3 and 4 (left and right). (no more synching!!!....yay!!!)
Is your portastudio the trusty old 244 or 246?? I think these have seperate 1/4 inch track 'outs'. So, you'll have to get two 'Y' leads (1/4 mono x2 going into a stereo 1/8 jack).
Tracks 1 and 2 from Tascam go into soundcard line input and you split these channels in CE.
Tracks 3 and 4 from Tascam's output's go into the second soundcard line in, again split into L&R by CE.
There are your 4 tracks, all seperated and ready for some massive improvements!!
Please PM me or email me and I'll gladly help you with more detail, if needed!!
Regards,
Superspit.

[mitchpeasley]

Originally Posted by superspit

cheap and effective way????....buy an extra basic sound card, this will become channel's 3 and 4 (left and right). (no more synching!!!....yay!!!)
Is your portastudio the trusty old 244 or 246?? I think these have seperate 1/4 inch track 'outs'. So, you'll have to get two 'Y' leads (1/4 mono x2 going into a stereo 1/8 jack).
Tracks 1 and 2 from Tascam go into soundcard line input and you split these channels in CE.
Tracks 3 and 4 from Tascam's output's go into the second soundcard line in, again split into L&R by CE.
There are your 4 tracks, all seperated and ready for some massive improvements!!
Please PM me or email me and I'll gladly help you with more detail, if needed!!
Regards,
Superspit.

Hey S'Spit
Looks promising, although I've yet to try it! Yeah, it's a 244 Tascam. When you say the second input, are you talking about the microphone input? Any ideas on appropriate soundcards ie cost etc, and could I install one myself (hint - I'm no techno wiz to say the least)?
Cheers
Mitch Peasley

[superspit]

Originally Posted by mitchpeasley

Hey S'Spit
Looks promising, although I've yet to try it! Yeah, it's a 244 Tascam. When you say the second input, are you talking about the microphone input? Any ideas on appropriate soundcards ie cost etc, and could I install one myself (hint - I'm no techno wiz to say the least)?
Cheers
Mitch Peasley

Hi MP, yep, the venerable 244...my first deck (actually the 246 variant)some 20 years ago...just ace.
When I say 2nd input I mean the input of the 2nd sound card. Both sound cards (whatever u choose to get) should have their 'Line-in's' used only, not their hi-gain 'mic-inputs'. Pre-amp of some kind may be required in your case (do u have a desk?).
I am still using Sound blaster cards, 4 of them to enable 8 real time track recordings. For drums though, I usually only use 2 cards..(some people may laugh, but are impressed with the sound I'm getting )..the quality is good enough to have had some of my material played on a popular FM station (albeit played very late at night/early morning!!) I don't have a problem with SBlaster stuff, but I will get something from M-Audio shortly to replace my 4 sound cards.
Trust me Mitch, this is how I got all my old 4 track stuff onto CEP, no synching necessary, and man let me tell you, after noise reduction, eq'ing, hard limiting and a little ambiences given....those 4tracks now sound so much better!!
Use any 'reasonable' sound card you can afford!! Installation is a cinch!!
I'm in Oz, so don't know about cost where u are, ($55 is the price of a 24bit/96Khz basic card down here)....a 4 channel M-Audio will cost me around $300)
Hope this helps, let me know!!
Superspit.

[jndietz]

With Audition 2.0 and my Behringer FCA202, I can record two mono channel simultaneously L&R. Audition 2.0, unlike 1.5, supports splitting my audio interface into two mono channels. I'm going to buy another FCA202 soon so I can record four mono tracks at once. The FCA202 is $80 USD brand new from MusiciansFriend. But, you will need mic preamps or a mixer. It is an audio interface ONLY. there are no preamps on it... so theoretically, you could have four mono tracks for $160 dollars. 24/96

[superspit]

Originally Posted by jndietz

With Audition 2.0 and my Behringer FCA202, I can record two mono channel simultaneously L&R. Audition 2.0, unlike 1.5, supports splitting my audio interface into two mono channels. I'm going to buy another FCA202 soon so I can record four mono tracks at once. The FCA202 is $80 USD brand new from MusiciansFriend. But, you will need mic preamps or a mixer. It is an audio interface ONLY. there are no preamps on it... so theoretically, you could have four mono tracks for $160 dollars. 24/96

yep.....like I said.

[mitchpeasley]

Originally Posted by superspit

Hi MP, yep, the venerable 244...my first deck (actually the 246 variant)some 20 years ago...just ace.
When I say 2nd input I mean the input of the 2nd sound card. Both sound cards (whatever u choose to get) should have their 'Line-in's' used only, not their hi-gain 'mic-inputs'. Pre-amp of some kind may be required in your case (do u have a desk?).
I am still using Sound blaster cards, 4 of them to enable 8 real time track recordings. For drums though, I usually only use 2 cards..(some people may laugh, but are impressed with the sound I'm getting )..the quality is good enough to have had some of my material played on a popular FM station (albeit played very late at night/early morning!!) I don't have a problem with SBlaster stuff, but I will get something from M-Audio shortly to replace my 4 sound cards.
Trust me Mitch, this is how I got all my old 4 track stuff onto CEP, no synching necessary, and man let me tell you, after noise reduction, eq'ing, hard limiting and a little ambiences given....those 4tracks now sound so much better!!
Use any 'reasonable' sound card you can afford!! Installation is a cinch!!
I'm in Oz, so don't know about cost where u are, ($55 is the price of a 24bit/96Khz basic card down here)....a 4 channel M-Audio will cost me around $300)
Hope this helps, let me know!!
Superspit.

Hey S'spit - could I use the Portastudio as a mixer/preamp? That's what I used to do when I mixed down onto tapes in the plden daze...MP

[jndietz]

Originally Posted by mitchpeasley

Hey S'spit - could I use the Portastudio as a mixer/preamp? That's what I used to do when I mixed down onto tapes in the plden daze...MP

Well... if it has line outs and a mic pre built in to it, I don't see why not

[superspit]

Originally Posted by jndietz

Well... if it has line outs and a mic pre built in to it, I don't see why not

Hey PM and jndietz.....There you go!! It actually has a 'mic-gain' section and seperate 'outs' that works just fine. Have fun with your projects!!
SuperSpit.

[cephus]

For $150 I bought a M-Audio delta 44 to do just this. Figuring in the sound quality/latency issues of my old soundcard, it seems like a small price to pay. I did convert a bunch of 4-track cassettes to digital and it was a great experience.


Here is the result of one that is still up for some reason:

http://www.peaveyt60.com/upload/images/shegotsit.mp3

[superspit]

[QUOTE=cephus]For $150 I bought a M-Audio delta 44 to do just this. Figuring in the sound quality/latency issues of my old soundcard, it seems like a small price to pay. I did convert a bunch of 4-track cassettes to digital and it was a great experience.

Yep indeed......if Mitch wants to spend $150 for the M-Audio......then that's ace!
Though latency shouldn't be a problem with 2 basic quality sound cards, (let's say, SoundBlasters! In a hi-mem and fast Pentium 4). I'm running 4 of them at 48/24.....all good.
Couple those cheap cards to your tascam 244 and HE WILL still get the potential to increase the quality of the music on cassette, after 'mastering' in CEP.....(Imagine what the M-Audio will do for him!! wow!!)
And he has the equipment now to do it.
Mitch can't lose!!
Man!!This is a great sight with great people!! Wish I joined earlier!!
SuperSpit.