Keep the sync when transferring tracks into PC via audiocards?? Pls help

[Papoola]

I am on shopping for an audiocard to enable me in importing 16 tracks recordings (made on hardware multitrack) via the SPDIF IN optical. I realized that only the medium/high price audiocards offer both SPDIF and MIDI I/O.
My multitrack recorder can export via the SPDIF and offer MIDI out for MMC or MTC sync.

How can I then import all the 16 tracks inside the PC software sequencer mantaing everything in the right sync ??
Shall i not be worried because it would be easy to re-sync them with the software sequencer or will it be a mess ??

I read in some place that sync would be possible in some audiocards via the SPDIF IN.
Is it true??
Any helpful tip how to avoid the purchase of an expensive audiocard and just using the SPDIF ????
Tks a lot

[Chris Shaeffer]

I don't know much about SPDIF, but I've done my share of realigning audio tracks: its pretty easy. The most ideal situation is if you started recording the tracks at the same starting point. All you have to do then is drag each track to the beginning of the song and you're done.

Its also easy to blow the tracks up really big and use the wave form view to see where the files should line up.

Easy, but it can be time consuming.

-Chris

[SPINSTERWUN]

The easiest route would be for you to purchase a Midiman MidiSport 2X2 (it'll connect through your USB port).

You might want to buy a new sound card, but If you don't have the money, you could use the soundcard you already have in your computer.

You will also need to buy a program for you to track your music into.

Connect your multi-track recorder to your computer (audio OUT of multi-tracker into the audio IN of the computer).

Connect your MIDI OUT of your computer into the MIDI IN of your multi-tracker.

Of course you will have to adjust the settings on the multi-tracker and the computer.

That is a brief overview of what you need to purchase.

Now, all you have have to do is figure out the specific manufacturers you would like to use and the products.

spin

[AlChuck]

A trick I've read about: add a few seconds of silence before every track on the source machine, if possible, then punch in and record a very clear percussive click on each track (and punch back out before you overwrite the onset of the actual song, of course!).

Then when you transfer the files you have a clear reference mark in the form of the sudden and very short peak just before the actual beginning of the song. This assures that you can line up the tracks accurately should any of them be off at all, as Chris Shaeffer described...

-AlChuck

[Gidge]

Delta Audiophile ($159) has S/PDIF I/O and MIDI I/O.....