Newbie Computer Recording

[Abbott]

I was thinking the other day if this was possible:
I have a Tascam 414 four track, mics, instruments, behringer mixer, compressor, etc, but no computers involved. I was wondering if it was possible to record whatever tracks i wanted to on my four track, namely the raw tracks drums, bass, etc. Then, somehow connect to it my computer, transfer the analog tracks to the corresponding tracks of one of those computer based recording programs (cakewalk, etc.) then use this software to add effects, overdubs, samples, etc. Is this possible? What is all the software and equipment I would need?

[AlChuck]

Yes you can.. but why not just record straight to the computer? It will sound very much better than the cassette multitracker ever could.

[SPINSTERWUN]

Originally posted by AlChuck
Yes you can.. but why not just record straight to the computer? It will sound very much better than the cassette multitracker ever could.

That is the TRUTH.

[Abbott]

what equipment and software would i need to do this?

[c_r_a_z_y]

Depends how fast ur computer is and how much memeory it has got! For PC i would advise Cubase VST! Excellent programme although I have heard good thing about the new cakewalk sonar!
But my personal opion is not to use PC's at all for redording and us mac's! Apple mac's are alot better computers for meultimedia on the whole and are excellent for recording music! and If u got a mac I would run Cubase and Digital Performer, that what I will be running in a few weeks! If u want to get a mac then I would check out www.cancomuk.com I think they ship to US if thats where u are and look at the referb computers! Look at the G3's that are about 500MHz speed at least and I would upgrade the memory to about 512Mb it only costs like $70 or sum thing!
The reason im a dvising a mac is because if u use a PC for music u will have to dedicate it entirley to Music and as a recording computer and nothing else no games etc as they will just mess things up! With a Mac u can partion the memory up into different parts so u can run every thing through it all ur day to day computer tasks and recording thind as well (this is possible with the mac but it isnt very effective and doesn not work very well at all)
If u do go the PC route u will need more memory Im guessing, a decent sound card and the software! as I said before u will probably use Sonar or Cubuase.

I could give alot more advantages on why to use a Mac for recording but it will probably bore u!
Hope this has helped! This is c r a z y siging out!

[Stealthtech]

C_R_A_Z_Y.............thats like crazy dude. There is nothing wrong with PC recording !!! it works just fine. Of course Im not knockin the Macs, I believe they are better for recording, but I would'nt go out and buy a new mac just cuz its better.
Abbot, you can get a good soundcard with included software for your PC under 200.00
Like the other dude said, just record straight to your PC

[TexRoadkill]

I do mechanical engineering and play all the latest games on my 24bit DAW/pr0n browser.

[c_r_a_z_y]

Hey man! Im not knockin PC's they are good at what they do!
Whats the spec's on ur computer????
Im guessin u will need a new sound card and more Mb's to start with! But they dont have to work out to expensive!

[Esquire]

I replaced my porta 7 w/a computer. The biggest problem is learning about computers. That aside, there is so much more that you can do w/computer-based multitracking than w/tape-based. There's a steep learning curve for this stuff, but the people on this bbs are very helpful and friendly.

[Abbott]

can't i just use the sound card that came with my computer??? i think it's a TBS Montego II or something like that...how would i plug in instruments to the computer??

[AlChuck]

Sure, and the Turtle Beach Montego II is a pretty good card as well.

It probably has a mono mic in with a preamp, which is designed for those cheapo tiny computer mics and is virtually useless for serious recording, and a stereo line in -- it's a stereo jack like the headphone jack on a Walkman.

You plug in anything that has a stereo line level signal -- the output of a mixer, a synth, two separate mono line level sources... you can't plug a guitar or bass stright in because they are small signals that have to go through a preamp stage to get to line level. Many modern guitar amps include a direct recording output from the preamp stage.