Can a 424mkIII do this?

[Rdub]

I have a PC with a normal single input soundcard. My band has done minimal recording using N-track & my PC, which is a pain because of all the overdubbing we have to do.

My guitarist was thinking about getting a 424mkIII so we could get more tracks down at once & because of the quality of this 4 track unit. I would really like to get a multi input soundcard & a mixer, and do all the recording on my PC. Just don't have the bucks to do that though.

My question is this: If my guitarist got the 424 & we recorded four tracks on it....could we then move each of those tracks "individually" over to my PC with N-track??? Then use N-track for the mixdown, etc.

The result I want is to have the four(or more) separate tracks in N-track rather than a two track stereo mix from the 424.

Is this possible? Need more Info? I was trying to keep it short & to the point.

Thanks - Would appreciate any help

[Atwork]

By individually do you mean one by one? You could do that, but I would expect editing the tracks so they synced up to be a pain.

As I think you know you can't transfer tracks simultaneously and get them on separate tracks in n-Track, without a soundcard with multiple inputs and software which recognizes each input as a separate input.

[Rdub]

Atwork

Is my "individually" the same as your "one by one"??-- Probably

To clarify: once all four tracks were recorded to the 424, then I'd be making four passes of playing each track on the 424 & recording to N-track. This would eliminate us having to play the song 4 times to get the four tracks to N-track (which is basically what we're doing now).

If the 424 will do this, then it answers my question. If after doing this, and syncing the tracks becomes a problem....well, then that's a whole new issue I'd have to deal with.

Ultimately, I want to use N-track & work with everything on the PC. The 424 was my "econo" way of trying to accomplish this, but I certainly don't want to deal with a lot of frustration in syncing tracks doing it this way.

I really just need to find $1100 for a mixer & multi input soundcard (sigh)

[SPINSTERWUN]

Originally posted by Rdub
Atwork

1) Is my "individually" the same as your "one by one"??-- Probably

To clarify: once all four tracks were recorded to the 424, then I'd be making four passes of playing each track on the 424 & recording to N-track. This would eliminate us having to play the song 4 times to get the four tracks to N-track (which is basically what we're doing now).

2) If the 424 will do this, then it answers my question. If after doing this, and syncing the tracks becomes a problem....well, then that's a whole new issue I'd have to deal with.

Ultimately, I want to use N-track & work with everything on the PC. The 424 was my "econo" way of trying to accomplish this, but I certainly don't want to deal with a lot of frustration in syncing tracks doing it this way.

3) I really just need to find $1100 for a mixer & multi input soundcard (sigh)

1) Yes, you could transfer the 424 four seperate tracks over to the computer.

2) You will have to lay a "sync tone" across the beginning of all your tracks (while they are in the 424).

3) It would be easier and cheaper for you to purchase a soundcard with 4 INPUTS. For example, the DELTA 44. http://www.midiman.net

Once, you save up enough money you could pick up a board. Until then, you could do your mixing in the computer.

The soundcard will be cheaper than the 424MKII.

[Atwork]

It looks like a multi input soundcard is the only answer for recording in the way you describe. You'd have to make sure though that the PC can read each input as a separate input. I have a four input soundcard, but the PC can only read them as two matched pairs. So even though I have 4 inputs I can only record two separate tracks simultaneously in n-Track.

You might not need $1100 to do what you want to do. The Delta 44 as Spinsterwun said costs less than a 424. I don't know how its inputs are read, though. You could get a cheap mixer for under $100, though saving up for a better one would probably be better. $350-$400 tops, potentially.

Plenty of clued up people here to ask, don't forget. You should be able to sort something out.

[Rdub]

Atwork & Spinsterwun - Thanks for your help!

I'll probably pass on using the 424 in the way I've described, and ultimately get a better soundcard & mixer.

In a soundcard, I would need preamps too, which is why I mention a mixer. I also see using the mixer for "live" use as well. So it looks like the soundcard/mixer combo better meets my needs for everything.

thanks again