Required PC hardware for FD-4 to CD-R setup

[Bobbster]

Just got my FD-4 and 250Mb ZIP drive. Lots to learn before I get started. I want to burn CD's on my PC from the FD-4. Can anyone provide suggestions on soundcards, software, and/or techniques?

Thanks!!
Bobbster

[Bob Sordahl]

I have a CD burner in my computer and a stock sound card. I intend to send the FD-4 signal to my sound card from the recorder outputs and save it as a wav file. I will then burn the CD. Since all I am doing is manipulating digital information, I think that will be fine.

[Bobbster]

Thanks Bob.

I have been told that the sound card's line-in jack will work ok, but for digital I'll need a card with S/PDIF inputs. I am also wondering if additional software may be required to transfer the recording from the PC hard-drive to the CD-R.

[Bob Sordahl]

I'll start with the easiest thing first. My CD burner came with Adaptecs EZ CD creator software. It works fine since I have already made music CDs from my WAV files. Real simple, just point and click and go get some coffee (its slow). As far as the line-in jack is concerned...Maybe I don't know enough to hear the difference (there are others here with more experience), but I've input all my music so far, live guitar, vocal, sequenced DR-5 tracks into the line-in, and I think it sounds OK. I just think my multi-tracking software is a little noisy above 2 to 3 tracks. I might be able to improve that by shortening my cables. Its kind of a birdsnest.

[Bobbster]

Thanks again Bob.

I am about half-way through the FD-4 manual, and getting anxious to put this thing to work. I'm sure there will be more to talk about later.

[Purple-Tortoise]

Bob is right, any wave recording software will work.Most computers come with one and most cd burners come with adaptec or something like it. But , what I really wanted to tell you about is the Montego 2 plus sound card by Turtle Beach. It has a stereo spdif in and out (optical and coaxial). The best part is it's only $150.00!
I searched all over the web for a long time and couldn't find a sound card with digital I/O for under a few hundred bucks. Most are geared towards people that record into their PC and have a lot of inputs. I just wanted the optical to master down to my cdr-burner from my FD-8. The card is plug and play and Turtle Beach is very reputable. Just go to their web site, they have an 800 number. It sounds great.

[Purple-Tortoise]

Bob is right, any wave recording software will work.Most computers come with one and most cd burners come with adaptec or something like it. But , what I really wanted to tell you about is the Montego 2 plus sound card by Turtle Beach. It has a stereo spdif in and out (optical and coaxial). The best part is it's only $150.00!
I searched all over the web for a long time and couldn't find a sound card with digital I/O for under a few hundred bucks. Most are geared towards people that record into their PC and have a lot of inputs. I just wanted the optical to master down to my cdr-burner from my FD-8. The card is plug and play and Turtle Beach is very reputable. Just go to their web site, they have an 800 number. It sounds great.

[Bobbster]

Hey Tortoise, Last week, I ordered the very card you have recommended. I will take that as a sign that I have made the right decision. The price and features made it very appealing.