A basic question, perhaps, but critical to me both sound quality- and money-wise...My goal is to find the best and most cost-effective unit with which to send tracks recorded on a Tascam TSR-8 open reel deck (1/2" 8-track tape) thru an 8-channel analog mixer to my PC (WinXP/P4 1.6 Ghz/768 mb DDRam/USB 1.1/ 3 open PCI slots, etc.) to edit, add EFX, and generally futz around with in the digital domain (ie: in .wav format, etc.), send them back to tape...and then burn CDs from the results. Here's the current situation:
I've got Nero 4.0, Audigy (latest version), no pro-level recording/ editing/ mastering software, and a pretty crappy SoundBlaster Live 5.1 soundcard installed that I'd LOVE to replace... SO, I've surfed around for hours and looked at the Emu 1820, 1820m systems (PCI soundcard with a desktop breakout box) and the Lexicon Omega system (USB-connected box)
and sort of briefly checked out the M-Audio lineup, the Edirol stuff and some other oddz'n'endz... bottom line is, I'm highly conflicted on the route to take. Seems like a PCI souncard/ box setup would sound better, have better bandwidth and be more upgradeable, but the USB solution would be easier to install and transfer to a (potential) new PC in the future. Of course, the USB I currently have is 1.1, so whatever I get must be able to interface with that standard and still work later with 2.0.... sigh... Has anyone on the BBS recently purchased (or used) a system to take signals from the analog tape format to the digital PC realm and back again, and do all of the above and more... and what was your experience? What is the best solution (under $500) and have I missed anything in my search? TNX for your responses...
----------------Kbro----------------------------------------------------
I've got Nero 4.0, Audigy (latest version), no pro-level recording/ editing/ mastering software, and a pretty crappy SoundBlaster Live 5.1 soundcard installed that I'd LOVE to replace... SO, I've surfed around for hours and looked at the Emu 1820, 1820m systems (PCI soundcard with a desktop breakout box) and the Lexicon Omega system (USB-connected box)
and sort of briefly checked out the M-Audio lineup, the Edirol stuff and some other oddz'n'endz... bottom line is, I'm highly conflicted on the route to take. Seems like a PCI souncard/ box setup would sound better, have better bandwidth and be more upgradeable, but the USB solution would be easier to install and transfer to a (potential) new PC in the future. Of course, the USB I currently have is 1.1, so whatever I get must be able to interface with that standard and still work later with 2.0.... sigh... Has anyone on the BBS recently purchased (or used) a system to take signals from the analog tape format to the digital PC realm and back again, and do all of the above and more... and what was your experience? What is the best solution (under $500) and have I missed anything in my search? TNX for your responses...
----------------Kbro----------------------------------------------------