16 at a time!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter jmorris
  • Start date Start date
jmorris

jmorris

New member
I'll make this brief. I have an Alesis HD 24 HARD DISC RECORDER.I would like to use Sonar to mix by computer but I need to get like a Motu 2408 or Layla to interface right? The layla cant record 24 tracks at a time but if I'm recording to the HD,then dumping it all to Sonar does that matter? If the Layla only can record 16 tracks at a time ,cant I dump the first 16 track to Sonar via the Layla then "rewind' and transfer the remaining tracks??? Does this makes sense to anyone....its late and I'm tired. I know the Motu will record 24 tracks at one time but my computer does not like Motu's software.Thanks,Jim
 
I don't understand why you would need another soundcard. Isn't there mixing software on the HD recorder? Or couldn't you just transfer the tracks from the HD recorder to the HD of your computer somehow (removable drive or network)? I would think the only time you should need to interface with the 16 tracks direct to the computer is if you have to go to a computer live, in which case it would be easiest to just go straight to the computer if it has the ability, not through the HD recorder. Hope I don't sound harsh here, I don't mean to. :D
 
The HD24 doesn't have any on board mixing capability but you can do some editing within the unit. I use a MOTU 2408 with mine to fly tracks into a computer for editing but I already had the one before I picked up the HD24. You don't need one to get into a computer as you can do an FTP transfer. Since I'm running a PC I can't use the Digital Performer that came bundled with the MOTU as it only runs on a MAC so I run Cakewalk 9 and Vegas as multitracker/editors. Everything plays together very nicely.
 
Save yourself the expense! Just transfer the tracks one by one if need be. Perhaps you can even do it digitally depending on your gear.

Check out Working with External Devices in the manual or Help, which will show you how to control your HD recorder from Sonar and vice versa using just a midi cable probably. I did this for a friend with a Yamaha MD8 some time ago. Using this hook up you can transfer your tracks individually and make sure they stay in sync. I can't for the life of me remember how to do it though! You have to set Sonar to be the slave when recording into the computer and control it from the HDR I think.
 
I think Im confusing everyone.All I want to do is transfer 24 tracks from the HD24 to sonar so I can mix with computer. With the motu 2408 I can record from the HD 24 to Sonar all at one time.The others.etc Layla only record 16 tracks at a time so I could only transfer 16 at a time. So my question is: Seeing that the Motu software is not compatable with my computer...long story,can I with the Layla transfer 16 tracks to be recorded to sonar then transfer the remaining 8 tracks??I may have really confused everyone...and myself.
 
Off course you can. I'm just curious, did you ask this question before try ? or after you've tried and having a problem with the transfer. If you don't have any SONAR and soundcard issue (disworking, driver thing or sumthin') then you should be able to do this. No problem as long as your PC can handle it... But IMO, trying to record 16 track simultanously may causing your HD to work overrided. Sometimes you may get problem with the result. (Out of sync, Data loss, etc...). For sure, I recomend to limiting the transfer to 4 - 6 tracks at once, then "overdub" the rest. At last, it depends on your PC & PC's HD power... but once again, sure it can be done. :cool:
 
Yes, this is also what I meant. There should be no reason for you to transfer everything LIVE. you can grab one track or 10 tracks or all the tracks, transfer them to your computer and edit in Sonar, no new soundcard needed. The tracks should all sync right back up when you open them in Sonar and you can chose which tracks to open when so you don't kill your machine while processing. :D
 
I dont want to transfer anything live. I want to record fully on the HD 24.then when it is time to mix,.transfer it all to sonar(which I have) to mix via Sonar.You see this all started when I went to Guiatr Center and bought a Motu2408MkII. I got it home and it would not work with my computer. Compaq,celeron pross. The guy at GC said"oh its your computer,Motu cant run on your" gee ,thanks for asking me what computer I had when you sold it to me.S
 
I dont want to transfer anything live. I want to record fully on the HD 24.then when it is time to mix,.transfer it all to sonar(which I have) to mix via Sonar.You see this all started when I went to Guiatr Center and bought a Motu2408MkII. I got it home and it would not work with my computer. Compaq,celeron pross. The guy at GC said"oh its your computer,Motu cant run on yours" gee ,thanks for asking me what computer I had when you sold it to me!!!Ah!!I think he is correct as I spoke to Compaq about this issue..chipsets etc. Anyways,short of getting a different computer I thought I would just get a different interface betwen the HD 24 and the computer. The Layla seems to be the answer.I dont need too be able to record 24 tracks a one time as the "real" recording will be done on the hd 24,just be able to at least transfer them all to computer in a timely fashion.Jim
 
What I'm saying is there's an ethernet connection on your hard disk recorder, so it will network with your computer (needs a network connection) to do the transfers, just like any other files. You'll be able to see the drive on the HD recorder directly from your computer and move the files. There is no need to do it through a soundcard. :)
 
Yeah,I know about the ethernet connection,but isnt that real slow???Like one track at a time?? Thanks everyone as Im mister computer lame-o!! You are all educating me!! If that is true,how slow for like a 24 track transfer??Jim
 
Recorded 4 minutes 40 sec's ONE stereo track 44.100 Khz would be around 48 MB.
48MB X 24 Tracks = 1152 MB.
Average connection speed 10 MB/Sec.
Time needed = 1152 / 10 = 115.2 sec's.
That's ~ two minutes, for normal working connection.
Faster than dumping one by one...

:cool:
 
James, is that 2 minutes per track or for all 24?? I will need an ethernet card for my computer correct??? Man, this stuff makes my brain swell! Thanks,Jim
 
OK, so thats 2 minutes per songs it looks like. my brain is working better now. I just went and got an ethernet cable to try this.Man this will be interesting. If I can do this anyone can!! I let you guys know! Thanks much,Jim
 
I think the calculation is more along these lines:

4 minutes 40 seconds one mono track, 44.1 kHz, 24 bit
= 280 * 44,100 * 3 = ~35 MB
35MB * 24 tracks = 840MB
10-base T ethernet is 10Mb/s = 10 million BITS per second
(= ~1.2 MB/s = 1.2 million BYTES per second)
Time needed = 840/1.2 = 700 seconds = ~11 1/2 minutes

In other words it'll take about 11 1/2 minutes to transfer 24 mono tracks at 24 bit, 44.1 kHz for a song 4 minutes 40 seconds long, across 10Mb/s ethernet.

I think. ;)

AB
 
jmorris said:
I just went and got an ethernet cable to try this.Man this will be interesting.
Click to expand...

Just so you know, you will probably need a "crossover" cable to simply connect two ethernet cards together. Don't let them sell you a switch if you don't need it.
 
Yes you will either need a certain cable to connect the two (the dude at the computer store SHOULD be able to tell you) or do it through a link box (hub). And I don't know the speed of your ethernet connectionon the HD24, but it may be 100base instead of 10base which is 10 x as fast of course. Check this before you get a NIC card for you computer. It will bottom out at the lowest speed so you want them to match :D
 
Barometer said:
Yes you will either need a certain cable to connect the two (the dude at the computer store SHOULD be able to tell you) or do it through a link box (hub).
Click to expand...

It's called a 'crossover cable' and I don't know about your local computer store but at mine they had no idea wtf i was talking about when i asked. I went to the shelf and it was there next to the standard ethernet cables. If you're just going to connect two devices saves you the cost of buying a hub or a switch.
 
erichenryus said:


It's called a 'crossover cable' and I don't know about your local computer store but at mine they had no idea wtf i was talking about when i asked. I went to the shelf and it was there next to the standard ethernet cables. If you're just going to connect two devices saves you the cost of buying a hub or a switch.
Click to expand...

DOH! I didn't even see your post before I posted my copycat response, I only looked at his last question. Sorry eric :o :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top