238 to laptop?

[Bobby Darko]

Allright, i have a 238 syncaset and I wonder if it's do-able to hook it up to a laptop for playback, mixing and mastering. I guess I need a soundcart with 8 ins and 8 outs (do these exist?). What sort of mixing program (easy as possible) would you recommend and how much would this setup cost me if possible. Has any of you tries this or something simmilar? Thanks guys!!

 

[DemoEtc]

I mix my 238 through a 16 channel Carvin mixer (8 mono, 4 stereo) into a PC. Since I'm just doing the mixdown, I use the stereo output of the mixer into the PC's line input, and recording it with Audacity. You could get an 8 in, 8 out card, but I think those are a bit pricey, aren't they?

Another option would be to transfer each of your 8 analog tracks, one at a time into your mixing software on the computer, line them all up, and mix there.

 

[Track Rat]

Another option would be to transfer each of your 8 analog tracks, one at a time into your mixing software on the computer, line them all up, and mix there.

I've tried it like this. The problem with that is the stability (or instability) of the 238 transport. Being tape, the playback is never going to be EXACTLY the same on all 4 passes (two tracks at at time into the computer). Even thogh you can drag them into allignment, the little inconsistencies can pop up as phasing. That being said, lining them up in the computer can be made a lot easier if you can slate all 8 tracks at the beginning of each song with a single "click". I used to take a drum machine and assign it to all 8 subgroup outs of the somsole and patch that to all 8 inputs of the 238 and punch in a single clave hit. Then in the computer you line up that click.