analog to CD (again)

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MikeST

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I know this questions is old, but some of us our new here.
I'm currently getting more used to my 488. Would like to put anything thats decent onto a CD for myself and others. Even so I can just re-listen onthe way to work.

What do you guys mean by "stand-alone" cd burner. Is this something I would find at best buy?
The term "stand-alone" . Does that mean something that will plug into my reciever or directly from my 488? It won't say "stand-alone" will it?

This is the way I would rather go. I am not very adept at digital.
I would like to plug something into my components and burn a CD without dealing with my wifes computer.
I know this is an old topic, but I would appreciate any help. thanks
 
"Stand-alone" is a term I use to describe a singular stereo component like a cassette deck or DVD player.

Because CD burners in computers are so prevalent these days, I use that term to differentiate between the two.

Sorry for the semi-confusing terminology.

Cheers! :)
 
And yes; you should be able to find one at Best Buy or any decent consumer electronics retailer.

Many musical instrument shops carry them too.

Cheers! :)
 
Thanks a ton.
And sorry for the beginner re-hash.

I'm going to go look at Best Buy on my lunch hour.
Will I go directly from my tascam into the stand-alone unit?
 
MikeST said:
Will I go directly from my tascam into the stand-alone unit?
Click to expand...
You could.

Or, some people put a stereo compressor in-between to make sure they get the maximum level on the disk without it clipping over the 0db mark on the CD's meters which would be bad.

If you do have access to a stereo compressor, make sure that you don't squash the life out of the dynamics and ruin your recording effort in the process.

In most cases 2 to 4 db of peak reduction will make a louder CD and still preserve some punch without the sound becoming too obnoxiously loud.

Cheers! :)
 
Thanks again.

I have to watch how much I dive into this initially.
I don't have access to a compressor .

Will the quality be bad until I can afford that?
Is it not worth going to CD without the compressor?
 
MikeST said:
Will the quality be bad until I can afford that?
Is it not worth going to CD without the compressor?
Click to expand...
The quality will not be bad at all.

The compressor is largely just allowing you to make a louder recording.

Think about listening to a commercial on radio or TV and how they are usually louder then the program material. That's using a compressor to squeeze the maximum volume out of the available sound level threshold so that when you go to the fridge for a beer while the commercial is on, the sponsor is hopeful you will still hear their pitch by making the sound obnoxiously loud.

It all has very little to do with sound fidelity. In fact it detracts from it because you are adding another process into your signal chain which adds it's own noise and distortion on top of what ever you have just done to keep things clean.

Perhaps from my response you can take away the impression that I am not a huge fan of mastering compression?...You would be correct.

Cheers! :)
 
Stand alone cd burner

I got a Tascam CC-222...It records any analog signal that you send into it including phonograph records (it has RIAA phono jacks for your turntable) I have had excellent results mixing into it from my Mackie 16 channell board with my Tascam 8-track reel to reel recorder and 424 MKIII also....It also has a cassette deck built into it that you can make CD's from cassettes..or vice-versa or you can master onto the cassette deck if you want...... :)
 
Analog Tape to CD

I have a similar issue/problem. I currently use a 424 MKIII to make a 4 track recording. I connect my TASCAM to my stereo then mix it to 2 track (stereo) using a fresh cassette and mix using my home stereo. Next, I have been connecting my tape deck to a stand alone CD recorder and converting the 2 track to CD. My CD's made this way lack punch and power below volume being turned up to about 75% of maximum volume regardless of the playback system (although on the home stereo I mixed on it sounds OK at about 50% of maximum volume). My CD recorder has a signal boost that I set to high - this is recommended with an analog source.

Is there any way to improve overall sound level either the way I have been doing this or is it better to work from the TASCAM going direct to the CD recorder? If the latter I'm not sure how to do that. Any overall comments on my current approach. I'm a novice and I am prepared to be told I am missing something obvious or that my approach is ridiculous. Thanks for any help you can share.
 
My CD recorder has a signal boost that I set to high
Click to expand...

Perhaps this is where the problem is? I have a Pioneer CD recorder deck and it offers no such feature or recommendation for it's analog inputs that I directly record to from my multi-track set-up.

If I were you, I would try as an experiment, recording directly to your CD recorder and turn off the boost feature. Perhaps that feature is boosting the peaks to much and causing an artificially low over-all level for the meat of the tune?

Good luck!

Cheers! :)
 
Thank you very much for your reply. I will look into trying that but...if I'm not mistaken when I first tried making a CD from a tape I did not know about the "high" setting. My CD recorder is a JVC XLR 2010. If I recall correctly the recording levels I was getting were extremely low going to disc. I think I turned the levels all the way up and still did not get close to a solid signal going to disc.

When I use the "high" setting boost, I get as close to the red as possible without pinning it. I even cut back the level on the highs that pin red and then adjust back to an average recording level. This so far, controls overt distortion and basically maintains an even volume level. The problem though is the overall level is too low on playback unless the (stereo, car stereo, CD boom box, CD discman) is turned way up volume wise.

Maybe connecting the TASCAM direct to the JVC will solve this problem or maybe my expectations for a home made product are too high. If I do connect my TASCAM direct to the JVC (I've never tried it) will I end up with a "stereo" master? Is it exactly the same as mixing a 4 track recording to a "standard" cassette, creating a stereo mix and then making a CD from that? Have I been adding a step I don't need that adds no benefit and may actually detract from the mixdown process?? I only started doing it that way because the TASCAM manual described a mixdown as going from a 4 track tape to a 2 track tape. Thanks for taking the time to help!
 
Have I been adding a step I don't need that adds no benefit and may actually detract from the mixdown process??
Click to expand...

I'm leaning in that direction, yes.

Like I said previously, do an experimental recording that way and see if things improve at all.

One thing, level wise that comes to mind is that most cassette decks put out about 500 mili-volts at the line out jacks and a CD player puts out 2 volts which is 4 times the signal strength of a typical home cassette deck. You portastudio with all it's gain controls can produce a much stronger output signal then a regular cassette deck could and thus my rationale for thinking about cutting out the middle man.

Cheers! :)
 
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