Analog to Digital...

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jacobdetoth

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I need some tips on the best way to go from an analog tape, then recorded up to a comp with as little degeneration as possible...

I've got a Tascam 4 track (and an 8, but a exbandmate is co-owner; a bad partnership purchase...) and they're analog. I'm live in a college dorm now, and I don't want to record my vocals there. But the Music Dept has sweet little almost sound proof piano rooms, I can setup in. If I had a laptop I suppose I could swing it, but I'm also very short on cash...

My exband mate, as mentioned before, recorded our demo up to a freeware program, and it sounded pretty horrible. Every garageband.com review we got, positive or negative, mentioned the low quality and volume. But he didn't know what he was doing, I should have taken over the operation, but he was doing most of the music so....that's over now.


Any suggestions? As in how I should go about the whole process....

(btw I'm new here, if you couldn't tell)


hope someone can help me out....
 
you need a good A/D converter, and like usual, the more expensive the better.
Why don't you try and find someone with a converter to do it for you?
 
that's sort of changed my prospective on it. i had some of my logic flipped upside down.

but still, i'd rather do it myself. i <i>wanted</i> to do the majority of the recording directly to my comp (probably using cooledit) then record the vocals elsewhere, then record up to my base tracks. but there could be issues, as there is, with the analog tape speed, a slight difference could be a big difference when trying to match them up.

i could do it all analog. at least im familiar with it. but converting is and would be the only issue.

is there any diy approach?

these analog-digital converters, are they like really great at what they do? or clearly second rate?

thanks for the info so far anywho...
 
There are numerous options.
The key thing to take into consideration is that, regardless of what program you are going to use, you will need an I/O - a means of getting in and out of your computer.

Ads you are on a tight budget, you could look at something like a Tascam US-428 http://www.tascam.com/products/us428/ . With that option you have everything you need to get started, as it plugs direct into a USB port (you won't need a good soundcard, it has converters on board) and comes with a limited version of Cubase software. At under 500 bucks, that's about as cheap as you can get started with reasonable quality recording.
 
That Tascam looks to be a great idea... Chances of me actually buying it are slim, but maybe I'll find a superlow buyitnow on eBay or something....
Definitely tight budget... I had been working a decent job for over a year, but then I decide to go to college... And now I have no money, and all the money I make at my lame 25 hr/w job goes toward payments...

the us428 is absolutely what Id like to have, ill have to keep my eyes open for a deal though... thanks!
 
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