Analog to Digital...

[jacobdetoth]

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....

 

[xtremedb]

Does comp refer to a computer? You said you don’t have a laptop… Do you have a desktop you could mix on after recording in that room? That would get you more tracks to work with w/out generation loss. If you just want to transfer the tracks one at a time, you just need a decent A/D converter. You can transfer them separately and just make sure they line up by hand. Does that answer your question, or am I missing something?

Brad Gallagher
http://www.just-for-musicians.com

 

[jacobdetoth]

thanks for the input...

yeah, i have a desktop i can mix down to, and i think that is what i will do.
but....
ive read others advice about analog/dig converters, and my opinion is i can buy a descent digital recorder for the going price of converters, bypassing the entire need.

issue is, im not going to buy anything else. i have a 4 track (and/or 8) and i have an older version of cooledit i can work with.
i can record up to my comp(uter ) w/out a converter, hopefully with descent sound...

my questions are probably just options, and im looking for the best one.
should i record 4 analog tracks, and mix down to 4 others, and let it stand, or could i add more with ease...or should i just mix all to one track, and let it stand..... or..or..or......
i dont want a nonfunctioning alternative to ruin the 'creative mood' yknow. i want to know what im gonna do, and do it.

so i dont know what my question/point is, but if you (or anyone) have any input, or opinions let me know..... i think there are other newbies in a similar crux.

thanx

 

[jacobdetoth]

also, xtremedb...

i like the website, great resources....
very useful, especially considering im a Music Business major!
this is my first semester, at Radford U in VA, ive been outta school for a couple of years though...


ive now read thru several of the sections, i really appreciate your 'no-nonsense' writing style, very refreshing after seeing so many people tryin to toot there own horn about how much they know...

ive heard the talk of the microhphone's importance before, i probably dont have a great one, ill have to look up some info about it (i didnt buy it, inherited it maybe 5 years ago from a punk band i was in). but in my case, with not great recording equip, would it be worth my trouble to look for a good mic?

thanks again

 

[xtremedb]

Thanks for the compliments on the site. I’d look for at least a decent mic. Something like a Shure SM57. Less than a hundred bucks and it’ll last if you take care of it. Somebody will probably recommend you buy one of the new whizbang mics on the market. Remind them that you don’t have phantom power for a condenser.

You need a converter to record to your computer. If you have any sort of input, you have one… it’s probably just not very good. You seem to be a little confused on the digital stuff. Here’s an article I just finished today. It’s probably a bit more detail than you wanted, but I think I managed to make it all fairly easy to understand. Check it out. http://www.just-for-musicians.com/digital-audio.html

Brad Gallagher
http://www.just-for-musicians.com

 

[drstawl]

They had those cool practice rooms at my Uni many, many moons ago. We dragged a reel-to-reel down there and recorded many tracks used on our demo.

Nowadays I'd start with two high quality digital channels and while the suggestion of the SM-57 is a great one when you mention that you are VERY SHORT on cash, don't be afraid to save some more dough for better mic(s) and a decent preamp. Fear not the condenser mic: Phantom Power ain't that expensive to arrange. Most decent pre-amps will include this.

One convenient, highly portable format is direct to CDR. Available for under $5 billskis these units will outperform tape machines in the same price range. A CDR and a Stereo Preamp will fit in a small (4U) rack mount case. Broke? Build it yourself!

 

[jacobdetoth]

didnt see this last post untill now....

Recording directly to CDR? Sounds like a good idea, could you provide a little further explanation as to what you mean... What components would I need, etc.

--I will be doing first experiments with recording with 4track analog up to Cool Edit within a week. Though I missed out on a mic (sm57) just last night on ebay, I think I'm just going to buy a new one, on ebay theyre going out for close to musiciansfriend retail, so..... 79 aint too bad.
Ive got a mic, an average one, but im just doing roughdrafts now. But im writing so much faster than I can record it, so i need to get on it.


What do exactly mean by preamp? Ive been confused on that, such as I have a dod votec vocal effect processor and mic preamp. What makes it a preamp? It's before the amp? So any pedal is a preamp eh? I dont know. That pedal cost me more than Im willing to pay on a mic now, sheesh, thats what I get for my newfound edumacation.