Burning CDs from tapes on a PC

[Razzgospel]

Over the last couple of years, I have recorded my gospel quartet several times on an 8 track tape machine. I would like to burn them to a CD, using my PC. I am currently using an Easy CD Creator 4 Deluxe and have had reasonably good results with it on previous projects. I'm wondering what others are using and whether I need to make an upgrade. The advantage of the Easy CD Creator 4 Deluxe is all in the first word. I'ts "Easy." The modifications in sound that are possible are simple to make, but not particularly sophisticated. I am sure that there are software packages that allow greater modification of the sound. Whether they are user friendly enough that I can figure out how to use them is another question.

Any suggestions you have on software, it's flexibility and ease of use would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks,

Jerry Rasmussen/Razzgospel

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

As far as the burning software, it depends on who the recipients of your CD-Rs are going to be. If you're just making simple demos and close distribution, then EZCDC is fine. If you're looking to get good mastering done and release indie discs, then you'd probably be wise to step up to CD Architect or Wavelab (CD Architect is my personal choice, but both are quite good.)

You're skipping a whole bunch of stuff in the middle between your tapes and the CD burn like how you are getting your tracks into the computer, what you are going to use to mix the tracks once there, and what you are going to use to master the mixdowns. Either you already have all that covered or you don't yet realize that there are many steps in-between tape and burn. If you already have that stuff covered, very cool then. If not, then you have a whole bunch more to cover than what brand of burner software to use...

G.

 

[Razzgospel]

A Simple Recording

Thanks, Glen:

It might help if I described in a little more detail what I am trying to do. First of all, I recorded my quartet with each vocal on a separate track, and an electric guitar on a 5th track. There are no drum machines, insets or fancy effects. I just want a reasonably good reproduction of what we sound like performing live. I'm probably looking for something somewhere between a truly professionally produced CD and a :loving hands at home" amateur effort.
My group primarily performs in churches and nursing homes, and we do not have major professional aspirations. We'd just like to be able to do a limited run (maybe a pressing of 250 copies) CD to sell when we perform.

As for the steps between the tape and the computer, I can do a decent mix, balancing vocal and guitar volumes and panning for a good balance with the tapes on my 8 track, and feed them directly into the computer.

I realize that this is all ridiculously amateurish, but we are not on a professional career path...

I really appreciate your suggestions, and will look in to the software you receommend..

Jerry/Razzgospel

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

As for the steps between the tape and the computer, I can do a decent mix, balancing vocal and guitar volumes and panning for a good balance with the tapes on my 8 track, and feed them directly into the computer.

Ah, OK. I wasn't sure if you were looking to dump 8 raw tracks into the computer and mixing there or if you had something else in mind. It appears you have something else in mind And that's great.

It sounds like you plan on sending your stuffed already mixed down to two channels to the computer. That's cool. That'll make it easier.

As far as the creation of the CDs, a run of 250 is "professional enough" (so to speak) to make sure your discs hit Redbook specs and sound worthy of the investment. This means you definitely want to look into something more pro than EZ CD Creator. Again CD Architect is a great recommendation; low cost and high-quality with all the features covered. Also easy to use, it's almost all drag and drop.

I don't know what kind of budget you have, but I also would recommend at least investigating a pro mastering job on your recording before you have the duplications made. There are a couple of excellent mastering engineers on this board including - but not necessarily limited to - John S. ("Massive Mastering"), Tom V. ("Mastering House") and Brad B. ("BBlackwood" of Euphonics Mastering). You might want to ask them to chime in on this with some guidance there as well as far as outsourcing the mastering if you can, of the best way to handle it yourself if you can't.

G.