Converting from an old Fostex/mono stereo questions

[stormbringer]

Hello,

Excuse my stupidity but I'm a newcomer to these matters..... I began to convert some old demos recorded on a Fostex Multitracker 160 4-track cassette recorder onto my computer through a RCA cable with an adaptor into the line-in jack on to Sound Forge. The signal comes in as mono onto the computer, and my questions follow:

1) How much does this matter if I'm not sure that the tracks are "true stereo" to begin with? Most of these tracks were recorded either with one microphone recording live vocals & acoustic guitar w/ another guitar overdubbed on or they are guitar tracks recorded with the guitar direct into the recorder. Can I just convert the transfered .wav files into stereo?

or

2) I'm planning on buying a soundcard soon with the proper "stereo" inputs. Should I wait and re-transfer the tracks, or if I converted the mono files to stereo would the files sound just as good? Should I wait and retransfer the files anyways, will the sound be that much better?

I'm using the soundcard that came with the computer, a two month old Dell 4600.

Thanks for any help or advice from anyone who can decipher my questions!

 

[TexRoadkill]

Almost all soundcards have stereo line inputs. You probably have a mono cable or are using the Mic input.

There won't be any real difference in sound quality other then it being mono instead of stereo.

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

It is not mandatory for you to buy a new sound card.

Like Tex said. The 1/8 male plug that goes into your comp might be mono, instead of stereo (tell us how many rings the plug has).

In order for the Fostex tracks to be stereo, you would have had to record two channels at a time [originally into the Fostex].

If you originally recorded the tracks with one mic, then they are mono.

Yes, you can change the tracks from mono to pseudo-stereo in Sound Forge.

You asked, will the transferred WAV.s sound better with a different soundcard. I would say yes. I am sure that the A/D converters will be better than a standard computer soundcard converters.

Also, like Tex said, make sure that you connected to the LINE IN, not MIC IN.

I'm sure that our members will expound on the answers to your post.

Peace...

spin

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

Here is a TON of reading for you....

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

And some more reading for you....

http://www.phys.tue.nl/people/etimmerman/RecordingFAQ.html

 

[stormbringer]

Thanks a lot for the replies. So I've figured out that the adapter between the RCA cable & the CPU is a mono one, so that's esaily enough solved. But it seems by:

"You asked, will the transferred WAV.s sound better with a different soundcard. I would say yes. I am sure that the A/D converters will be better than a standard computer soundcard converters."

that though I could transfer in stereo with a new adapter it would still be better to hold off and redo everything on a better soundcard. So, basically a better soundcard would provide better analog to digital conversion?

Thanks for the replies, and for the links as well. It's much appreciated!

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

Yes, you can get a better quality A/D conversion with a better card.

It will depend on which soundcard you get.


It also depends on what you are trying to do with your music. If you just want to transfer the music just for your listening enjoyment, I wouldn't suggest you investing in an expensive soundcard.

Give us some more info....

spin