Does such a gizmo exist???

  • Thread starter Thread starter clevodrummer
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clevodrummer

Tascammer
I am moving along with my home recording project with my Tascam 424MKIII.
When I get to mixing down I have several options.

1. I dont want to mix down to a cassette tape.
2. I know a piano teacher with a real recording studio who would probably help me mix down to CD via her equipment.
3. I can get a soundcard as I have a separate cd burner and figure out that procedure.

or...what I would really like to do is mix down to a gizmo I am not sure even exists.

Does any one make a cd player which is made for this procedure? What I am envisioning is a stand alone unit which needs no PC, soundcards, etc.
I want to be able to pop in a cd, and simply mix down as one does with a 2 track cassette player.

Thanks all.
 
thanks for the info

cool,.....and you can mix down to them without a pc/software,etc.?

I just figure by the time I buy software, etc., This would be a better route!!

Any recommendations on any particular brand,etc.?

Thanks again,

clevodrummer
 
If you have a computer with a cd burner, they sell cheap stereo sound cards that have software included. I got one from Creative from Walmart (of all places) a couple of years ago for $30. It has rca inputs and software so you can record to a wav file in your computer and then burn that to a cd.
 
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The great thing about mixing down to a computer first is that then you have access to several different "mastering" type effects like EQ and compression to put some finishing touches on your mixes - and you can use free software like this http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/ to do it! Plus you'll have them stored on your hard drive so you can access them easily anytime.
 
Go to your friend's studio. Equipment aside, she probably knows more than you'll learn about this sort of thing in a short period of time. If you're going to be doing this a lot and you have a decent PC, pick up an M-Audio soundcard and Adobe Audition and you'll be in pretty good shape once you figure out how to use it (dedicate a Saturday and you'll be up and running by mid-afternoon, no problem).
 
I personally prefer stand-alone audio units ...... mainly because I have a mostly analog recording rig but also on the theory that audio only units are gonna be optimized for audio. They don't all sound the same so I have to think that 'puters wouldn't all sound the same either (this is because of the converters ..... not the actual burning process I suppose)
 
just don't buy a cheapo CD burner. I got one from MF for $99 and it never recorded a single CD properly. I sent it back to the manufacturer (a major PITA) and it came back exactly the same. I even bought the MF extended warrantee but they claimed that that only kicked in after the manufacturer's warantee ended. dealing with the manufacturer was such a PITA I eventually just ate the loss. You could look into a used alesis masterlink. there is also free software out there to record .wav files if you decide to go the PC route.
 
As mentioned, you are looking for a "stand alone" Cd Recorder. They will work basically just like a cassette deck, only recording to a CDR ( :D ).

Good ones are made by Marantz, HHB and Tascam. They should run you around $500+. Don't buy the cheap consumer CD recorders, they can be quite problematic.

The nice thing about recording into your computer is that you can edit the final stereo file. It sure helps to be able to at least trim the heads and tales of each song.
 
"Mixing down to CD" is a great way to fill the garbage dumps with hundreds of useless drink coasters.

G.
 
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