DP-008 Mixdown: Onboard or Export Tracks?

[Doug Fishback]

Some people like big honkin' DAWs, and others don't. I don't, so I prefer to work directly out of the DP-008 as much as possible. But... from the standpoint of final audio quality, is there any compelling reason to export the individual tracks and do the mix in Audacity versus mixing in the DP and exporting the master file as a finished product?

I am mostly asking how well the "export master" process preserves the final mix that you hear out of the DP, or whether there's any loss.

I ask because I just scored some Yamaha HS5 monitors for proper mixing, and am wondering whether to run those directly out of the DP-008 (weird, but preferred), or whether I should tie myself to the PC for final production (the conventional method). (On the PC route, I would use only Audacity and am not about to spend money and time on another PC application, by the way.)

Thanks for any thoughts!

Doug

Tascam DP-008 Recorder
Yamaha MG102C Mixer
Audio Technica AT2020 Mics
Shure SM57 & SM58 Mics
Yamaha HS5 Monitors
Sony MDR V6 Headphones

 

[Mickster]

There should be no issues with any changes to your DP-008 "master" by importing that file into Audacity......assuming you just transfer the wave file to a stereo track in Audacity. (I guess I'm assuming your mixdown is to stereo) In the bigger picture, however, the DP-008 has only VERY limited built in processing beyond your multi-track mixdown and you're very likely going to want more. In that regard, I'd certainly import the two track mixdown to Audacity for further "mastering" or "finishing" work. As for the new monitors......you'll probably need to send the output of both your DP008 and your DAW to them. Why wouldn't you? You need consistent monitoring "feedback" at all times. You can switch them manually as you move from one device to the other or you can run both outputs to a master switch which you can pick up fairly cheaply. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Doug Fishback]

Thanks, Mickster. I couldn't think of any reason why the master export process would have degraded the sound quality, except that there is such a drastic difference between the onboard mix I get through the MDR V6 cans and the sound I get out of my PC playback once I move the file over. The bass is muddy, the highs are thin, and the sense of space is seriously diminished. I guess that difference is entirely attributable to the speakers I have on my PC.

I don't find myself wanting much by way of mixdown processing. I compress a little when I record using my mixer's built-in compression, and the DP has onboard reverb. That's usually enough for what I want. If I ever get to the point that I want to "master" a collection of demos, then I'll definitely need to do that on the PC. (And I put "master" in quotes because what I do will never resemble actual professional work.)

Thanks for pointing out the opportunity to run switched inputs to the monitors from both devices. I fell into the old false assumption of "either or." I'll probably play around with the monitors hooked up to the Tascam for a short time, and then move them over to the PC. When I do that, I imagine I'll just export all my individual tracks and mix and master in Audacity.

One other obvious advantage is to export the original 8 individual tracks to Audacity, then bounce them all down to 2 on the Tascam, which then opens up 6 more tracks for a total of 14 in the final mix (rinse and repeat as necessary).

Thanks again,
Doug