From analog to PC

[EddieVergunst]

What I want to do is the following;
Transfer the tracks from my 388 (either the stereo signal or all 8 tracks seperate) to my laptop and mix/master with something like Cubase.
What are the things I need to know and need to get? I know that I need to have some kind of USB device connected to the laptop, but I have no clue as to what would be the best option for me.
Any advice on the subject would be appreciated.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

I'm not familiar with Cubase even though I own a copy of it that came with my soundcard when I bought it.

I have been hanging around the Cool Edit Pro forum and trying to learn myself, this same process.

From what I have gathered so far, it seems you don't really need anything special in the way of a "USB" device. You simply need a decent stereo or better sound card to transfer tracks from the reel to reel over onto or into the program two by two if necessary and the you can line them up on the computer by adding and subtracting amounts of silence to the head of the track to get all the tracks back in sync as they were on the reel.

For those with a laptop computer, I suppose an external capturing device would be a necessity if your laptop doesn't have a "line in" connection.

There are many different ones on the market. Sound Blaster makes one specifically for laptops that does use a usb connection on the computer end and has various line inputs on a small breakout box.

At that point you can then play with your tracks digitally and do what you must to them to please your needs.

Sorry if this is an over simplification of the process but I think it is about as simple as that.

Cheers!