Getting Started

[KJO]

I was deeply into home recording about 15 years ago with Tascam products. I am familiar with multitracking and instrumentation, but not even close to being informed about digital recording. I have a new computer that has enough punch to do the job, but I do not have the basic knowledge of how to do this digitally.
I was dumbfounded when I dug out my old tapes and found them to be of even better quality than I remembered. The 1st thing I would like to do is move them to digital.
I have a decent analog board. How do I convet?
What type of software do I need?
I have a lot of analog processing equipment. Is that ok to use?
How do you physically hook all of this up? And what the hell is a plugin?
Be nice, I'm new

 

[Stealthtech]

You can go with a digital multitrack recording program if your gonna start with new material or if you just want to transfer your prerecorded songs you can benefit from a good editor like soundforge.
You will need a quality sound card interface to do the AD/DA conversion into the PC.

 

[13th_Omen]

How may tracks will you be doing at once? They make all kinds of different sound cards with different inputs and features. You can always use your outboard analog gear, that is if you don't like the effects you have with the software that you will get. Plugins are basically the functions of your software (ie. effects).

 

[KJO]

Stealthtech /
13th_Omen

I guess the 1st thing I need to do is save these old tapes. Since they do not have a sync track, I will have to dump them all at once. I would like to move them to the PC and remix it all. The tape recorder is a Teac 38 8 track. So I go from the deck to an 8 in/out A/D converter, then to some type of multi-track soundcard, then into the PC?? What type/brand of card will let me record 8 tracks simultaneously? Then in mix-down, how do you patch in any analog effects? You guys are great. Thanks for responding.
If you could, please respond again after you get through laughing at me.