Getting tracks to PC?

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rweiss

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Well, I bought a VF-16 about 2 years ago, and haven't really put much effort into using it. I'm trying to do some home recording and mixing, via the PC, and wanted to know what the cheapest way to get all of the tracks for each project(on the vf-16) to the PC, so I can edit/master each individual track/instrument on my computer. I'm about to buy either an ADAT card, extrenal SCSI cd burner, or MIDI-pc connector, but would like to know which way would be the "best" for doing this. Any input would be appreciated. :)

Thanks!
-Ryan
 
MIDI-PC link will not work, MIDI data is different to audio data.

SCSI drive will work, but you will need a SCSI interface on your PC. My friend uses the vf16 with a SCSI Jaz drive and this works ok.

ADAT link will work too, but of course you will need a soundcard on the PC with the ADAT interface.
I dont know if this one works in real time (i.e. transferring tracks as you hear them).

there has been other threads about this from time to time

Tube
 
Tube's right about MIDI: no good for audio transfer.

As you say, you could use the external SCSI CD burner, and transfer the tracks on a CD (assuming your computer has a CD ROM drive). You wouldn't need a SCSI card (in your pc) unless you wanted to use the burner with your computer (useful but not essential to this process). For the burner, Fostex only recommend one Plextor model (well, OK, two models, but one is discontinued) and it's quite expensive. As far as I know, only one user has ever posted that he got another brand/model of CD burner to work.
It would be cheaper to use a SCSI Zip or Jaz drive. You would need to be able to connect it to your PC: via SCSI card or SCSI/USB adaptor. Or, like me, you could buy a second drive for the PC (second hand USB Zip drives are dirt cheap). Two drives can actually speed up transfer (while the tracks on disk #1 are being loaded to PC, the Fostex is writing the next batch of tracks to disk #2).

Haven't used ADAT, but it is a possibility if you have an ADAT input on the PC

'Orc
 
Tubedriver, before I buy this ADAT card for my pc, will I be able to send each individual track to my pc, so I can master/mix/edit each track/instrument? ...It's really the only thing I'm looking to do, anything else I could do via various software on my computer.

(I'm kinda new to this, but would this ADAT card work? :: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...0692153/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/707846/ -or should I get this instead: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...0692153/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/704175/)
 
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Excuse me butting in, but what I do know about ADAT transfer is that it's real time transfer of digital audio, not data transfer like SCSI. You will need to be able to record it (into multitrack recorder software) and it will take one play of the song per 8 tracks (that is, three times song length if you used all 24 tracks on the VF). The multitrack software would need to be synced to the VF, so that all the tracks line up in sync.

'Orc
 
what 'Orc said then....;)
I'd go for something where I could transfer files as data, rather than digitally in real time (which, from what 'Orc says, the ADAT thing does).

but thats just me....

T
 
PS: I dont know enough about the ADAT devices you mention to be able to give any advice...
sorry
Tube
 
So the best way to transfer each individual track as data is what? ...CD via SCSI hookup?
 
Yes. You export the tracks from a VF program (song) to CD as WAV files (one WAV per track). One song per disk. Then you put the disc into you PC and import the WAVs to your multitrack software. A 700 meg CD will give you over 8 minutes of 16-track data (or over 16 minutes of 8 track data).

You can use Zip/Jaz drives in a similar way.

'Orc
 
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Alright, thought about it a lot, and I think I'm going to go with the ADAT set-up. Real-time isn't such a bad thing, and as long as I can, simply, transfer my tracks right into my software(which, to my understanding, ADAT does), then I'm happy. With ADAT, I can:

-record onto the vf-16, transfer the tracks through the optical I/O to my computer
-have the tracks imported directly into whatever software I'm going to use
-no need for all the extra media(CD's and zip disks)
-no need to interchange all the hardware(recorder hooks directly up to computer, which is nice)
-Erm, one single card specifically for this purpose is always a plus

If I'm making a horribly wrong decision(spending $200 on a non-returnable ADAT card), then let me know. :)

-Ryan
 
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I see what you're saying - seems logical.
What software will you be using?

'Orc
 
I would probably go for the second Steinberg unit, if only because it seems to have up to date ASIO drivers (the other only mentions ASIO fro Win 95!). But I'm no expert.

By the way, do you tend to record away from home?
Only, it seems to me that if you usually record in your 'Studio' room with your VF and your PC both present, you could record straight to Sonar (or whatever) using the VF as a preamp and A/D convertor, and as a transport control (via MIDI). Could be useful, unless your PC is prone to crash.

Just a thought,

'Orc
 
To be honest, I really have no idea what you're talking about(heh). I'm not an expert on home recording, but I can figure out how to transfer recorded stuff on the VF-16 to the PC easily enough. This is all done at home(recording and mixing on PC), so whatever yuo're suggesting could be done, I suppose, I just don't know what it is.
 
Sorry, I got carried away!
I was thinking: With your new ADAT card you could record direct to PC, (rather than recording to VF, then transferring to PC). Just thought it might be easier?

Good luck with the ADAT card, let us know how you get on with it.

'Orc
 
Now that I got my SCSI JAZ drive to work properly, I'm in heaven ;) see https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=121605

Seriously tho, JAZ is a good option as 2nd hand units are cheap. Be sure to treat the removable disks carefully though. I use 1Gb disks with a couple of 2GB drives - one on PC the other on the Fostex. Xfer speed is similar to a hard drive and you get all your tracks, with no sync problems.

I too am interested in ADAT, but less so now that I got the JAZ working properly. I did try using Ntrack with the Fostex A/D converters via SPDIF (Optical) and this worked fine but I had sync problems due to PC latency. The nice thing about the FOSTEX is it's luggable, simple to use and has no latency!!
 
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