Gidge

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UnkleSlam

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I posted this in the Newbie section, too, but I haven't gotten any answers there. So here goes.

I have a Tascam 564 Mini-disk recorder. It can record four tracks simultaneous. Assume I set up the two soundcards like was suggested. And I'm gonna be using N-track, can I just use the Tascam as a mixer for now, and record 4 tracks into my PC, using the direct outs on my 564?
 
No, I haven't bought a soundcard yet.

Very little $$ to spend. I'm a poor boy. I don't have an exact limit, but I am in a financial pinch right now, so as cheap as I can, for now.

Your turn.
 
Im sure theres a way to do it with the two cards but Im sure its not an easy task....Turtle Beach's Santa Cruz card will do what you want in a single card....I think Ive seen it as low as $65.....and its a decent card in its price range...it has a stereo input and also what they call a versa jack, which you can configure to do whatever you want...you will simply set it up (in software I assume) as another stereo input...so outputs 1 (panned hard left) and 2(panned hard right) will get recorded into the soundcards first input and the mixers output 3 (panned hard left) and 4 (panned hard right) will go into the soundcards 2nd input...from there you can pan the tracks however you like as the extreme panning was just a way to get 2 separate tracks into 1 input.....

Next question, what instruments will you be recording and what type of gear do you have already and what are the specs of your computer.....
 
I think I like the Turtle Beach idea better than two cards. About my gear here goes.

I will probably be using my Zoom RT123, or Boss Dr.Rythym for drums most of the time,BUT I want it to be flexable enough to record real drums with at least 4 mics if I want. Hence the need for some type of mixer.

I will primarily be recording heavy rock music. Mostly instrumental. Occasionally some ambient/groove type stuff . I mic my guitar cab. I run my bass direct. I've been using a Tascam 564 MD recorder,an Alesis NanoCompressor, and an ART FX1(?) for reverb,etc. I have crappy little Nady mics. I'm gonna invest in some SM57's and maybe a Rhode NT1 or something similar as soon as I can.

The PC I just bought is a

HP 800 CPU, 128 mgs RAM, 40 G hard drive.I don't know what kind of soundcard comes with it.

That's all I know to tell you. I really don't know crap about recording. I wing it. This site is the best resource that I have ever found. And I'm trying to learn the right way to do things. Any help would be appreciated.

If you want to hear my attempts at recoding sound you can go to www.guitar.com/artists/UnkleSlam
 
If I were you Id hold off on the soundcard until you can get something that will really make a difference.....The soundcard that comes with the computer may not be great, but a Santa Cruz wouldnt be that much of a step up to justify it......I know I pointed u that way and it is the least expensive way to get 4 tracks into a computer, but you'll SOON be wanting more....id say wait until you can put out about $200 and get a Delta44.....

I listened to what u recorded and it sounds good......you could just, when real drums are needed, record the 4 track drum part onto the Tascam, get a good stereo mix, and fly that into the computer....then you can record everything else straight into the computer, except for microphone sources when you will have to go thru the Tascam for the preamps....

when recorded to computer, keep that signal path as clean as possible and leave effects for mixdown...there are lots of free effects plug-ins out there.....

Hopefully, this will help you out some without confusing you too much....
 
Do you know anything about that Lexicon card that's 200$ from MusiciansFriend?Is it any good, or would I be better off with the other one?
 
Oh yeah, one more. Do you know anything about the M-Audio Quattro? What's the difference in it and the Delta 44?
 
The Lexicon Core 2 is a decent enough card...it was once plagued by faulty drivers and such and left a bad taste in everybodys mouth, but now a few people have had good results....i still dont have too much faith in it.....

The Quatro is a USB unit, which means it goes thru the USB port of your computer as opposed to being a PCI card with a breakout box like the Delta44....they are both 4 in 4 out cards, but the Quatro has Midi in out...Im not too familiar with USB units, and I dont believe the Quatro is out yet...USB may or may not stable enough to run 4 audio tracks simultaneously.....I think the Quatro was more intended for the person whos only option is USB.....

between the Delta and the Lexicon, Id pick the Delta any day of the week....the converters are far superior as well as the driver support, which will be the foundation of your sound....
 
OK, Thanx again. I'm sure there will be more to follow in the weeks to come.
 
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