how to mix outside of your computer

  • Thread starter Thread starter ALLY
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ALLY

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is there anyway I can still use my fostex digital mixer to control faders and eq but still record on a computer, so i can use the editing functions. and keep everything digital? I record into a stand alone and like it but hate to use the copy and paste. it sucks thanks
 
HMMM.. if your fostex has optical or TDIF ports, you could run it thru digital I can on my Tascam, at least. But everything gets truncated to 20-bits... so I dont do it if it's critical..

xoxo
 
what does truncated at 20 bits mean? i run through the optic cable to my recordrer right now. so if I decide computer I'll probably need a new souncard withdigital inputs right?
 
is it an ADAT connection, there..? 8 channels on a light pipe? Cuz you could totally do that...if it is. Exactly what are you using?

xox
 
Right now I'm using a fostex vm200 digital mixer and vr800 digital 8 track. I use the adat optical lines to send the sound back and forth, there is an s/p dif line too, it is also a fiber optic ( i guess a toslink connection or whatever they call it?) I really like that setup, I just don't like editing on the vr800 so I'm hoping I can find a soundcard with adat inputs, right?. also iv'e seen some cards with s/p dif conections but they appear to be RCA ins and my
s/p dif outputs are toslink fiberoptic? why is that? I have no effects units or anything so the over all goal is I want to send most of my signals through my mixer to convert to digital and use the effects on the vm200. thanks for the help. oh yeah, what does truncated to 20 bits mean? do you lose audio qaulity while using a setup like this? thanks again.
 
ok... when my mixer truncates a 24-bit input to 20-bits... it basically chops off the last 4 bits of data... with the resulting, though possibly insignificant, loss of data.

FOR INSTANCE:

This is how I set up my shit to mix w/ my mixer: (ps... for you, substitute bi-directional 8ch lightpipe connects for TDIF)

I have a digital mixer.. a tascam... it's got 20-bit in, 24-bit out. so I run my mics into it... run a TDIF line to my computer, and record to hard disc, in 24-bits.

I then can run OUT from my comp on the TDIF line to my mixer.. 8 channels at a time (well, I can do 16.. but lets say 8) .... and Mix at will, returning anywhere from 0 to 8 lines BACK to my comp... mixed.

The catch: my 24-bit signals get truncated to 20 bit on the way back into the mixer... then expanded back to 24 in the mixer.

You, too caould do this.. with an ADAT Sync card (??)... or any card with light pipe ins and outs..

xoxo
 
thanks, I get the truncating thing now, pretty simple when explained. is there any recomendations on sound cards. I thought lexicon (they make one with adat ins for a price I can afford) but that got shot down by everybody. the only one iv'e seen is this one by digidesign thats like 800 bucks, screw that dude, if I have to pay that I'll go back to my standalone. one more thing , my mixer is also 20 bit when do those last 4 bits come into play, i mean where would you notice it? like sound qaulity or loss of effects or somethin? (ive never really paid attention to that yet).
thanks
 
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