importing to computer with portastudio 414 - new to analog recording, NEED HELP!

[exactolife]

first off, i just want to specify that i have a portastudio 414, NOT a portastudio 414mkII. my portastudio does not have XLR mic inputs or an HiZ guitar input.

i am new to the world of analog recording -- i'm 14 years old and i love to make my own music, and i used to make it on the computer with a computer microphone, but i've always felt like analog recording is more authentic than digital recording. i love my portastudio to death, but i have absolutely no idea how to import songs from my cassette to my DAW. i use Acoustica Mixcraft 3 as my DAW.
the portastudio 414 has jacks reading:
-SUB IN (L and R)
-SYNC OUT
-LINE OUT (L and R)
-MON OUT (L and R)
-EFFECT SEND 1
-EFFECT SEND 2/TAPE CUE OUT
-STEREO INPUTS (5-6 and 7-8)

my problems are:
1. i don't know what kind of cable goes into the jacks SUB IN/SYNC OUT/LINE OUT/MON OUT. i tried putting a 1/8"-jack sized cable into them and it didn't fit. i do know, however, that 1/4"-jack sized cables go into EFFECT SEND 1, EFFECT SEND 2/TAPE CUE OUT, and STEREO INPUTS. does anybody know what kind of cable goes into SUB IN/SYNC OUT/LINE OUT/MON OUT?
2. i don't know which input i would use to connect to my computer soundcard's line in. LINE OUT is obviously an option, but with the L and R options, does that mean i could connect my soundcard's line in to L, and it would only import tracks 1 and 3? and if i connected to R, would it only import tracks 2 and 4?

in short, i need to know how to import from my TASCAM portastudio 414 to my computer's DAW. i am completely lost here. please help!

 

[gcapel]

i assume you only have your computers sound card as the analog to digital input. Which would be and 1/8" line input (dont use the mic input). You will need a cable that will connet your two stereo line outs (left and right) from the tape device to your singe 1/8" (3 conductors) line input on your soundcard. It would be a "y connection". You could probably go to rat shack and find the adapters or the cable itself to do this. They are overpriced so beware.

You will then need to setup a channel in the daw linking the line input to it.

 

[A Reel Person]

Download the 414mkII manual for free at:...

http://www.tascam.com/products/414mkii.html

Those things you mentioned are the only differences between the 414(std) and mkII.

Not sure if this answers your question directly, but you could take the tape outputs individually by sending tracks (1/2) out via the Stereo L/R (master buss), then track 3 out the Effect-1 and track 4 out of the Effect-2 sends. Wire that into your 4-input/4-simul recording interface and software, and bang. Migrate all 4 individual tape tracks into software simultaneously and mix/master "in-the-box".

However, the simplest scenario might be to work on your tunes on the 4-track, mix down onboard and send a stereo mix from the 414 to the 'puter std soundcard and make stereo Wav files and CDr's of your music from there,... recording and mixing entirely onboard the 414, with the computer stage for the "master" mixdown onto CD. All that's needed is a 1/8"-to-RCA stereo Y-cable adapter & standard soundcard Line input. It's low budget and effective, without getting too complicated on the 'puter side.

Hope that helps.

 

[exactolife]

http://www.tascam.com/products/414mkii.html

Those things you mentioned are the only differences between the 414(std) and mkII.

Not sure if this answers your question directly, but you could take the tape outputs individually by sending tracks (1/2) out via the Stereo L/R (master buss), then track 3 out the Effect-1 and track 4 out of the Effect-2 sends. Wire that into your 4-input/4-simul recording interface and software, and bang. Migrate all 4 individual tape tracks into software simultaneously and mix/master "in-the-box".

However, the simplest scenario might be to work on your tunes on the 4-track, mix down onboard and send a stereo mix from the 414 to the 'puter std soundcard and make stereo Wav files and CDr's of your music from there,... recording and mixing entirely onboard the 414, with the computer stage for the "master" mixdown onto CD. All that's needed is a 1/8"-to-RCA stereo Y-cable adapter & standard soundcard Line input. It's low budget and effective, without getting too complicated on the 'puter side.

Hope that helps.

i think i have somewhat of a grasp on what you suggested. but, i still have some questions. (sorry if i seem clueless -- i've only had my portastudio for about a week and have NO other experience in analog multitrack recording)
-how would i import my stereo mix to my computer's line in? i mean, which output/input would i use to connect my 414 to my computer. SUB IN, SYNC OUT, LINE OUT, or MON OUT? (i have a pretty strong hunch that it would be LINE OUT. but i just want to make sure.)
-i am confused about "Stereo L/R" and the EFFECT SENDS. tracks 1 and 2 can be exported through the stereo L/R, track 3 through effect send 1, and track 4 through effect send 2/tape cue?

again, i'm really sorry if i seem clueless or like i don't understand. the real problem is that i don't have any kind of analog experience under my belt i appreciate your input, A Reel Person. your information on what kind of cord i need was really helpful, gcapel. i'm going to radioshack tomorrow before i record a couple of drum tracks on my portastudio.

this is what i have gathered based on the information i've been given so far:
i would connect my LINE OUT left and right inputs to my computer's soundcard. then, i would open my DAW (mixcraft). i would activate the EFFECT 2/TAPE CUE monitor switch. from there, i would press the record button on my DAW while simultaneously pushing the play button on my 414.
^ does that sound correct?
once again, thanks for all your help!

 

[mjbphotos]

You run cables from the Line Out L/R to the line-in input(s) on your computer soundcard.
These are RCA jacks (that's how you'll see them listed online and at stores), so if your computer has two separate (L & R) 1/8" inputs, then you will need two RCA plug-to-1/8" cables. If your computer has a stereo 1/8" line input, then you will need an Y-adapter cord that goes from two RCA plugs to the 1/8" stereo plug.

 

[exactolife]

thanks so much for all the input. i think i get it, and i don't expect to have any problems tomorrow while importing!