Live Concerts on DAT-transfer to CD-R

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Calvintatt2

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i need to find out the best and easiest way to transfer live concert recordings that are on DAT to CD-R.I have tried numerous software applications but have just completely confused myself(not to mention the numerous amounts of CD coasters i now have).I would like to get some opinions on some software to do this transfering.I would also like to know if the equipment i have is adequete to do this.I currently have a PC with a pentium III with a Soundblaster live platinum sound card.64 RAM and also have two hard drives,the first being my primary(C drive)and the second partitioned into 3.Not sure if this is all the info you would need to help me out,if not let me know what other info is needed and i will pass it along.Thanks to all who reply.
 
Sir Calvin;
Use a CD-RW disc until you get it down.
This will save you from adding any more to your impressive collection of failed CD-R discs.
Do you have a go between software for editing the music?
In other words, do you have Sound Forge, Cool Edit 2000, or any program that you can send the tunes to from the DAT?
Sounds like you have a good computer system, that won't be the problem here.
I totally bypass my soundcard by using a Sonic Port box.
I have optical/analog in/out on this box, which makes it easy for me.
If you are trying to put live amterial from your DAT to your hard drive (The 1st step), I would recommend a software program that you can "fine tune" and edit it with.
Do you have one of these? Let me know!
DJ
 
Hey,DJ.Yes i do, and have tried all the basic software that came with my sound card and also Sound ForgeXP(which also came bundled with my sound card),and have also tried Cool Edit 2000(trial version)and a few others.Does it really matter what i use to record the DAT recording?Do i have to record the concert onto my harddrive first,or is there something out there that could go directly to the CD-R?There is really nothing i really need to edit in the concerts themselves for they sound great on DAT tape,except for adding track marks after every song.
The recording software that i am using is Win-On CD(by Cequadret)which came with my burner(Mitsumi brand).
I have gotten so many different advice tips that nothing seems to match.For instance ;Does the DAT deck need to be timed (in sync)with the software i use?Does all the software need to be on one hard drive?Should i be using the same editing software and recording software from the same manufactuare to be compatible?
SO MANY QUESTIONS!NOT ENOUGH ANSWERS!
Thanks again for your input.
 
Calvin:
To my knowledge (Not quite the expert in this area)
all you need to use is the Sonic Foundry XP. That is what I use, and I am happy with it.
When you are sending the signal out from your DAT, are you using an optical cable or XLR outs? And what are you plugging it into on the other end? Directly to your computer's soundcard hole in the back, or to a breakout box?
Let me know your routing, and I'll get you through it.
And yes..You do need to send the DAT info to your hard drive, because your music has to be in .WAV format before you can burn it to a CD. That's where your Sound Forge comes in handy.
DJ
 
DJ:There are three different ways that i can do this,
1-the line in jack on the card itself in the back of my tower which is a mini jack.
There is a seperate box that is mounted on the front face of my tower that has
2-SPDIF input and
3-1/4" line in 2 jack
Those are my three choices.
I am assuming that both line in jacks would be analog but if i were to use the SPDIF then it would be digital?Would the digital signal make a difference even though i am making a .WAV file from the DAT?
Calvintatt2
 
Using the line in on the phono plug in the back is the way to go. You will bring a digital signal direct to your hard drive from your DAT this way.
Going to eat..Will post later tonight on how to configure your software..We'll get you going!
DJ
 
So your saying that the mini jack on the card itself is the better choice of the three?I would have thought that the SPDIF would have been the better choice out of all of them.Why is the mini the better choice?Is it because its on the card itself?I mean the front box("Live Drive" is what the box is called by Soundblaster)is connected directly to the sound card so i'm not quite sure i understand why the mini is the better choice.
Anyway,i would like to say that i sure do appreciate the time youre taking to walk me thru this.Hope you had a good dinner, and i myself am going to eat, and i will check back later.

Calvintatt2

p.s. so my assumtion that the line in's are analog and the SPDIF is digital was wrong,huh?They are all digital signals coming off the DAT?The DAT does not belong to me so i am not to familiar with its connections.
 
Ok Calvin:
I ate & I am happy.

Here's how I recorded & transferred my live stuff from DAT:
I ran optical out from my DAT to optical in on my direct box. You said you have a "SPDIF In" on the front of your tower? If it is an optical cable in, then use that: DAT optical out to SPDIF in on tower. If these differ, then:
Analog out from DAT (Don't worry...This will automatically convert itself to digital) to phono plug in to the back of your tower, where the soundcard plug is.
Since you probably have 2 XLR's out from your DAT, then
use a splitter that has 2 XLR's (female) to a single phono plug.
Now we utilize your Sound Forge. Set the preferences to digital under recording, leaving your playback as it is.
On your speaker icon in your taskbar, you may need to change your recording preferences as well to 44.1 digital.
Now under "file" in your Sound Forge, open a new file.
This will give you your screen to record on.
With your DAT on "Pause & Play", open up the record monitor on your Sound Forge. There is some type of record-ready on this too, open that as well.
Now play your DAT. You should be seeing a recording signal going to your Sound Forge.
We'll stop there until I know if this is working for you.
Keep me posted.
DJ
 
Allrighty,I have done what you said,and so far so good.Youll probably address this next but i have a question concerning levels.There is a level adjustment on the source deck as well as the volume controls on my computer.Do i set the levels before i send the music to my computer or after?

Calvintatt2
 
Hey Calvin:
You want to set the levels before you send it to the computer.
Ths will ensure the correct level is fed to the computer the first time. Because if you send a level to the computer that is either too low (hissy) or clipping too high (distortion)
you will not be able to fix that after that signal gets to your computer.
DJ
 
Hey i am back!
Got REALLY BUSY at work and havent been able to do anything for the past few weeks.But now i have got some time, so lets continue.O.K. last we left off i was asking about levels.Well, i set the levels on my DAT deck so that it sounds good going into my computer.I recorded the concert onto my harddrive and now am ready for the next step.While i was away a friend mentioned something about my soundcard,that it does some unnecesary resampling of the music put thru it.Is this so?And will that make a difference in the outcome?
Will be waiting for your reply.

Calvintatt2
 
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