Mixing down to CD

  • Thread starter Thread starter mfdjuve
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This should work fine.

Another option is to use a computer with cd recorder if you have one.
 
I would think that would work better then the computer (assuming you have a regular computer) I say this because the conversion from my 38 to computer sucks. I have used Audacity and Reaper and found the conversion problem is my sound card. Hope this helps.
 
Yeah, it can be done. You can either go via an amp or go straight from the outs of the Tascam into the ins of the CD recorder with your speakers/monitors hooked up to your CD. Be sure to not let the levels get near the 0 point when you're mixing. There'll be no problems putting different songs from different tapes on the CD. As long as they're not all 20 minutes long.
 
The Teac you mentioned should work fine. The outputs of the 424mkIII are unbalanced -10dbv, so any CD recorder with "consumer" inputs (or a +4/-10 switch at the inputs) will work fine and the levels will be correct. As has been said, watch your levels!
 
There are differences in the converters and amp circuitry/components though, but for most the world, and I figure myself in that group, you won't hear the difference. Maybe so, maybe not.

Trying to remember what model forum member Beck swears by...I've heard reports about some old Fostex model being very nice and I've also heard stuff about the older HHB recorders...
 
That's quite true about the differences in converters/circuits, though with the 424 probably splitting hairs (with all due respect to the mighty analog Portastudio!) and I agree the differences will be subtle.

We have a Fostex CR300 and an HHB CDR830 Plus in the studio. Bother are good, pro-level decks. The HHB has 24-bit delta sig converters which are not bad at all though I typically use even better external converters for mixdowns. Both decks are easy to use and have been dead reliable; I particularly like the HHB and IIRC they did a more affordable, unbalanced version that was also good. I also used to use a pro Marantz CD recorder at a radio station in the early/mid 00's that was a fussy and unreliable. It got replaced with an HHB. Not sure if the Marantz decks have gotten better of late.
 
sweetbeats said:
Trying to remember what model forum member Beck swears by...I've heard reports about some old Fostex model being very nice and I've also heard stuff about the older HHB recorders...
Click to expand...

The two I recommend are the same thing under different brands...

HHB CDR850 and Fostex CR300

They're the same inside and out except for the color. They were made by Pioneer based on the consumer model PDR-555RW, but have many extra features. IMO these are the nicest sounding stand-alone CD recorders I've worked with, still even though introduced about ten years ago. You'll find them used on eBay etc and the price ranges like crazy, but $300.00 is not too much for one of these babies used if seller knows the history of the unit.

The only thing I don’t like about them is the small afterthought of a wireless remote that comes with them, but I’ve never needed the remote anyway, so not a big deal. They have a jack for a wired remote, so you can make or mod an existing remote for basic functions. That’s a better option in a pro environment anyway IMO, so it’s a nice feature.

:)

http://www.lnlrecording.com/HHBCDR850.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may99/articles/hhb.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov99/articles/fostexcr300.htm

PS: I still like these better than any sound card/PC option. The CDR850 is an essential for me in maintaining as much analog goodness as possible in conversion to digital. After conversion I use the CD burner in my PC to make copies. That's the easy part. What is most critical is the A/D conversion and thus I still use the CDR850.
 
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both the fostex and HHB don't seem to available anywhere second hand here..they still have new HHBcdr850 new, but for £500 +

I'm only looking to spend around £100 on a second hand recorder, obviously I want the best that I can get for my money, just something that's fairly cheap and will do a good job...oh and easy to use.
 
You might be able to get a used Pioneer PDR 555RW for that much. You have to use music CDs with consumer models, but the prices have come down so much it doesn't matter as much anymore. I used to have one of those as well.
 
I actually use the tascam model.with the cassett & cd recorder in one(CC-222 mklll)
I like the results. it gives you a vloume control, vu meters and a dolby. you can go from the portastudio outs right to the "in" of the tascam. I have a teac 10 band equalizer that i have linked from the portastudio (tascam 488) to the eq then to the cd recorder. alittle expensive, but the results are good
 
Yo MFDJuve! Regarding putting the songs from several reels on one CD, there is a process called "finalizing" which sort of flips switches on the CD-R so that it can be played on a standard CD player that is CD-R compatible (some real old players won't play CD-R's). Once the disc is finalized, nothing else can be recorded on it. So-it's important that you don't finalize the disc until it's finished. Any decent CD recorder has a control somewhere to turn the finalizer on and off, and most of them have a "finalize only" option. You can play a non-finalized disc on a CD recorder, but not on most stereos, Walkman, whatever. Once it's finalized, you can't un-finalize it. It is what it is.There is such a thing as a CD-RW, which can be written over like audio tape, but 99% of CD players can't play them, so they are mostly used in post-production work. Good luck-Richie
 
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