Mixing to a PC or ???

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Nate74

Nate74

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I currently am tracking to a combination of a Tascam 38 and an Alesis HD24XR. I'm trying to figure out the best way to mix down. Currently I mix to DAT, then burn CDs on a stand alone Marantz machine. A long chain, and one that forced me to have my last Analog to Digital conversion on the crappy old converters on my Tascam DA-20mkII.

So my first thought was to find a way to go from DAT to computer via the digital out on the DAT, but I'd need some sort of different soundcard for that I'm guessing, and it still leaves the DATs converters in the chain...

I have toyed with setting up my computer to mix on, since it's pretty easy to take tracks off the HD24XR and onto the computer, but haven't fully embraced that idea yet. Software selection, monitors on the PC, soundcard for it? all too much to think of currently. Plus, at present I'm much more comfortable with "real" faders and outboard gear.

So my question: what would I need to mix to my computer from my analog board? Is there a soundcard with good converters and a pair of 1/4" balanced inputs? Then what software would I need?

I've also been thinking I could rewire my mixing console to mix to 2 of the tracks on the HD24, since I never fill all 24 tracks. That way I can then transfer the two stereo tracks to computer and burn away. Would that make sense?

Thanks all!
 
There is a freeware program called Audacity which may be just what you're looking for. Here's a link to the site...

If you use the digital outs, not only of your DA-20MkII but any digital recording device, you are not going thru any A/D coversion at all --- you are staying in the digital domain.

As far as monitoring goes, you would just be storing a finished mix in the computer and wouldn't even necessarily need to hear it go down.

This is a possible solution if you are going to use two tracks from your hard disk to mix to. And yes, that route does make sense.
 
I believe he was reffering to using the Tascam's A/D converters by inputing analog to the DAT machine. I would look into soundcard options by RME. Probably a "multiface".
 
It seems like the RME Multiface has way more analog input/outputs than I need, and at $650, I'd be inclined to go a different direction anyway.

The MAudio Audiophile 2496 seems to be more about what I was thinking I needed. It's also what the guy at Sam Ash suggested, though he was swamped with Christmas shoppers and didn't have much time to talk.

He did tell me that spending too much on it would probably be a waste since eventually I'd probably move into a PC based mixing setup and just import tracks from the HD24 and finish them up on the computer.

Which I can apparently start doing with some decent monitors and a program like Cubase or Cakewalk. About $500 total from what he said.

I guess I could hook powered monitors up to my PC’s 1/8” stereo out, but is there something better?

See, I knew the minute I moved away from my old 1” 16 track system, the flood gates would be open… :o
 
BTW, are there any stand-alone devices that have two TRS inputs that convert from A to D, then connect through USB or Firewire? Thanks again all!
 
Cool, Thanks everybody. I just reconfigured my 24*8 and my HD24 and was able to mix to tracks 23 & 24. I'll take them into my cheapy Cakewalk and make stereo wavs. If this works, it may be enough to hold me over until I'm ready to plunge into PC mixing...

Thanks again!!!
 
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