Newbie needs recording help.

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deferr

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Ok I am a little confused at to the way I record everything. I have an 8 track reel to reel machine. I am planning on taking all the instruments through the mixer into the multitrack then once I have all the basic tracks down I will do the final mixing by running each channel of the mulitrack into my mixer and then adjusting the mix.

Lastly I need to get the two stereo channels of the main out of the mixer into my computer's sound card. My question is

A. Do I have the sequence right?
B. When do I add effects such as compression and reverb.
C. Is the 1/8" microphone jack on my sound card sufficient to do a mixdown to?
D. What program do I use to "record" each track, edit the time interval between them, and insert track markers.

Thanks everyone
This sight is great!
 
hey, your basis is more or less spot on in theory.. thats pretty much how all mixes are done..however if you are wanting to add effects there is two possibilities, the first is to add before printing to tape...this should only be done if you are happy to do that, as it cant be undone, the second is to add effects at the mixing stage, which is what i personally would do
The second issue of recording into your computer is a challenging one, personally i would certainly not record into the mic in, if there is a line in that would be infinetly better...tho this is still a issue that will be constrained by your soundcard. I have a 10in/10out soundcard/audio interface which allows for a greater flexibily when converting to computer, for instance you could do away with the mixer and record all 8 tracks at real time to a sequencer program, say cubase and do your mix there...But then you could do without even recording to the 8 track in the first place. You could record your final mix on to dat via your mixer or any other medium. Again this all comes down to what your outboard gear is, ie your compressors, reverb etc.
 
If I mix down to a different type of media I still have to somehow get to my computer to create a cd. This is where I'm stumped unless I buy a A/D converter but this is way out of my budget. This has to be a rather common problem. How does everyone else get their reel to reel machine's onto cd?
 
yeah, sure you can record into the computer, but like i said the mic in is not ideal for this for a start the impedence is all wrong and its a mono imput, if there is a line in do that or if you can get your hands on a cheap sound card, i believe m audio and beheringer do them for very affordable price's this should sort out your problems...btw im not endorsing these products as i have very little expierence with beheringer and even less with m audio, just get one with a stereo line in...that is if your sound card dosent already have one.
 
If you're more comfortable mixing in the analog realm and sending that stereo mixdown to your computer, you can do just what you've suggested. Add effects either at the tracking stage, or while mixing to your hard drive. However, you will probably want to upgrade your soundcard. If you just need a stereo input for your mixing, then something like the M-Audio 2496 ($99) would work and be miles better than the soundcard that came with your computer.
 
http://www.sticksite.com/tape2cd/

I record with a four track analog recorder. It has an EQ and mixer built in, so I mix on it, and send my mixed out the stereo outputs, through this inexpensive external sound card http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic2/ which converts the analog signal to digital. The IMIC outputs into the USB on my laptop, where Audacity (freeware) is running to record in stereo. Then I export to wav files and save them on my hard drive. Then I burn CD's using playlists on Windows Media Player.

The IMIC is necessary for me because my laptop does not have a line input. The mic input on the laptop is no good because it's mono. If you have a stereo line input on your computer, you don't technically need an external sound card.

However, the IMIC is better than the internal soundcard because it isn't surrounded by all sorts of unsheilded electronics that can produce noise in the analog to digital conversion.

Now keep in mind, I'm converting a MIXED stereo signal to digital. I don't have separate digital tracks. I'm not manipulating anything on my computer. The IMIC and laptop are only being used to change that analog stereo signal into digital so I can produce CDs.

Inexpensive but effective for my purposes.

People spend thousands of dollars on external soundcards and digital interfaces. It all depends what you want to do.

The technique I've described is the simplest, cheapest way to convert analog to digital. But let me tell you, the results sound pretty good to me.

Now the pro's can flame me.

:cool:
 
Yes simplybassy I wish to use my computer to simply convert to digital.

I just looked at the back of my computer and there is a 9 pin connector on the back with a symbol like this on it. is this my line in?
 

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The line-in on the computers I've seen are 1/8" stereo jacks (same size as 1/8" headphone jacks).

It'll look the same as your 1/8" microphone in, but the line in is stereo and set to record at line level.

I have no idea what the 9 pin thing is.
 
deferr said:
Yes simplybassy I wish to use my computer to simply convert to digital.

I just looked at the back of my computer and there is a 9 pin connector on the back with a symbol like this on it. is this my line in?
Click to expand...

it's not Line In, it's the connection for your serial port - what folks plug external dial-up modems into, for example.

if you tell us what your computer is, it could help a bit in guiding you.
 
if that's not it I'm positive I do not have a line in. I have a mic input. a speaker output and a headphone output. that's it as far as 1/8 inch.

Any more suggestions on how to go from analog to digital?
 
What do you mean "any more suggestions" ????????

Did you read my previous post? I spent a fair bit of time explaining the whole process.

If you have USB, get an IMIC. And download Audacity. Its free.

Pay attention. People are donating their time to help you.

Go back and read it. And look at the links.

:confused: :eek: :mad: :rolleyes: :confused: :( :confused:
 
simpleybass said:
What do you mean "any more suggestions" ????????

Did you read my previous post? I spent a fair bit of time explaining the whole process.

If you have USB, get an IMIC. And download Audacity. Its free.

Pay attention. People are donating their time to help you.

Go back and read it. And look at the links.

:confused: :eek: :mad: :rolleyes: :confused: :( :confused:
Click to expand...

Yes I read the post but I just wondered if other people did it other ways that way I could get all possible suggestions and pick the optimal solution to my particular needs. I wasn't specifically asking YOU for other suggestions but all the other people out there in cyber world.

I did look at the links and thanks for the advice and the time. I am grateful and did not mean to make it sound otherwise.
 
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