Newbie Questions

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MusicMan91

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After a long hiatus, I have returned to this Message Board, still confused as I ever was. I got very busy, so I was not able to continue posting on here and researching about how to go about all of this. I do, however, still have many questions so "Newbie-like" that it will probably even make those of you who consider yourselves Newbies, laugh. With that taken care of, here it goes:

I want my first setup to be a combination of hardware and software. Therefore, would there be a way for this route to work:
Fostex MR-8 Recorder, to Digital Mixer, to Soundcard in iMac, to Free version of Protools? I really would like for something like that to be able to work, because I would be able to mix it in both elements. Fix it up mainly on the computer, but have the ease of doing the finishing touches by hand. Some of you might not agree with that setup in general, and say that I should pick one or the other (Hardware or Software) but I love the idea of using both. I can see each system's benefits, the computer doing the majority of the work, and I love the idea of doing the finishing touches on a hardware mixer. Any suggestions to this? A big question here is how would I wire and route everything together to make this system work? Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris
 
I have thought about going this route myself:

Using a stand-alone recorder with an analog mixer for tracking/mixing, and transferring to computer for mastering. The only downside I can see is the added expense of the additional outboard gear needed for mixdown. You'd have to have some pretty good gear to be better off than mixing in the box.

The free version of ProTools can only do two tracks in/out at a time, and your limited to 8 total audio tracks. It also only runs on OS9 (no "classic" no X) so if you have a newer iMac that won't boot from 9 it's not an option.
 
So, what you are saying is:

Don't use ProTools. Hook up my Fostex MR-8 Recorder to a Digital Mixer?, and then hook that up to the computer for mastering. My iMac is the latest version, but since I upgraded it from 10.1, I still do have 10.9, and I still have the 10.9 CD.

I do like your idea though. Using the computer for mastering, because I personally don't like Pro Tools. I would much rather mix on hardware. Record on hardware. And then master on the computer. Wow. That is a really good idea. I might get an Apple laptop in the future, because then I could store all my archived and old music files on the iMac, but use the laptop for the recording area and use that to master. Then when I am done I would transfer the older files, through the AirPort network, to the iMac upstairs. Any ideas of what Mixer I should get to accompany the route from the Fostex MR-8 Recorder and to the computer? Soundcraft?

Thanks a lot for the reply.
 
If your gonna use the MR8, you really have no use for an external board to mix. It pretty much does the same stuff as PTF.

If you were to get a better recorder with more simultanious ins & outs then a good mixer would be required.

You may still want to get a good analog board for tracking. It'll likely give you better quality than the MR8's built-in pres, and more signal routing options. I've read good things about the Soundcraft boards, but never owned one myself.

I use PTF myself on a G3 upgraded 8600 running OS 9.1. Works fine for what it is. OS 9.2.2 is the last OS that will work with PTF. 10 & up is a no-go.

There's more audio sofware for X all the time. I believe BIAS Peak is available for X, and is a pretty decent mastering app.
 
So with my set up that I explained in what I want to do: Recorder->Mixer->Computer for mastering, that wouldn't be possible with my Fostex MR-8? So, did I just wast my money buying that, or could there be another use for it even if it is not directly used in the route I explained. Like my sampler, it doesn't have to be in that route to not have value. What would I use it for then? Or is it pointless? I wasn't aware there was no way to hook it up to a digital hardware mixer, and then hook that up to the computer for mastering.
 
MusicMan91 said:
So with my set up that I explained in what I want to do: Recorder->Mixer->Computer for mastering, that wouldn't be possible with my Fostex MR-8?
Click to expand...

Sure it's possible, but the MR8 only has two outputs so there's really no point in using a mixer between it and the computer unless you have other sound sources synced up (like a sampler) that need to be added when transferring to the computer..

It's always best to keep your signal path as short, and as simple as possible.;)
 
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