PC software for effect

[wantabe]

I've got a Tascam 388 (8 channel mixer w/1/4" reel to reel) I mix down to dat. I sold the board I was patching reverb off of. Just bought a PC and new to all this internet stuff. Looking for the best way to go to get rev, delay, distortion, etc. Any idea? After reviewing some of the Q & A it sounded like I might be able to download some cool stuff. My question is how does that work? My PC isn,t connected to my studio equip.

Thanks for your help,

Wantabe

[This message has been edited by wantabe (edited 07-08-2000).]

 

[dobro]

Well, the Tascam is a standalone unit, right, and you're talking about using the computer as your recorder. For that you'd need (1) a good soundcard in the computer. You'd also need (2) an audio editor (the software you record/edit with) - like Cakewalk or something. Then you could download various free plugins from the net for the effects you wanted, or (3) spend some money and get some good ones. There's a company called Waves that sells bundles of effects that people here like a lot. With this setup, you could still mix down to DAT.

This costs a bit of money and time to learn how to make it work, but then you can record digitally using your computer, which seems to be the way a whole lot of home and pro recording is going these days, because it's so versatile and offers loads of ways to upgrade and improve your system.

 

[crosstudio]

holy cow did you say 388??? when i first started recording, the studio we went to had a 388. i fell in love with that thing.

if you love that 388, then the best thing for you to do is get outboard FX. used lexicons if you've got dough. used quadraverbs if you don't.

if you want to continue using the 388 but mix in digital, then get a sound card and/or midi card with a SMTPE timecode generator that can stripe a track of your reel with SMPTE time code (i use to do it with a MQX-32m by OpCode before i went tapeless). then when you've recorded your music on the other 7 tracks, you can connect the 388 to your DAT and the DAT (using coaxial or optic cable) to your soundcard (i prefer the frontier design wavecenter), and brng the tracks in 2 at a time.

i've got DSP-FX which is a suite of plugin FX tools and i get good results from them, but it has no distortion plugin.

 

[wantabe]

Thanks for the words of wisidom. I love my 388! This board is in MINT condition. Not even one little scratch.

So, what do you think the price difference between lexicons & quadverb fx? (used)

I don't know which way is the best way for me? I don't want to get lost in the rapid change of the home studio! But realistically I'm already so far behind. Whatever I do, I basically have to be able to learn from you guys, the manual, and/or any other books/magazines. Do you have any books or other resources you might recommend?

So, if I get set up to use SMTPE then I'll loose one of my tracks, right? I really don't want to do that. Is there a way around that?

Thanks people for your info. Lord knows I'm a sponge for information. I want to learn all I can! Thanks again.

 

[regebro]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I don't know which way is the best way for me? I don't want to get lost in the rapid change of the home studio! But realistically I'm already so far behind.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No you're not. Digital doesn't make the music any better. If you have expensive AD/DA converters you'll get less noise, and you'll be able to bounce tracks with no real sound-loss. So if you compare digital stuff to casette portas, it's a vast difference, but with a quality 1/4" 8-track you won't loose much. In your situation, I would definitely go for buying an outboard effect. You'll improve your sound for less money than needed in going to computer recording.
Also: Do you have any good mics? Thats something you need, in any case.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>So, if I get set up to use SMTPE then I'll loose one of my tracks, right? I really don't want to do that. Is there a way around that?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Nope. But think of all the tracks you are SAVING by syncing a sequencer instead of having to record the synthesizers separately!

Good luck!

 

[wantabe]

Mics? All I have right now is a couple of Sure SM-58. I love them for live performance, but I'm not sure where they stand in the recording industry. I've been able to make it work, after all it is a quality mic. I haven't been in a position to even consider purchasing a new mic until now. Still, I lack knowledge of what's good and I don't want to get riped off. Open to suggestions. All the advice is appreciated.

 

[regebro]

Well, it's all a matter of budget.
But I think I got a much better sound on vocal and acoustic guitar with a condenser.
There seem to be a couple of resonably cheap condensers around, like Røde NT-stuff and Oktavas and so. $200 - $300. I'd guess that the Tascam 388 has built-in mic-preamps with phantom power. Otherwise you'll need one.

But a multieffects box comes first, I'd say. You need to have compression when you record, and delay on the voice and reverb while mixing will probably make more for your music than a better mic. But if you can get both your basically set to make high quality demos!

 

[Dausenkunz]

Wantabe,
In Your situation I´d suggest that You go out and simply buy a SBLive soundcard for Your computer. Looks like You don´t have tons of money to spend for a completely new digital studio and after all Your main interests were:
- to find a replacement for Your old effects unit.
- and to get in touch with computer based audio.
You can continue to use the old reel to reel as You are used to and simply have the SBlive as an stereo effects unit (which is of exceptional quality - considered the price).
the board is capable of producing rev, delay, distortion and a number of interesting above that.
You simply connect the Aux send and return of Your mixer to the line in and out of the SBLive.
This soundcard has a very nice interface for effects configuration.
You do not have to bother about sequencing and all that stuff that can be quite confusing for a newbie. This way the learnig curve (and the investment curve as well) will not be so steep. This setup works also with older computers without any noticable delay. This is because the audio signal has not to go from the Audio card to the computer CPU and back which is the case with more advanced (but also more complicated and mucho more expensive systems).
Instead all the FX-processimg is done by the Soundcards DSP.
When You have mastered the FX part of the story You could go on and start to use the Card as a poor mans sampler. Many people do that with very good results. By then You will know if the computer route is the way for You to go or if it serves your music btetter to stay with your analog equipment. Only then You should consider to introduce a sequencer into your setup.

greets

Andreas