Please help

[overwhelmed]

Hi, I have very little experience recording. I've currently got an analog 4-track (not sure what brand--yamaha?) i've had for ten plus years, but I really haven't used it in a long time. Basically, I'm interested in getting back into recording as a hobby but I really suck at it, so i could really use some advice, please.
Basically, in the past I think i pretty much got stuff to sound vaguely what i wanted it to sound like on the tape without ever mixing--I've never mixed down that i can recall--so I have that going for me, which is nice. Lately, whenever I try to record anything it plays back way too quietly, and i'm not sure if it's because the unit is so old or i'm a retard or what. Any suggestions?
I'm toying with the idea of possibly going digital and learning that way instead of messing with this probably-fried analog dinosaur. Any suggestions there? If I need to invest some money there (preferably $300 or much less) am I better off getting an intro-level digital 8 track (e.g. the TASCAM DP-01) or just focusing on getting accessories for my computer?
Keep in mind I'm virtually clueless when it comes to home recording.
Thanks

 

[DonF]

Lately, whenever I try to record anything it plays back way too quietly...

Are the heads clean? Are you using new tape with the correct formulation (chrome/metal) for the machine?

 

[djhead]

Kinda In the same boat as you, mate. If your computer is beefy and modern, then CPU is the way to go, unless you are only doing one or two tracks at a time, then it doesnt have to be so macho.
I know you can get a decent "starter" recorder from Boss for around 2-3 hundred, and less on ebay.
I personally went the CPU route, since i feel it has more audio diveristy.
It ends up being a little more expensive but a lot more versatile, even for the hobbyist, IMO.

 

[overwhelmed]

Thanks for the comments, guys. Well, i'm going to give cleaning the heads and new tapes a try and hope that that solves my problem. The recorder is an MT-120 and other than the playback issues I kinda like it. So, assuming i stick with analog, what are the bare basics i would need, hardware-wise, to mix on my computer and burn to cd?

 

[DonF]

... what are the bare basics i would need, hardware-wise, to mix on my computer and burn to cd?

I assume you mean mix onto your computer, i.e. use the computer as your 2-track mixdown deck. Right? (If you want to transfer 4 tracks to the computer and mix "in the box," the requirements change a bit.)

You need a computer (duh) with a decent sound card. A basic commodity sound card might work OK, but you'll likely get better results with something like an M-Audio Audiophile 2496. You'll need a cable to go from the 4-track to the sound card's line inputs. If it's a commodity card, you'll need a cable with a 1/8" stereo plug on the computer end, and the mating plug for whatever your 4-track has on the other end. For higher-end sound cards, you might need 1/4" phone plugs, or maybe RCA plugs, on the computer end of the cable.

For basic 2-track work, the computer doesn't need to be anything fancy, unless you want to do a lot of processing (such as compression and EQ). You'll need a CD burner in that computer, though. The software that's bundled with the burner may be all that you need to create your CD's. If it doesn't come with a basic recording program, you can try Audacity, which works pretty well for recording and editing, and is free. (http://audacity.sourceforge.net)

Don't forget monitoring. Can't help you much in that department without knowing what your budget is, but expect to shell out at least a few hundred clams for a decent pair of monitors. (Don't even think about mixing with headphones. That's considered blasphemy around here.)

Hope that gives you a few ideas.

Don