Question regarding recording with Analog and Digital

[volitionofhues]

Hello,

I have very limited knowledge about recording with analog or recording techniques in general. Here is what I am trying to do:

I'm trying to record certain instruments (guitars/vocals) with an analog 8-track and then somehow get them onto my computer and into Pro Tools LE and then add additional instruments with a digital audio interface.

Here is the gear that I have,

Digidesign Mbox for Digital recording,

Fostex R8 for analog 8-track recording,

Basic (not sure what model) Beringer mixer

I've tried researching how exactly to utilize all these pieces of equipment to achieve what I'm trying to do, but I haven't been able to find a simple/clear enough answer for me to understand (take pity on me).

Could anyone offer any advice?

 

[Dags]

Hey there

I'm not too familiar with the R8 - does it have an out for each track as well as audio in?
If it does you can record 2 channels simultaneously into the computer via the Mbox (unless its the micro with no audio ins)

I'm uncertain as to what you are wanting to achieve with your setup.
You can use the Behringer for monitoring audio from the computer (using stereo in channel) or for routing audio into the computer via a buss/aux send.

One question I have to ask though - do you *need* to use the old 8 track?
Multitrack recording can all be achieved via the MBox if you're happy to record one or two tracks at a time.
Or are you after the ability to utilise analogue tape saturation/compression for some tracks?

Dags

 

[volitionofhues]

The R8 does have an out for each track as well as an audio in.
This means I can hook the 8 track up to the Mbox and it will go right to my computer?

I have never used the Fostex before or any analog recording equipment for that matter and I really have no idea how to get the analog tracks onto the computer.

I'm trying to get the analog sound for most of the tracks while still being able to record other sounds with just the Mbox and some condenser mics.

I thought I would have to use the mixer to hook condenser microphones up to the R8.

Sorry for the lack of knowledge on how all this works.

I greatly appreciate the help!

 

[mjbphotos]

Skip the R8 completely - what purpose is it? You're just recording everything twice. Record directly into your computer.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Here's an idea- I did it with a Roland VS1824CD. While not analog, the problem is the same. I had 12 tracks on the Roland that I wanted in ProTools for editing, but I could only transfer 2 tracks at a time by S/PDIF. First, enable all 8 tracks on the analog recorder. If you can punch in, that's better, I don't know what the capabilities of the analog recorder are. It might really take 8 mics. Add a "ping" to the beginning of all 8 tracks. It could be anything- a drumstick smack on a table, a click from a metronome, as long as it is sharp and short. Then, send the line out from the analog recorder to the line in on the Mbox, and record all 8 tracks, 2 at a time, into ProTools. Then line up those pings manually in ProTools, and you are there. Of course, it was easier in the Roland, because I could record the ping on one track, and just copy it to the other 11- and I could insert the ping nondestructively. But that's the point- editing is easier in the digital domain.
And to MJBPhotos- yes, it is recording twice, with a certain amount of signal degradation, but there *is* a point to it. The OP can record 8 tracks simultaneously on the reel-to-reel, but only 2 tracks at a time on the M-box. It's quite likely that he isn't recording 2 tracks at a time and overdubbing, but he doesn't want to run it all through a mixer and commit to a mixdown at this point. Best of luck volition. In the future, you can put the click on all the tracks before you start, which will simplify the process. Best of luck-Richie

 

[gecko zzed]

Having a ping at the start of each track is a good way of lining them up once they've been recorded, a pair at a time, into the computer.

However, that many not be the end of the OP's troubles, because success depends also on the stability of the tape player and the quality of the tape. I could easily imagine variability of tape speed causing non-alignment problems further into the track, even if the starts are all lined up nicely.

I kind of think that it is a long way of going abut it. There are advantages in recording off the tape, but in this instance, I doubt whether the gains will outweigh the problems.

If multi-tracking eight at once is critical, short of getting an eight input interface, it is a reasonable way of doing it. If it is not critical, then I would bypass the tape and go straight into the box.

 

[volitionofhues]

Thank you Richie. That was very informative and seems like a great idea. Congratulations on explaining it in a way that I could understand!

I will try this technique out and see how it goes. My last question would be, to get a "ping" on every track I can just record on all 8-tracks at once and only do one "ping" take right? Or would I have to do each one separately?

I guess I will experiment and see what happens.

Thanks again!

 

[Farview]

I will try this technique out and see how it goes. My last question would be, to get a "ping" on every track I can just record on all 8-tracks at once and only do one "ping" take right? Or would I have to do each one separately?

You would do the ping to all 8 channels separately. Do one before every song because you will get drift problems. These problems get worse over time, especially since you will have to make 4 passes.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Thank you Richie. That was very informative and seems like a great idea. Congratulations on explaining it in a way that I could understand!

I will try this technique out and see how it goes. My last question would be, to get a "ping" on every track I can just record on all 8-tracks at once and only do one "ping" take right? Or would I have to do each one separately?

I guess I will experiment and see what happens.

Thanks again!

That's right. No, if you record them separately, they won't all be at the exact same time. Gecko is right, of course- you may develop synch problems due to tape speed, but you'll have to try it and see how it goes. The longer the song is, the worse the problem is likely to get. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.-Richie

PS-Farviw may be right, but I don't see the alternative. If it doesn't work, you are going to have to hope that you have enough mic bleed that you can find one wave form common to all 8 tracks that you can synch visually. God, isn't this fun?

 

[Farview]

The real way to get this done is with an interface that will allow you to track 8 inputs at once. Then all of your problems go away.

 

[Beck]

The real way to get this done is with an interface that will allow you to track 8 inputs at once. Then all of your problems go away.

Presicely!

You can also do it by syncing your R8 and Mbox. I’m not familiar with the features of the Mbox, but Pro Tools syncs up nicely to about anything if your hardware is capable. Two tracks at a time is a royal pain though.

I sync an analog 8-track and an Echo Layla, transferring 7 analog tracks at a time to the Layla (track 8 is for the SMPTE stripe). I then have free tracks on the 8-track for more material. After the tracking is done I mix down to analog half-track, with the analog and digital tracks in sync, plus sequenced MIDI instruments on top of that.

I never record directly to a DAW. Everything hits tape first before going to digital and some tracks never leave the analog realm until the mastering phase. It works very well for me.