sync 2 tascam 424 mkII?

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analogdawg

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Hey,everybody, I'm REALLY new to recording. I just picked up 2x tascam 424 mkII for cheap> I have been messing around with them and having fun recording for the first time!! ..I was wondering if there was anyway to sync the two 4 tracks together??
 
In principle it could be done by tapping into the varispeed circuit - assuming there is one - and using some kind of signal comparator, but you're talking about some substantial modifications. All this just to get 6 tracks, since you'd have to sacrifice one on each machine for the timecodes.

What you can do is what the Beatles did, and record 4 on one machine, mix them down to a stereo pair on the second machine, record another 4 and so on...
 
ok..thanx for the replies...how do i mix down what i got on 2 tracks stereo?
 
analogdawg said:
ok..thanx for the replies...how do i mix down what i got on 2 tracks stereo?
Click to expand...

To do this, you will literally connect the 424 to another 2 track machine for recording. This could be a cassette deck, a computer; just about anything that will record to 2 tracks.

-MD
 
An old DAT recorder is more than good enough for this purpose & they are really cheap on EBay. Most of them have better sounding analog to digital conversion than computer soundcards!

Many of them go for a cheaper price than old portastudios!

If you've got a decent cassette deck try that first before spending!
 
...

He just picked up 2 424mkII's, so I think he's covered!:eek:;)
 
Yeah, was thinking of buying a DAT. But, I've been doing some reading..and , (insert newbie joke:))..but,how do I connect my 424 to the DAT deck?? are they compatible?? and I'm confused with DAT and ADAT??..oh, then how do I get a CD burned from the DAT..I need help :confused: I've always been a musician, even been in 3 pro studios, but, I'm lost in the recording world..my end goal is to produce a short demo CD of my music, and as well be able to make it available/downloadable online. I'm using a drum machine, bass, guitar, behringer v amp,2x424's an old boss SE 50 for effects...the genre is metal/industrial type stuff, so, it's noisy to begin with. I'm decent at mixing, so, I can get a pretty good sound, but, I'm lost on which way to get it to cd /mp3.
 
Yo, slow down!

First, your 424mkII is capable of making a 4-track demo, or more layered "tracks" by track-bouncing, as it's been mentioned you could bounce your mixes between the two Portastudios. That's like what George Martin did with SgtPepper and the Beatles,... using two 4-tracks to bounce things around between machines, while submixing and adding layered tracks during the process.

Second, going headlong into DAT or ADAT may be overkill, or may not be quite suited to a direct-line solution between your demos and mixes making it from your Portastudio onto CD.

A DAT is a stereo recorder, (Digital Audio Tape). An ADAT is Alesis adaptation of DAT which gives you 8 simultaneous tracks,... neither of which you need directly at this point. However, pertaining to your question, the DAT and ADAT would be plug compatible with the Portastudio thru cables using RCA connectors.

Most people with Portastudios would prefer to develop their mixes entirely within the Portastudio itself, then dub the whole mix to the 'puter thru the soundcard in stereo to WAV files. You then use CD recording software to lay the WAV files out into songlists and burn audio CDs.

DAT and ADAT isn't necessarily in the equation,... unless you really want extra hardware for other purposes, separate from your main goal of getting your tracks down on your porta and eventually onto a CD.

The dubbing of your Portastudio works to the 'puter is really a straight-line and simple process. All you need is a Y-cable adapter, of 1/8" stereo plug to RCA connectors, right and left. It's a simple Radio Shack type item.

Hope that makes sense to you!

Cheers!
 
If you want your end product to be CD, for simplicity's sake you may want to skip going to a DAT and purchase a standalone CD burner.

Basically, you connect the stereo mix out of your 424 to whatever you want to mix down to (DAT, CD burner, computer, etc.), hit record on the device which holds the medium to which you are mixing, hit play on your 424, mix as necessary, then when you're finished, hit stop on both devices.

You will generally connect to the DAT or CD burner with RCA/phono cables. If you wanted to mix down to your computer, which would probably be your cheapest option at this point (as I assume you own a computer since you post on this forum, and this computer more than likely has a sound card), you can connect your 424 to the line-in of your soundcard. To do this, you'll need an adapter or cable that goes from RCA-1/8" stereo (like a standard headphone jack). You can get this for about $5-$10 at Wal-Mart or Radio Shack.

You will need some kind of software to record onto your computer. Some free programs include Reaper and N-Track. I realize this is the analog forum, but as you mentioned that you want to eventually release a CD, this is probably the cheapest way of getting there. Although you could look into purchasing a better sound card or a standalone CD recorder, I don't think that when recording from a 424 that you are going to lose a lot in terms of fidelity. This may not be the easiest option, but it doesn't take very long to figure out how to record 2 track stereo in either of those programs. The only thing you'll want to make sure is that when recording to digital (to get the CD) that you are watching your levels very closely, because if you clip (go over 0) it could sound really bad.

-MD
 
Yo, Real!

Did we post at the same time, or what?!?

-MD
 
thanx..you guys are quick..lol...

ok, I have loaded my stuff into my computer into a program called audacity. It worked fine..but,the sound quality was comprimised somehow. When I mastered to videotape (s-vhs), the master I produced was closer to my 424 mix than audacity was. Then I connected my 424 to my computer, and my speakers to the computer and mastered down using the levels on audacity. Sound quality improved somewhat. But it's still not close to the mix I hear on my 424?
 
Yeah,...

You must differentiate the connectors on your soundcard, and make absolutely sure you're connecting your 424mkII to the LINE-IN jack on the soundcard. Connecting to the MIC-IN jack will simply not cut it. You'll be virtually unable to dub a mix without distortion using the MIC-IN.:eek:;)

That's the only obvious thing that would jump out at me,... other than as MD says to watch that the levels don't peak over "0" on the recording program/soundcard side of it.
 
...you're dead on. :eek: i've been using my MIC in!!!

I think my sound card may be blown then. Because my line in on my comp. won't allow me to capture sound. so I thot mic input was viable alternative.
 
My friend,...

Click on "Sound Volume" icon, then go to either "Advanced" or "Properties", then to "Record", and set the volume/mute on the Line-In accordingly.

I doubt very much you soundcard is blown. It's just a simple setting and the learning curve.:eek:;)

Enable "Playback" and "Record" inputs/outputs separately under "Sound Volume" control.
 
the reason why i think the soundcard is blown is because my monitor speakers don't even work anymore... i've gotten it replaced already and it's such a hassle to get it fixed.

however, if i can get much better results, i will... :P

maybe i'll post my soundcard "issues" in another forum :D unless you have any other ideas on how i can maybe do some troubleshooting of the soundcard on my own ... you guys have been great!!!! thanks!
 
Well, okay, but a soundcard usually doesn't blow out.

You may have the rare case where maybe it did(?):eek:;)
 
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