Sync Questions

[James HE]

I'm Clueless as to where to start with this. I dont even know how to explain it. This is what I'd like to do.

1) I want to take my recorded tracks from my 424 and mix them down to the computer (what software?... dont know yet) one or two tracks at a time

2) then mix them down back from the computer onto track one of a new tape to the 424 and also to put sync onto track 2.

3) record different tracks onto 3 and 4 on the new tape.

4) record the new tracks (3 and 4) on to the computer syncing them to the original track. (with a sync track on track 2 I can do this right??)

5) Repeat these steps until I have recorded X number of tracks using Y number of tapes. The final tape would have all the music on it but with Z amount of degredation because of A number of bounces. (ok I'm getting silly with the variables here) but my computer tracks would all be "first" quality from the Four Track.

Aren't you confused now?? I hope I didn't lose anyone with my "explanation" of what I'm trying to do. I think it's possible to do this. This way I will be able to record what I want where ever I want (i.e. computers and tractors dont mix) and still have some digital editing and mixing posibilities- and also to keep me from having to bounce tracks (and losing sound quality).

Of course I'd rather just go digital for real, but... I figure that I could get some pretty inexpensive software to do what I want to do.

So now I get to ask the questions that I'm burning to ask...

Should the software allow me to do the sync itself, or would I need to have some external thingy to go between them. (I have no idea about any of this stuff)

what software? (I know thats an annoying question)

and since I lost my manual three years ago can any body send me a copy or just let me know how to put the sync down on the 424.

Thank you for your patience-

-James

 

[James HE]

Ok so far I figured out that the Sync track should go on track four on my 424(not sure why i said two) I will probably be getting some kind of Cake walk program.

I'm sure sombody here can help me out.

Dragon?

 

[jimimac]

Hey! James
I read your post "three" times, the external bounce to the pc and back to the 424 sounds about right. I know very little about soft ware cant help ya there, but James! why do ya wanna rack your brains like this go digital.

confused!!!!

 

[Dex]

1) If you really *need* more tracks, get a machine with more tracks, you'll end up saving yourself SO MUCH time that it's worth it.

2) If you're really bent on using the computer to do multitracking, I'd recommend dumping the 4-track 2 channels at a time to the computer (takes 2 passes for 4 tracks).
The proble with this is you will probably lose sync between the two sets of two tracks, but if your songs are short and the machine is well maintained, it might work.
When you're done dumping the 4 tracks, WHY BOTHER GOING BACK TO THE TAPE AT ALL? Record two tracks at a time to whatever software you're using on the computer, and forget about trying to sync things altogether.

3) If you really want to use sync, you need the MIDIizer or a similar contraption that creates the FSK tones you'd record on track 4. Ah, but you'll also need a MIDI port on your computer [or serial SMPTE support, but I'll skip that] to send the MIDI time code to the MIDIizer.
See how convoluted it's getting already?
I'd avoid doing this unless you want every song to take 5 days just to do bed tracks on.

4) Software.. Cakewalk works quite well, though I still find its audio editing capabilities to be less adequate than desired. There's also a program called Samplitude that I've seen other guys using to master CDs on their own. It seemed pretty good. It's made by a company called SEKD.

D.

 

[lazyboy]

James,
I've used the comp. for my bouncing by recording 4 tracks to tape, mixing, dum to HD then recording that back to a mono tape track. It works okay, but you've got to think 3 steps ahead in your mixdowns, because you'll never fix something that was screwed up on your first mixdown. I think my next investment is going to be in the Aark 20/20 (if thats its name?) soundcard, then I can use the 424 as a mixer w/ direct channel outs until I can upgrade to a better mixer or whatever. It just seems like a good first step to moving into digital! Any better suggestions?

 

[James HE]

I had sort of given up on the whole Sync thing- I'd hate to buy some midi thing just to put SMPTE on the four track. I have CakeWalk Guitar tracks now, and I'm plannig to bounce just the bass and drums form the four track and record the guitar and vocals on Cakewalk. Simple enough. The problem here is that the computer is in my roomates room, my mixdown set up is in my room and, a record drums and bass in a garage about 100 miles away! (we coulndn't even set up the kit in my apartment if we had to) so I have to do a lot of guess work- I'm working on getting a decent monitoring setup in the room with the computer- which would basically resolve most of my problems. Man it's just such a pain in the ass having to move my gear around all the time! It really slows me down. I never do anything the same way twice which is kinda fun and challenging, i get sick of it though. If only I had money to throw at my problems, id be so happy, but hten you just get different problems... if it never ended it wouldn't be any fun though would it?