Sync'ing 4 tracks

  • Thread starter Thread starter anugroove
  • Start date Start date
A

anugroove

New member
Does anyone know of any 4 tracks that will sync up with each with like an optical cable, without any midi device, just one to another?
Thanks
Chris
 
Gonna need more info to get an answer.

What is your goal and what kind of equipment do you have?
 
none right now, alright, all i want to know if there is a way to sync to 4 tracks togehter without using upa track on each, as in sync two digital 4 tracks with midi, or is there a four track recorder that has virtual tracks.
CHris
 
If you don't have one of them now, I'd be supprised if there is any good reason to get two 4 tracks and sync them vs just getting something that supports the number of tracks you need to begin with.

-RD
 
anugroove said:
none right now, alright, all i want to know if there is a way to sync to 4 tracks togehter without using upa track on each, as in sync two digital 4 tracks with midi, or is there a four track recorder that has virtual tracks.
CHris
Click to expand...

Still not with you.

Are the 4 tracks already recorded and on your computer? If so, you need an editing program like Cubase, Protools, Logic, etc.
 
im talking about actual digital or analog 4 track recorders. fostex blah 4, boss br 4, tascam 424 mkII, so on. i want to sync up four of them to have 8 tracks, and i dont want to do it with a midi device and use the 4th channel on each, is there a way with digital recorders to do this.
Chris
 
The Fostex FD4 and FD8.

.......................;)
 
Do they even still make those Fostex anymore?....... :)

If the four track is a digital one it may have a MIDI in and out on it so it wont take up any tracks of the recorder. just make sure if you do buy a 4-trak machine it has MIDI in and out as that is important. Just look at the back of the machine for the ports.

Second, why do you need to have two four tracks to make a eight track?
There are companys that make 8 track machines that dont cost much.
Zoom comes to mind. They make the MRS-8 that costs around $300 that does 8 tracks (I own one of these it is a realy nice recorder with great features).
or the Zoom MRS-802b-CD is a nice machine and has a 40gig hard drive with a CD burner for around $600 and it to is a 8-tracker.

Also dont bother with analog cassette machines. No real value.

Hope that helps a little.

-Blaze
 
anugroove said:
im talking about actual digital or analog 4 track recorders. i want to sync up four of them to have 8 tracks, and i dont want to do it with a midi device and use the 4th channel on each
Click to expand...

I want to put four 4 cylinder engins in my car so that I have 8 cylinders, that'd be cool.

Is it me? I can't follow the math or the logic.

-RD
 
Your right RD,
I smelll a NUUUBEEEEE! :D No ofense anugroove! :)

4 times 4 is 16.......

ANd if you use a analog four track you will loose the fourth track no matter what, this is if you can even find a MIDI sync device........
Do your self the favor and by a 8track digital and have tons of fun!

-blaze
 
Robert D said:
I want to put four 4 cylinder engins in my car so that I have 8 cylinders, that'd be cool.

Is it me? I can't follow the math or the logic.

-RD
Click to expand...
I gave it my best shot.
 
Two Fostex FD4's will sync to each other for a total of 8 tracks.

Sync a Fostex FD4 to an FD8 for 12 tracks.
Sync a Fostex FD8 to another FD8 for 16 tracks.

My answer is still the same.

If you go looking for an FD4 or FD8 on Ebay, make sure to find each one with the internal hard disc, which was optional. A large portion of FD4's and FD8's out there have no internal disc and record to Zip or Syquest external media.

A word to the wise,...

is not necessary.;)
 
on ebay it seems that four tracks go for way cheaper than 8's, plus, i plan on buying the 4 extra later, as i dont need them now.
 
anugroove said:
on ebay it seems that four tracks go for way cheaper than 8's, plus, i plan on buying the 4 extra later, as i dont need them now.
Click to expand...

Nugroove,
Listen a wise man once told me that you should never say to your self or anyone else "I only need" or "I dont need them now".... Because you will need them sooner than you think.

AND! Buying into a four track is just the wrong way to go if you plan to end up with an 8-track studio. Plus the issues you will run into with syncing machines can be an endless headache. :(

Lets assume your new to this and ask a few questions, ok?
Whats your budget?
What type of music do you want to record?
What kind of results do you wish to acomplish (I.E. quality, radioworthyness)?
Do you plan to record a band? Just yourself one track at a time?

These are important questions as that will help you get a feel for what you need.

Four track especialy tape(cassette) is alot of outboard gear and maintinence.
You up for that?

Buy wisely and ask tons of questions. Dont make a rash decision, you only end up losing money and thats a sucky place to land.

Traust me and the others who have experiance (I have been recording for 10years others for much much much longer).
I worked for a nameless music retail chain and saw many folks like yourself.
I was smart and never sold them anything less than what they would need like or enjoy.
The ones who ignored me and went to our competition came back with there tail between their leggs going "I went to *#&%# and they sold me a *&%@# and it wasnt good and didnt work for me".

Then they bought what I told em to and they were so happy when they came back and bought more of the apropriate gear from me.

Point is wait before you leap here. Buy what you will need for the future rather than just your imediate needs(plan for your future sort of). And be sure of your needs now and later.

Food for thought. :)

-Blaze
 
i think you all need to go to school and learn how to read, ...oldies? i never said four 4 tracks, and four 4 cylinder engines would make 16, not eight whoever said that, i said two 4 tracks in every one of my posts.
anyway, ive decided to go ahead and spend a butload of money on a boss br 8, does anyone know how id hook a mixer into it? im runnin one condenser mic, guitar, bass, keyboard, beat machine. (Not trying to be a b!tch, but c'mon b4 you bash someone for sucking at math, learn how to read, plus, im damm good at math! scored 3rd highest on some kind of achievemnet test at school
It has mic 1 & 2(1/4")
guitar/bass(1/4")
line in(L&R RCA)
Line out" "
phones out
Should i run the mains into the mic ins, and then run the subouts into the guitar. and if the mixer has tape outs into the line in?
Chris
 
Hey take it easy were here to help. :)

Hey anugroove,
No bodys trying to tear you apart. :D

The confusing part was when you said "im talking about actual digital or analog 4 track recorders. i want to sync up four of them to have 8 tracks "

I assumed and as I am sure others did, when you said "i want to sync up four of them to have 8 tracks ". I thought you meant sync up four machines.
You meant sync up four actual tracks to make a eight tracker. Got ya! :) Reading assignment complete(kidding around :p ).....

No one is getting down on yah.
ANyway!

On the Boss BR-8 is that the older one with a Zip Drive?
If so I would stay clear of anything with an outdated media such as Zip Disks.
Once again a headache to avoide. Whatever a BUTTLoad of money is that machine is not worth it, my buddy just threw his away because of that.
Those arent worth $100.00 let alone more let alone $50 or even $25......

Plus it uses an older compression rate of rolands and its lossy.

Not to be a harpy but I dig my Zoom MRS-8 its realy simple with tons of effects and can take up to a 1gig SD card. The BR-8 only alows up to 100MB.
Just a thought, heres a link to show you what its all about: http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/mrs8/index.php

Worth a look at least.......

On your mixer question:
Run the main out of the mixer into the line in's and select Line on the BR, Thats what they are there for.
and since the BR-8 only allows two in's at a time running the sub outs and tape out does no good.
If you need to plug a guitar or bass in just plug into the guitar/bass input when needed and select it.
I had a BR-1180 it is a nice little setup how boss made the inputs all selectable.

No Worries man! I'm just trying to helpfull. :)
Take it from a guy who has recorded a while (that doesnt make me old ;) ).
My biggest concern is that you dont buy a hunk of crapp, and hate it.
I have done that and never wish it on anyone. Only worried about a fellow recordists, We all got ta stick together er something...... :o Anywho!

Take you time and skip that BR-8 its not worth it. :)

Later

-Blaze
 
Last edited:
blazingstrings said:
The confusing part was when you said "im talking about actual digital or analog 4 track recorders. i want to sync up four of them to have 8 tracks "

I assumed and as I am sure others did, when you said "i want to sync up four of them to have 8 tracks ". I thought you meant sync up four machines.
You meant sync up four actual tracks to make a eight tracker. Got ya! :) Reading assignment complete(kidding around :p ).....
Click to expand...

Anugroove - Hey, sorry to give you a hard time, I get it now thanks to Blazingstrings. If you do go with a pair of 4 tracks, which I still wouldn't recommend, make sure you can cascade the busses.

Peace - RD
 
I know Im whorring my own thread but, I found a boss recorder on eBay, and it says it needs to have the memory restored, and updates. It comes with 5 zip disks. What kinds of updates would it need? Software form the Interent?
Thanks
Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top