syncing with PC

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molovesco

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I want to record, say a drum kit, on my BR-8, then send it to my PC. Then, free up my BR-8 and record bass, then send that to the PC. Do this for all parts of the song. This way I can have more than 8 tracks and have a lot more mastering capabilities with the PC. Problem is, the syncing. I have no idea how to go about syncing each instrument when sending them to the PC from the BR-8. Please give any suggestions. Also, what is a good all around recording software to use?
 
Hey molovesco,

The easiest way to do this would be to have a time reference on each track you record, for easy lineup on your computer.

In otherwords, a good 4 click lead-in, recorded at the same time, on all 8 tracks.

I don't know how the BR8 works. Can you overdub on it, and can you set it up so all 8 tracks will record simultaneously from the same source?

You want a short, sharp sound. Like a tight rimshot, or banging two drum sticks together (better yet a drum machine programmed to play 8 clicks)

ARM all 8 tracks on the BR8 to record from the same source (one microphone on your snare for rimshots, or a mic infront of a pair of drum sticks you will slam together, or from a pre programmed drum machine).

Record the 8 clicks.

Set your start points after the 8 clicks and record you drums.

Send the tracks out two at a time (or however many the BR8 can do) including the 8 click pre-count.

Line up the 8 tracks using both the audio and the waveform graphic for each of the 8 tracks as reference - making sure they both look and sound in sync.

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For adding the bass track, I suppose you could send a rough mix out from the computer, record it on 2 tracks of the BR8, making sure you have 8 click count-in on the bass track. You may need to send out to the BR8, both a stereo track for doing your overdub to, and another which will integrate with the Bass track. (send out the first bit of the track with the clicks, and then trim it back on the BR8. This will be your bass track, track. The one track with the Bass, and the click so when you send it back to the computer, you can line up again.)

I assume the BR8 has reasonably accurate locaters in that you can set a start point 00:00:10:000 and always be able to start recording at that point with the push of a button.

Seems like an awful lot of steps. But one way that should work.

Probably a way of syncing the BR8 to a computer using some flavour of time code, would require some additional equipment (probably exclude the BR8 making it a mute point) though.
 
Emeric has some good old school suggestions. If your BR8 can sync to midi you can sync it to your computer recording software. Of course you could just get a good sound card (which you will need either way) and just record everything directly to your computer and save the sync hassles.
 
I've got a good soundard, but it doesn't have many inputs. So, I think I'll just use the BR-8 on the drum kit, send it to the PC. Then record everything else straight to the PC.
 
But if you dont have many inputs you wont be able to send the drum tracks over as seperate tracks.

What emeric suggested can work but requires a good amount of patience and editing skills.
 
I've pretty much accepted that I can't have seperate tracks for my drum kit. With the gear I have, I will only have total control over the kit at the mixer. Once its on tape, on a stereo track, I can only work with the kit as a whole. It sucks, but I have made it work decently before. But, I do want all my other instruments to have seperate tracks on the PC. Therefore, I have a lot more mastering capabilites and more control overall.
 
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