Tascam 424s, Mixing, Mastering

[imthecheesecake]

(After posting in the newbie thread I was advised to post here. I am aware that it is not strictly analogue 'only' [I wish] and if anyone thinks there's a better place to post I'll be happy to move it )

This is my first post, so hi guys, thanks in advance for your answers and help.

I am the proud new owner of a Tascam 424mkiii. I love the simplicity of it, and not having to mess around with hardware and bitrates etc like I did when I used my computer.
On the other hand, I do miss the versatility of Logic, being able to add and take away the comprehensive amount of effects, eqs, comps etc.

My plan is to run my instruments and vocals into my Tascam and record them all to the tape. Then, using the tape outputs, I would plug each individual tape track into my computer and be able to mess about with them in Logic from there, eventually mixing down to a VCR and running that back to my mac to master. I'm a bit hazy about the differences between mixing down and mastering, and which should come first and exactly what each entails.

Here is a flow chart diagram of my setup:

Various instr -> Tascam -(four tracks)-> Logic -(stereo)-> VCR -> Logic

Composition Taking Tracks Mix down Mastering


Is this a far too drawn out process? I would love to keep analog, or away from computers, however i fear I have neither the equipment or expertise to master and mix down properly using a complete analogue, computerless setup.

Sorry for such a beastly first question.

Thanks Again,

Jack

 

[sweetbeats]

Jack, why the step mixing to the VCR? Not questioning or judging, just wondering what the impetus is for that step.

"Mixing down" typically includes the transformation of your multitrack project into a stereo sum. Usually at that stage you have eq'ed/shaped/tweakered your tracks to taste.

"Mastering" in my experience gets a little blurry when working in the DAW, but traditionally AFAIK mastering per se was the final step after the mixdown and at that point that included sweetening to the stereo master. This could occur during the mixdown process too.

I'd love to hear input from others on this too. Just offering my 2p based on my typical workflow and I still consider myself a newbie at it.

If it were me I'd be tracking to the 424, transferring tracks to Logic and mixing and mastering in the DAW, but that is just me. I'm not sure what you would gain by the mixing step to the VCR but that's why I ask...again, not because I think its wrong but I'm curious to hear your, er, logic.

 

[famous beagle]

If it were me I'd be tracking to the 424, transferring tracks to Logic and mixing and mastering in the DAW, but that is just me. I'm not sure what you would gain by the mixing step to the VCR but that's why I ask...again, not because I think its wrong but I'm curious to hear your, er, logic.

This is pretty much exactly what I was thinking. I've heard that back in the early 90s or so (around the ADAT craze), people were mixing down to nice- 4-head VCRS because it sounded better than cassette mix-down decks. I've never done that myself, so I'm not sure.

But yeah, I'd say, once you've dumped the tracks over to Logic, you'd just mixdown and master from there. That would be the easiest anyway, IMO.

 

[purerad]

or you can mix down from the 424 to vcr then put the two tracks into logic, otherwise if you need to tweek individual tracks your better off going from the 424 straight to logic.