using 424III with computer,questions???

[lizzorn]

I currently have a studio set up with a portastudio, monitors, amp and cassette mixdown deck.
I would like to eliminate the mix down deck and run the 424 directly into my computer, so that I can import files directly to Peak 3, (for Mac) without going through the extra step of running a mixed down recording through another cassette deck then the computer. In other words I want to mix down directly to Peak.
I am also installing the Mac, upgrade which includes the garageband software, of which I would like to also use for writing, so that I don't waste a lot of tape.
For this I am hooking up a seperate pre-amp to run my mic to the computer for garageband. I am assuming that I will still also need my phantom power box,but will deal with that when I get there.
does anyone know if allof this can be done, and if so, any suggestions.

 

[Greykitkat36]

You have to have a good soundcard. What wire would you use to go into the soundcard though?

 

[lizzorn]

The G4, has an integrated (built in) sound card. and I am already importing analog data, with no problems, so I would not get a new sound card unless my overall quality were diminished. Running the DVD and i-Tunes features using a high quality speaker, the sound is comparable to my Bose system. So unless there is a completely technical reason for replacing my sound card, it hardly makes sense to spend the extra money.
But I will mention it to the tech. guys the next time I am at the apple store and see what they have to say about it.
My import set up, runs from deck to RCA jack, through the iMic device, to USB port. I would do the same with the 424, and omit the deck all together.

 

[DigitalSmigital]

I currently have a studio set up with a portastudio, monitors, amp and cassette mixdown deck.
I would like to eliminate the mix down deck and run the 424 directly into my computer.

For this I am hooking up a seperate pre-amp to run my mic to the computer for garageband. I am assuming that I will still also need my phantom power box,but will deal with that when I get there.
does anyone know if allof this can be done, and if so, any suggestions. [/QUOTE

Of course it can be done. I am not familiar with garageband, is that the new addition to iLife? I don't know if you plan to try to put the tracks off the 424 Porta individually, or to actually "mixdown" to the program as a stereo mix. But certainly the easy way would be to use a cable that has two RCAs on the 424s end, and an 1/8th inch TRS on the soundcard's end.

Now, to input each of your 4 tracks one at a time would be trickier. Can this program do that? How much did it cost?

And you need phantom power for a condensor mic, to hook up to the computer directly? Why?

 

[lizzorn]

I want to run the two units seperately, but not at the same time. I want to mix down from the protastudio directly into Peak, by punching in peaks record button and just transfering the mix down, to create an AIFF file, that I can then work with once it's in the computer. since I already import through the iMic, I would just (I'm guessing) hook the RCA jack from the portastudio directly into the iMic, in place of the cassette mix down deck (same kind of jack) that is now hooked up.
I want to use garage band (the new i-life app. from apple) seperately, set up with just a mic, for recording acoustic insturments and vocals. As a writing tool. Garage band has a lot of bells and whistles, good for experimenting, but I would not want to do all of my work using it. I have a seperate pre-amp for this, and since I do need phantom power with my portastudio (with built in pre-amp) I would think that I still needed to run the phantom box to the preamp, to raise the signal to my mic. Because it simply does not work without it.????