vs1824 info shopping

[urizred]

Good day I'm new to this bb. I'm looking for some guidance with my vs1824cd. I've used the desk for@ a year now and have the basics pretty well. My problem is that I find the screen a little cumbersome and would like to take the multitrack data on to my laptop for mastering. Is this possible? and if so could anyone suggest a good software package. Also does anyone know if it is possible to interface between the scsi out via a scsi/usb adapter for real time? I will sure appreciate any wisdom anyone may care to share. thanx.

 

[ermghoti]

The only way to manipulate sounds on the VS is ithe machine itself, or to record the output onto another medium, like your computer. If you actually want to master your mixes, route the mains to the digital outs, and run into a spdif on your computer and record to the program of your choice. If you mean, do the mixing on the computer, you will have to play the tracks onto your computer, two at a time.

You can get software to control the vs from your computer, one is vspro, the other is vslogic, iirc.

vsplanet.com is the source of all VS knowledge.

The scsi is only useful for connecting to a burner, or dumping files to another hard disc.

 

[urizred]

thanks for the reply. Do you know if any of the software you mentioned will allow me to work with the multitrack backups if I load it into my laptop drive?

 

[ermghoti]

Nope. Nothing will, Roland has made the unfortunate decision to use a proprietary file format that is deliberately unreadable by anything but a VS machine. The machine itself is pretty usable, and I believe the VSPro software provides you with editing capabilities (eg drag and drop) that are not possible with the machine alone.

Otherwise, you can feed the tracks into Audacity, Ntrack, Tracktion2, and edit 'em there. All those programs are more powerful, and cheaper than VSPro (without experience, I can't pony up $200 in software for my $150 880EX!).

 

[urizred]

1824 10 more ?

thanks again E. If you could excuse my lack of knowledge, I'd like to pose a couple more questions. So if I understand what you're saying, the only thing I'll be able to import to my pc is the mains output signal, L/R mixed channels? The only real advatage I would receive, would be to wash the mix and convert to say mp3, Is this the jist of it? So-- if thats the case? Do you think It would be even worth my while to purchase software? Thanks again.

 

[Richard Monroe]

No Urizred, you didn't get it. Ermghoti is speaking the truth. Here's the simple version- First, create a 4 beat or so click track using any metronome (I use the PXR4 Pandora, but if you like you can just plug in a mic and smack 2 drumsticks together 4 times.) Insert that into the beginning of track one. Now, use track copy to copy that click track to every other track in the song. Now, pan tracks 1 and 2 hard left and hard right. Turn off any EQ or FX. Now, connect the S/PDIF out to the S/PDIF in on a good soundcard, and record it to tracks 1 and 2 on any computer system you like, in real time. Make sure all other tracks are disabled. Then do the same thing with tracks 3&4, 5&6, and so on, until every track is in your laptop. Then, synch the click tracks manually, which will be much easier than trying to synch the actual audio tracks. Once the click tracks are all lined up, erase the click tracks. Now you have each individual track as a separate track in your software, and you can edit, use plugins, or whatever you like. I recorded an entire album on a VS1824CD, and that's how we transferred all the tracks to ProTools for mixing and mastering. No, you can't dump the audio data into a hard drive in *any* way- except one- Find a guy with a VS2480 or VS2000, load your backups into the sucker, and export them as WAV. files. God, was I ever pissed off when I figured out that there was no way to export digital data from a VS1824CD in any generally recognized format. That's why I'm in ProTools today. It took 14 hours to export the tracks for my album, and another 5 hours to synch them in ProTools. Today, I use the Roland mostly for a remote stereo recorder. Dumping *2* tracks into ProTools is easy. Good luck.-Richie

 

[ermghoti]

^ That is a better explanation. I have been too lazy to type it out properly.

 

[urizred]

thanks guys

now I got it, I need an engineer! I was lookin for simplicity, found no syncrinicity, feelin a little self pity, might be a good country ditty, I get a little witty with a couple bottles of wine. Thanks for dropping your dime.