Will this work?

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wjgypsy

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the fostex vf-16, will export wav. files for computer editing. Instead of buying a high-price sound card, a new computer not to mention trying to install the card (believe me! you don't want to know), can't i just buy a little External zip drive, a computer with a internal zip drive and some editing software?

this is how i think that it should work......


1. record audio on vf16.

2. save audio, as wav. file, on external zip drive.

3. slip the zip disk into the computer's zip drive.

4. open the wav. file in the audio editing software.

5. edit audio

6. burn cd on computer.

will this work?
 
I dont see why not...just keep in mind audio files are huge
 
Zeke

I know you don't want to but I would strongly suggest you get a soundcard that has digital ins. You will save yourself alot of time in transfering and your audio stays in the digital format so it doesnt lose quality.

Your fostex has digital outs (ADAT and S/PDIF) which can easily connect to your soundcard. Also are you just going to edit the main stereo track or the whole session?

Tukkis
 
High Zeke!

I don't see any advantage (except MAYBE time) that the digital in would have over your WAV transfer, except for one thing: you won't be able to transfer bigger files over 100MB disks... Your VF16 records at 16 bit if I'm right, so you shouldn't have any loss in burning to CD or exporting wav... We did the same thing to our VS880EX audio data, had to burn everything to CD, but it worked perfect (16 bit recording,too).

It may be completely different if you record at 24 bit...

aXel

P.S: I don't know if there are any half way cheap ones, but IF you decide to go via the digital soundcard, you might think of buying something with adat interface, then you'd at least be able to transfer 8 tracs a time...
 
I dont know how the fostex works, but the old rolands that had zip drives used their own file format, and it was unreadable by windows and mac. Cheapest card with adat optical i know of is the Event EZ8,170 at zzounds.com And consider the fact might be able to go lighter on the PC hardware if your just mixing and not recording 8 tracks at a time


EDIT:BTW, i cant really see how your idea is any better/cheaper then getting an adat card. If your talking about buying a new computer anyway, you could spend the money you would have spent on zip drives and put it into the card and memory(of which you can never have too much, i have 512mb and wish i had 1gig)
 
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I plan to export all of the tracks so i can edit each track, one at a time. I also may use the computer for extra tracks.

I would do them like this: When all of my 16 tracks, on my vf-16 are full (if they ever do get full,) i will export all of them to the software. then i will delete the other tracks and record new tracks, using the monitor coming our of the computer, also with the monitor coming out of the recorder. (so the player can get a monitor of himself and the tracks in the computer.)

For audio editing, i would get a sound card but.......

1. It would have to be a scsi sound card ( Because the vf-16 can only export wav. files though the scsi port.)

2. i wound have to install it. (and i have had some pretty bad history with installing cards and cd-burners......)


I for some reason the card or the zip plans did not workour, i would do this:

1.Record each track onto a track of it's on on a cd (Ex: track 1 to track one on cd, track 2 to track 2 on cd,ect,ect)

Then, one track at a time, i will load each track into the computer, converting them to wav. files on the way.

Then import each track into it's on track into the software.

This way, your audio stays digital and it's cheaper. I is the long-way but i works. you just have to make sure that each of the track are in sync. (if there not, you can fix that in the editing software.) I have tryed this way before and i Worked perfect.

If i did get a Zip drive, i would get the external one that has 750mb for $179

zeke
 
High Zeke!

Be careful of the 750 MB zips - I dunno if they work with your machine... Try first. There are Roland machines that can operate 250MB but NOT 750... I think VS840 of BR8...

You could burn tracks 1/2 to song 1 a.s.o. Gonna save you loads of time :D

There are no SCSI soundcards. You'd need a soundcard with spdif or adat in (afaik, the VF support both, but better have a look). If you wanna use the SCSI, then you way to go is the ZIP way...

aXel

P.S.: Learn to mess with computers... This will prolly be one of the more important things for your future way... And if you have some solid know how on computers, you're likely to find a nice daytime job whenever you want :D
 
Since your ZIP drive needs to be external, why do you need an internal one for your PC? Can't you just unplug it from your Fostex and plug it into your PC?

Just a thought...
 
Hey Zeke,

You should look into getting a JAZ drive off of e-bay.There's usually a lot of them for sale every week.I bought a 1 Gigabyte Jaz Drive,3x1 Gig Disks,the SCSI cable and adapter to hook it into the computer for $41.

I can back songs up on the Jaz drive or save tracks as .wav files on it and then plug the jaz drive into my computer and transfer the wavs in that way......the Jaz hooks right into your SCSI hookup on the back of your VF 16......once you've got your wavs on your Jaz disk just unhook the jaz drive from the VF 16 and hook it into the SCSI port on your computer and start throwing them on your hardrive to be edited in the software program of your choice.

The Jaz drive holds a lot more data than the Zip drives do.

Let me know if you need help looking for one on e-bay.Have you bought anything off of e-bay before?

Kramer
 
I have never bought anything off of ebay. I don't have a credit card. But sounds like you got a pretty good deal. Kramer, what software do you use with the vf16? where did you get the scsi drive for your computer? and how do you hook the thing up?


---TELL ME EVERYTHING!!!!!!---
 
You have a 68 pin SCSI Port on the back of your computer.Printers etc. are the normal things that are plugged into the scsi port on a computer but is also used for storage devices such as the Jaz drive.

The Fostex has a 50 pin SCSI connection on it.The cable that comes with a Jaz drive is 50 pin on each end.Thats what you need to hook the Jaz Drive up to your Fostex.

To hook it up to your computer you'll need an adapter that fits on one end of the 50 pin connector cable that converts it over to fit the 60 pin connection your computer.

Thats it.

BUT,if you are willing to pay $179 for a zip drive you should seriously look into buying some type of digital sound card with a toslink connection or an ADAT interface.(I think someone already mentioned that in this thread).Post over in the Fotex Forum and Im sure JR97 can help you out with that.

That way you'll be able to shoot 8 tracks at a time into your computer through the S/PDIF output on the back of the VF 16.

You dont need a credit card to buy on ebay.Money Orders,Checks etc are accepted by most sellers.
 
P.S. If you decide to go with the Zip drive you wont need a second Internal Zip drive.You can just unplug your Zip drive from the VF 16 and plug it into the SCSI Port on your computer(they make adapters that make it possible to plug into your USB port and I think Game ports too) and upload the files that way........it would be a lot more convienent to have 2 zip drives......less hassle of having to unhook the Zip from the VF 16 and hook it up to the computer every time you got ready to transfer files.....it all boils down to your budget and what you are willing to deal with,like the hassle of having to disconnect the Zip from the VF 16 to upload......the Zip Drive is the same Hookup as the JAZ drive,except the Jaz Drive has 1 Gigabyte disk(2 gigs if you buy a 2 Gig JAZ Drive)where the Zip drive has smaller capacity disk.....most common Zip Disk sizes are 100 and 250 megabytes.

Check out this message board that is dedicated the VF-16/Computer Combo http://pub15.ezboard.com/fvf16frm8

This is the main page of that BBS: http://pub15.ezboard.com/bvf16

Lot if information over there concerning all things Vf-16.

and of course vf16.com http://www.vf16.com
 
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DON'T HOOK UP YOUR SCSI DRIVES TO A PRINTER PORT! You're very likely to spoil it!

but it prolly is cheaper to buy a scsi adaptor for your pc than to install a second ZIP, that is true... The second plus is that if you decide to buy another SCSI drive for transport (say you get a zip for cheap now and in some months a JAZ) you can use it on both systems...

aXel
 
Kramer said:
You have a 68 pin SCSI Port on the back of your computer.Printers etc. are the normal things that are plugged into the scsi port on a computer but is also used for storage devices such as the Jaz drive.

To hook it up to your computer you'll need an adapter that fits on one end of the 50 pin connector cable that converts it over to fit the 60 pin connection your computer.
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that PC's rarely if ever come stock with SCSI connectors. Is this correct? And is it not the parallel port that most PC's have (as well as usb) to connect a printer up to? Unless you have installed a SCSI card yourself, then you will not be able to directly hook up any SCSI device to a normal, off the shelf PC. Am i missing something here?

Oh, and Zeke, if you plan on moving multi-track session, instead of 2 track mix-downs, i would also advise to get the JAZ drive; the 1gig models are actually cheaper than zip drives on ebay, they transfer information faster, and they will be able to hold your entire session on one disk...so you will only likely need to buy 1 disk.

T
 
teainthesahara said:
I was under the impression that PC's rarely if ever come stock with SCSI connectors. Is this correct? And is it not the parallel port that most PC's have (as well as usb) to connect a printer up to? Unless you have installed a SCSI card yourself, then you will not be able to directly hook up any SCSI device to a normal, off the shelf PC. Am i missing something here?

Oh, and Zeke, if you plan on moving multi-track session, instead of 2 track mix-downs, i would also advise to get the JAZ drive; the 1gig models are actually cheaper than zip drives on ebay, they transfer information faster, and they will be able to hold your entire session on one disk...so you will only likely need to buy 1 disk.

T
Click to expand...

Yes. PC's come with a 25-pin Parallel Port. Very rarely would a desktop computer (not a server or specialized workstation) come stock with SCSI. I don't think you're missing anything...

I just want to say that I hate Zip drives.

I haven't really read through all of these posts that well, and I don't know much about the VF-16, but you should get the a good sound card like everyone is saying, or burn the files to cd.

-Dinsdale
 
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