question about uploading sounds from 4-track tapes to Live

fakefade · Post by **fakefade** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:59 am

Hi I am new here and admittedly a bit out of my depth. I just got my Live/Axiom 25 bundle and I need to purchase a soundcard/firewire?
Was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what might be best for transfering sounds from my old fostex 4-track into my PC. This is my first
step into Digital sound editing so any help would be welcomed, and greatly
appreciated.
Thanks

cosmosuave · Post by **cosmosuave** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:33 pm

We need a little morre info to help you out...

What kind of computer do you have and specs?

What are you recording?

Bands you will need a multi input audio interface...

Single instruments you will need a 2ch input interface...

What is your budget?

Hope this helps...

fakefade · Post by **fakefade** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:58 pm

I am using a Dell Dimension 8400 222GB, and I am wanting to take the 20 plus hours of 4-track recorded music I have into Live so that I can fine tune edit it, as well as try out different juxtaposition/arrangements. I am also using an Alesis Multimix 12FXD. I also want to be able to use guitar/bass/piano acoustic/electronic to add to the tracks, so perhaps the 2ch interface you mentioned would be ok? As far as budget goes I would like to keep it in reason, however I do want to get something that will do the trick with as few complications as possible. Again any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, FF.

cosmosuave · Post by **cosmosuave** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:36 am

This is your best bet.... I had one of these until I went the laptop route...

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/A ... -main.html

Just run the track outs of your 4 track into your ALesis mixer then run the mixer main outs into the 2496 pci card... I don't see a need for you to buy an external FireWire audio interface....

Do you have audio editor software? If not I would suggest getting something to edit your tracks form the four track SoundForge, Adobe Audition.... I have used Soundforge for about 9yrs and would recommend it... Mind you that it can be done in Ableton...

Try this site for additional reference..

http://www.tweakheadz.com

fakefade · Post by **fakefade** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:53 am

Thanks so much Cosmo, you really helped me out here, thank you for your time and suggestions.
"we are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams" W.W

j0shu@ · Post by **j0shu@** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:02 am

i recently dumped some 4-track stuff to ableton.

keep in mind that just like vinyl, the 4 tracks will have a certain amount of drift, so your probably going to be doing some warp marker tweaks.

fakefade · Post by **fakefade** » Thu May 11, 2006 4:41 am

thanks j0shu, I will keep the warp marker suggestion in mind. Did you have any other problems with using your 4-track stuff in Ableton? Also, Did you dump them in one track at a time or multiple tracks (mixed song)?
thanks F.F.

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Thu May 11, 2006 9:58 am

This may be "post" already understood..........but considering live's layout......would it not make sense to do this in the arrangement view VS the session view........for organization..........that is..........??

And then.....if your four track has FOUR ouputs........then we'd be looking at something a bit different from the 2496..........or am I not seeing this correctly?

of course, if we are just doing a stereo out the 2496 is the quintessential choice for pc's?????

fakefade · Post by **fakefade** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:03 pm

eyeknow, other than the 2496 what would you suggest? I will most likely only be using stereo out.
thanks for the comment/suggestion.
F.F.

j0shu@ · Post by **j0shu@** » Thu May 11, 2006 8:02 pm

fakefade wrote:thanks j0shu, I will keep the warp marker suggestion in mind. Did you have any other problems with using your 4-track stuff in Ableton? Also, Did you dump them in one track at a time or multiple tracks (mixed song)?
thanks F.F.

i dumped in mixed down stereo tracks, just the left/right.

when i recombined the sections with other audio, the warping became apparent. admittedly my 4-track is old (yamaha MTX) but i imagine all tape will have some form of drift. maybe you will luck out, but if things are sounding like they dont exactly line up, that would be the first place i'd look.

question about uploading sounds from 4-track tapes to Live

question about uploading sounds from 4-track tapes to Live

thank you Cosmo...