Tascam to Tracktion
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- KVRer
- 6 posts since 31 Aug, 2004
I'm looking for a cheap but pro way to move my Tascam 4-track recordings to Tracktion. I'm thinking of using Traction because it is cheap and Mackie makes it. I have an iBook G4 933 and I'm wondering what I need to complete my set-up. Do I just need to buy an interface/input device with firewire/USB and 4 inputs (note: i cannot bus 2 tracks and then bus the other 2 and match them up, I've tried it before at a friends and it wasn't totally synched up all the way through the song)? Do I need a special sound card or something else? What input devices do you recommend that are inexpensive? Basically I just need a way to digitize the tracks so they can be mixed later by me or someone better than me, if you know of a better way to do this feel free to let me know. Thanks!
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- KVRAF
- 1617 posts since 19 Mar, 2002 from Victoria, BC
unless you can output all your tracks simultaneously to individual outputs (you can use L and R on a stereo track as seperate inputs, though I doubt I have to tell you this) then there's not much you can do, as your tracks will always be drifting, (unless you had a really high quality 4 track that you could sync to a computer)
On the other hand, if they're mostly 4 tracks, and you're going to be buying an interface anyways, look into an m-audio quattro or something similar, and just re-record some tracks (probably at a much higher quality then the original recordings)
On the other hand, if they're mostly 4 tracks, and you're going to be buying an interface anyways, look into an m-audio quattro or something similar, and just re-record some tracks (probably at a much higher quality then the original recordings)
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- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
Jeez, when you moved the topic, you could have at least copied and pasted my reply!!! 
Here it was:
Here it was:
GregLunch Money wrote:I've done this very thing myself, having moved from a Portastudio to Tracktion.
There will be different ways to do it, and you'll need a 4-input soundcard/mixer to do it so that everything lines up exactly as you want.
I did NOT have those things, so here's what I did:
Hooked my Tascam's line outs into my Mixer's "tape in". The mixer, in turn, went to the soundcard.
To record each of the 4 tracks back, I would play it back while simultaneously recording into a track in Tracktion. Using the Tascam's mixer, I would turn down the other 3 tracks so that they weren't going into T. This way, I recorded each track as a mono audio file with no panning information, etc.
Once the 4 tracks were in T, I found that they didn't always line up 100% perfectly, so I would slice (the "/" key when the clip you want to cut is selected) and nudge (ctrl + cursor left and right) to get things to line up. The more complicated your music is, the trickier it'll be, but my songs were very simple (I never had the patience to bounce properly, so at most I'd bounce once for a total of 5 "tracks") so it was no worries. In fact, after importing, I found that I could easily fix certain timing errors that I was unable to fix (for obvious reasons) on the Tascam.
I dunno what kind of Tascam you have, but mine was an old Portastudio 244. However, if you have any questions, let me know.
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- KVRist
- 33 posts since 19 Aug, 2004
Hey this is a cool idea. I have some of my old songs done in Tascam 4 tracks also. I think I might just try archiving them into Tracktion tonight. This will be another way of getting aquainted with Tracktion. Thanks guys for bringing this up!
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 6 posts since 31 Aug, 2004
Sorry for the move Lunch, when I moved it noone had responded yet.
Your idea is a good one and is basically what I'm shooting for--importing each track as mono file--but like I said I tried a similiar process before and the tracks didn't synch. The timing of my music isn't *that* tight but it sounds like a pain to go through every song and make sure it is synched up properly--I'm moving Eight years of notes and sketches. I've done it with a friend with protools and it worked like a charm but I'm not ready to spend that kind of money...maybe i'll have to be.
Can anyone tell me if you can record more than one track at once with Tracktion, I'm assuming you can. Is the limit the number of inputs on your interface?
Oh, yeah, i have a tascam 464 which has 4-1/4" outputs, one for each track.
Your idea is a good one and is basically what I'm shooting for--importing each track as mono file--but like I said I tried a similiar process before and the tracks didn't synch. The timing of my music isn't *that* tight but it sounds like a pain to go through every song and make sure it is synched up properly--I'm moving Eight years of notes and sketches. I've done it with a friend with protools and it worked like a charm but I'm not ready to spend that kind of money...maybe i'll have to be.
Can anyone tell me if you can record more than one track at once with Tracktion, I'm assuming you can. Is the limit the number of inputs on your interface?
Oh, yeah, i have a tascam 464 which has 4-1/4" outputs, one for each track.
Last edited by xavinum on Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRist
- 146 posts since 14 May, 2004 from Orygone
Yes, you can record more than one track at a time in Tracktion and yes, it does depend on the number of inputs on the interface. Personally I'm just a 1 track at a time kinda guy, but there was a point in time that I was doing the same as you....Importing track from a 4 track... I did it the hard way...one track at a time, then drag them around to sync them all up. it was a pain and in the end I replaced most of them because I could make them sound so much better if I recorded the parts in T. Anyway, since we wre talking about audio interface for laptop, you might want check out the article on www.tracktionfaction.com. It has info on 3 different interfaces that have or will have Tracktion bundled with them. The "Spike" system from mackie looks good for a laptop...
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- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
Actually, I have to backtrack a bit--
I just remembered that since the Tascam already outputs a line-level signal, I had gone directly into the soundcard from the Tascam! No mixer needed.
The quickest and simplest way of doing it (much cheaper than a Pro Tools system!) is to get ANY 4-input device (such as the Delta 66, though that's just an example and there are many options). You will be able to record all 4 tracks of your Tascam at the same time, thereby having them automatically synced up.
Greg
I just remembered that since the Tascam already outputs a line-level signal, I had gone directly into the soundcard from the Tascam! No mixer needed.
The quickest and simplest way of doing it (much cheaper than a Pro Tools system!) is to get ANY 4-input device (such as the Delta 66, though that's just an example and there are many options). You will be able to record all 4 tracks of your Tascam at the same time, thereby having them automatically synced up.
Greg
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Robert Randolph Robert Randolph https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=7328 - KVRAF
- 2226 posts since 25 May, 2003 from Saint Petersburg, Florida
I just have to mention mackie doesnt "make" tracktion.... what an insult! 
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- KVRist
- 268 posts since 11 Nov, 2003 from kentucky
Tascam porta-1. Still have mine.
Here's a tip for transferring 4 track stuff via a 2 channel interface.
Enable recording on the porta-1
left bus 1, track 1
right bus 2, track 4
Record a loud sharp transient like hitting two sticks together on the Tascam.
Now route tascam 1 & 2 output to your computer input card/interface
Record the transient with the transfer
Reroute tascam 3 & 4.....
You get the idea.
When you've finished transferring the two stereo pairs, you'll have reference peaks to align them on track 1 & 4. Just make sure to record/edit/move 1&2 or/3&4 together.
Here's a tip for transferring 4 track stuff via a 2 channel interface.
Enable recording on the porta-1
left bus 1, track 1
right bus 2, track 4
Record a loud sharp transient like hitting two sticks together on the Tascam.
Now route tascam 1 & 2 output to your computer input card/interface
Record the transient with the transfer
Reroute tascam 3 & 4.....
You get the idea.
When you've finished transferring the two stereo pairs, you'll have reference peaks to align them on track 1 & 4. Just make sure to record/edit/move 1&2 or/3&4 together.
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- KVRist
- 358 posts since 2 Dec, 2002
It might still be a problem with the tape drifting differently as you have to play it two times.james wrote:When you've finished transferring the two stereo pairs, you'll have reference peaks to align them on track 1 & 4. Just make sure to record/edit/move 1&2 or/3&4 together.
I did a similar operation from my Fostex X-15 but using a DAT for 2 channels and the computer for the other two. Recording a transient click (short circuiting a plug with my fingers) to at least one of each channel pair. Alltought the tape are drifting it's the same for all 4 channels, so it's just a matter of syncing the click. It work much better than I expected.