How can I record to and mix from a computer though an analog console?

[Matt Dawson]

Hello everyone,
I have an old 32 channel analog console that I love and an ms-16
tape machine which sounds good but has been a bit cantankerous lately.
I would like to put together a computer based setup that allows me
to:
1) Track initially though the console into the 16 track tape machine.
2) Send these first tracks into the computer using the nice preamps on
the console.
3) Record more tracks onto the hard drive as needed.
4) Mix from the hard drive - into the mixing board with analog
outboard gear patched in - and into two tracks on the hard drive or to
1/4" 2 track and back to the hard drive.

I could really use a breakdown of the kinds of hardware and software I
will need to get the the signal into and out of the computer. I don't
need many more that 16 tracks and I don't have any mac/pc preference
as long as the system works. It looks like I could get 16 tracks in
and out using the lightpipe addition to digi 002 but that system
doesn't seem to be designed for what I am trying to do. Would the
motu 24i/o-424-digital performer combo be what I need? I am a
hobby/project recorder and I would like to keep costs under 3K.
Thanks for your help.
-Matt

[Judy and Karl]

Matt, I'm running a motu 24 i/o with a 32 channel desk using cubase on a pc
as if it were a tape. works the deal after sorting out a few problems.
(hint: use XP). personnaly, I'd just ditch the ms16...it's redundant.
karl
"Matt Dawson" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello everyone,
> I have an old 32 channel analog console that I love and an ms-16
> tape machine which sounds good but has been a bit cantankerous lately.
> I would like to put together a computer based setup that allows me
> to:
> 1) Track initially though the console into the 16 track tape machine.
> 2) Send these first tracks into the computer using the nice preamps on
> the console.
> 3) Record more tracks onto the hard drive as needed.
> 4) Mix from the hard drive - into the mixing board with analog
> outboard gear patched in - and into two tracks on the hard drive or to
> 1/4" 2 track and back to the hard drive.
>
> I could really use a breakdown of the kinds of hardware and software I
> will need to get the the signal into and out of the computer. I don't
> need many more that 16 tracks and I don't have any mac/pc preference
> as long as the system works. It looks like I could get 16 tracks in
> and out using the lightpipe addition to digi 002 but that system
> doesn't seem to be designed for what I am trying to do. Would the
> motu 24i/o-424-digital performer combo be what I need? I am a
> hobby/project recorder and I would like to keep costs under 3K.
> Thanks for your help.
> -Matt

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> I have an old 32 channel analog console that I love and an ms-16
> tape machine which sounds good but has been a bit cantankerous lately.
> I would like to put together a computer based setup that allows me
> to:
> 1) Track initially though the console into the 16 track tape machine.
> 2) Send these first tracks into the computer using the nice preamps on
> the console.
> 3) Record more tracks onto the hard drive as needed.
> 4) Mix from the hard drive - into the mixing board with analog
> outboard gear patched in - and into two tracks on the hard drive or to
> 1/4" 2 track and back to the hard drive.

I don't get the combination of #1 and #2. You don't want to send the
signal through the preamps twice (once when tracking, once when
transferring to the computer) no matter how "nice" they are, at least
not on a routine basis. If you want to initially track on the analog
recorder, that's fine, but you will want to transfer them to the
computer through the most direct path. Line output from the recorder
to line input of the computer's audio interface.

You'll want to transfer all the tracks at once, so that means you'll
need at least a 16-channel analog input interface to the computer and
that can run you into quite a bit of money if you want to maintin
decent quality. The good news is that you can use the same piece of
hardware when recording additional tracks to the computer. (#3)

To mix through your console, you'll need for your computer to have as
many analog outputs as you expect to mix. 24 is probably a good
number, which will leave you some of your 32 console inputs as effect
returns or synchronized MIDI tracks. So basically you're looking for a
good quality audio I/O box that's capable of 24 simultaneous analog
inputs and outputs. It might mean three 8-channel or two 12-channel
units. Go get some magazines and drool over the ads. Then go to a
music store that handles this sort of equipment and see what it really
looks like and what kind of computer interface and horsepower you
really need in order to run it.

> I am a
> hobby/project recorder and I would like to keep costs under 3K.

That's going to be tough. You have some ideas. Go shopping.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers - )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Sugarite]

I'd recommend the 24i/o as well, but I disagree that the ms16 becomes
redundant. If he's not planning to use plug-ins then the tape saturation
will come in very handy, especially for drums.

The problem with Digital performer is that it's Mac-only, which will hit
your budget pretty hard. You wouldn't need a fast Mac to run the OS 9
version, even a $300 beige G3 would work fine as long as you're not using
effect plug-ins. However it's unlikely that the OS 9 version will be
updated much longer, so you'll need about a $1000 Mac to run OS X adequately
(I'll get arguments there, but sorry, 10.2 was not fast enough on a 800MHz
Quicksilver G4 for me). It's a real shame too, OS 9 was by far the simplest
OS to manage with good audio support. OS X and XP are nightmares by
comparison.

Logic Audio is another Mac-only option, but it's too unorthodox for someone
who just wants a tape machine replacement.

You can rule Protools out, it requires proprietary hardware, and there's no
such interface with 24 outputs anywhere near your price range.

I'm not a big Cubase fan, but it looks like it's your best most
cost-effective option. Your minimum requirements in a PC would be those of
Windows XP and a 7200 RPM hard drive. Check into both the 24i/o and Cubase
for system requirements, and look into a suitable Athlon-based system,
should fit easily into your budget.


"Judy and Karl" > wrote in message
...
> Matt, I'm running a motu 24 i/o with a 32 channel desk using cubase on a
pc
> as if it were a tape. works the deal after sorting out a few problems.
> (hint: use XP). personnaly, I'd just ditch the ms16...it's redundant.
> karl
> "Matt Dawson" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Hello everyone,
> > I have an old 32 channel analog console that I love and an ms-16
> > tape machine which sounds good but has been a bit cantankerous lately.
> > I would like to put together a computer based setup that allows me
> > to:
> > 1) Track initially though the console into the 16 track tape machine.
> > 2) Send these first tracks into the computer using the nice preamps on
> > the console.
> > 3) Record more tracks onto the hard drive as needed.
> > 4) Mix from the hard drive - into the mixing board with analog
> > outboard gear patched in - and into two tracks on the hard drive or to
> > 1/4" 2 track and back to the hard drive.
> >
> > I could really use a breakdown of the kinds of hardware and software I
> > will need to get the the signal into and out of the computer. I don't
> > need many more that 16 tracks and I don't have any mac/pc preference
> > as long as the system works. It looks like I could get 16 tracks in
> > and out using the lightpipe addition to digi 002 but that system
> > doesn't seem to be designed for what I am trying to do. Would the
> > motu 24i/o-424-digital performer combo be what I need? I am a
> > hobby/project recorder and I would like to keep costs under 3K.
> > Thanks for your help.
> > -Matt
>
>