Stand alone CD Recorder question....

[jackscrow]

I recently unearthed quite a few cassette 8-tracks recorded on a Yamaha MXT-8.

I want to mix these down direct to a CD-R Recorder.

These are basic recordings and I am not looking to mix them through Pro-tools, etc. I want to try the direct to CD.

I am a novice.

What is the easiest to use and least expensive (easy to use is more important) CD recorder, and are there any hurdles in the way?


Thanks for any direction and advice.

[richiebee]

Consumer recorders generally only write to specific "music" CDR's. These are specially encoded so the industry can charge you extra for what they see as likely uses (pirateing copyrighted material).

Professional standalone recorders are expensive, but generally write to standard CDR's.

One of our prof's has a Sony standalone recorder, but it's not compatible with all CD players, which is a problem usually associated with CDR's burned in a computer and used on old CD players.

Lets face it, the quality is not going to be amazing from cassette anyway. Try connecting your Yamaha 8 track and your computer direct.... if your computer doesn't have a CD writer... get one. Still a lot cheaper than buying a standalone recorder. If you don't have any recording software, you can get Audacity for free.

R.

[brandondrury]

I'm trying to figure out how you the external cd burner fits into this equation. If you are going to mix in Pro Tools, wouldn't you just go straight out from your 8 Track Tape deck into your soundcard?

Brandon

[jackscrow]

I'm sorry, all I want to do is mix down directly from the MTX-8 to the CD recorder.

I am aware that they are more expensive than going through a computer.

Can I get some recommendations as to which Recorder I should purchase. I want the easiest one to use.

Thanks.

[brandondrury]

My fault. I read your first post wrong. You DON'T want to mix in Pro Tools or equivalent. I get it.

To be honest, I know extremely little about consumer grade stuff. I've never had an mp3 player and never considered buying a cell phone. I wouldn't know where to start with the consumer grade cd recorders.

You may get the results you are looking for plugging right into the stereo input of your computer's soundcard. I would definitely try that before I did anything else. There are several open source recording programs which you can find in the "getting started" portion of this forum. That may do it.

If not, you could always upgrade your soundcard to something that will allow you run your 8 tracks stereo outs right into the input of the card with decent analog to digital conversion.

Personally, I don't see the point in buying the standalone cd recording. It's not going to be cheap and it's not going to be nearly as flexible / powerful as the computer.

Brandon

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by jackscrow

I am aware that they are more expensive than going through a computer.

Can I get some recommendations as to which Recorder I should purchase. I want the easiest one to use.

Go to Best Buy or whatever the hell electronics store they have where you live, and ask a salesman.

R.

[jackscrow]

You misunderstand me.

I am willing to buy a Tascam Recorder, or the like. I just want advice on which one to get.


Thanks, anyway.

[brandondrury]

I'm sorry, all I want to do is mix down directly from the MTX-8 to the CD recorder.

I am willing to buy a Tascam Recorder, or the like.

I assume you mean a Tascam CD Recorder in this case.

You have to understand that this is a recording forum for people who make music. Everyday most of us fire up our recording rigs that we've poured our blood, sweat, and tears into. We have made up our minds that we need the tools that our at our disposal.

You are coming from the other side of the camp, it appears. You are looking for a consumer gadget that puts music on a cd. Well, there is no way that any CD Recorder on the market is going to do what even a free piece of recording software can. I'm not sure how you will trim the silience off the beginning or end of songs, I'm not sure how you will have any control over your levels. I'm going to make an assumption you are mastering on the way in and don't need to take advantage of the compression, limiting, EQ, etc that any recording software will have. I'm going to assume you don't have any fade ins or outs.

If you don't need any of these features, that's fine. I'm not telling you that you should need them. I'm just telling you that you are asking people who are convinced that they do need them to give you advice about a product that sort of "violates" all we have learned in recording.

If you go to any forum with professionals in a field and tell them that you want sort of half assed, consumer version of a product, it's going to be difficult for them to recommend one.

I'm not trying to be a dick, but there is little reason to ask people on a recording forum about a product that is, in some ways, anti recording.

Brandon

[jackscrow]

Screw it. I asked a plain question (I thought), and I get mumbo-jumbo.

It's good that you consider yourself a professional. Most professionals can divorce themselves from the ideal and give answers when asked. I have no desire to be an audiophile. I just want to get the songs down as simply as possible.

I'm going with a Tascam CD-RW 402.

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by jackscrow

You misunderstand me.

I am willing to buy a Tascam Recorder, or the like. I just want advice on which one to get.


Thanks, anyway.

Stand alone CD recorders suck. I can't recommend one. Your local electronics store can recommend one I'm sure.

R.