8-track/SCSI?software ****

rowz · 11-17-2003, 02:25 PM

Hi all, basically I bought an 8-track, put the PSI in...the PSI is recognised by the computer and working properly, so is the 8-track, but I don't know how to get the computer to start working with the 8-track!

The 8-track is a Tascam 866. I have it turned on now, but it's doing nowt. Do I try and open a song I recorded and put it on the computer?

What software can I use on the computer to 'read' the 8-track?

Can I get the songs from the 8-track using certain software, edit them and then burn them on my comp?

Seems very confusing. The 8-track is on, just looking at me, and the computer has recognised the PSI board fine, just need to get them together!!!!

Paula

MusicMakesDaMan · 11-24-2003, 12:40 PM

What exactly do you want to do? I mean, what software will you be using with the 8-track? If you just want to transfer audio from one to the other, then just plug them in and go....as long as you know how to properly use the 8 track, that is (one at a time or all eight at-once)....if you want the computer to work in a similar fashion to the 8 track(multiple separate tracks synching together at once), then you will have to get your hands on some mixing software, I know it's expensive, but in the long run its better to go with Pro Tools as a mixing program because most any other music software app can be added to Pro tools

rowz · 11-24-2003, 01:28 PM

Hi thanks for the reply. The software is Cakewalk. At the moment I am having problems getting my computer hooked up to the eight track. I will have to sort the connection out first.

What I basically want to do is take a song from the eight track and then manipulate it in Cakewalk, ie add effects, clean it up etc.

Is this possible?

MusicMakesDaMan · 11-27-2003, 06:00 PM

ok....basicly, the computer reads music files like .cda (CD audio) .wav (wave files) etc. The computer can also "read" audio via any type of cable (1/4", optical, RCA, etc....) But it is likely that when your digital (I'm assuming) 8-track records on its own hard drive, it will have its own format that cannot be read by the computer itself.....a common problem now with multi-tracks, the ability of the computer to record the audio is there, but the recording process must be done twice (once into the 8track and then once from the 8 track to the computer, or vice versa) If your 8track is a CD - burning or floppy drive model, it is possible that it records in either .cda or.wav formats, in which case the files themselves can be transmitted via a floppy or cd....or possibly straight via the cable, if I remember correctly Cakewalk saves in it's own format, just like ACID's .acd files or Reason's .rsn. Which means that the two programs work (just with recording audio)together but not terribly smoothly. Finally, I believe what you are looking for is a Controller -type hardware, which is a newer idea. When you have a separate peice of hardware that communicates through your computer to a software package (see Digidesign's Digi001 w/ Pro Tool's or the Oxygen 8 w/ Reason), then your turning a knob on thew hardware, turns the knob on the software. If that's what your looking for, then the 8track won't do that. So....to answer your question fully, Cakewalk will "listen" to, record, and manipulate audio from the 8track, but not in 8 separate channels, rather in one audio track, if you wish to manipulate further, then record individual tracks to the computer and then transfer to the 8track(very difficult due to timing problems with computer's on screen buttons)

rowz · 11-29-2003, 06:38 AM

Thanks, I totally understand what happens now. I really annoys me the way there are different file extensions in all different programs. I understand that I can just take the whole track as it is from my 8-track and then just add a few effects on the top, as it will have problems taking each track at a time.

The software that replicates what you manipulate on the 8-track sounds mindblowing, something for me to think about getting in the future.

I think my main problem is that I bought a digital rec. studio without a CD-R drive. I am selling my tascam and going to buy one with a CD drive. Then I can put the CD straight into my computer and clean it up, add a few effects etc in Cakewalk.

From the info you have given me, Cakewalk can only clean up and add a few effects on a .cda anyway, as it will have problems with all 8 tracks, so there is no difference for me whether I have an 8-track with a CD-R or 8-track hooked up with a SCSI.

Thanks for clearing it up!!!

Paula

11-17-2003, 02:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
rowz Newb Techie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5	8-track/SCSI?software **** Hi all, basically I bought an 8-track, put the PSI in...the PSI is recognised by the computer and working properly, so is the 8-track, but I don't know how to get the computer to start working with the 8-track! The 8-track is a Tascam 866. I have it turned on now, but it's doing nowt. Do I try and open a song I recorded and put it on the computer? What software can I use on the computer to 'read' the 8-track? Can I get the songs from the 8-track using certain software, edit them and then burn them on my comp? Seems very confusing. The 8-track is on, just looking at me, and the computer has recognised the PSI board fine, just need to get them together!!!! Paula

11-24-2003, 01:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
rowz Newb Techie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5	cakewalk Hi thanks for the reply. The software is Cakewalk. At the moment I am having problems getting my computer hooked up to the eight track. I will have to sort the connection out first. What I basically want to do is take a song from the eight track and then manipulate it in Cakewalk, ie add effects, clean it up etc. Is this possible?

11-29-2003, 06:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
rowz Newb Techie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5	thanks DaMan Thanks, I totally understand what happens now. I really annoys me the way there are different file extensions in all different programs. I understand that I can just take the whole track as it is from my 8-track and then just add a few effects on the top, as it will have problems taking each track at a time. The software that replicates what you manipulate on the 8-track sounds mindblowing, something for me to think about getting in the future. I think my main problem is that I bought a digital rec. studio without a CD-R drive. I am selling my tascam and going to buy one with a CD drive. Then I can put the CD straight into my computer and clean it up, add a few effects etc in Cakewalk. From the info you have given me, Cakewalk can only clean up and add a few effects on a .cda anyway, as it will have problems with all 8 tracks, so there is no difference for me whether I have an 8-track with a CD-R or 8-track hooked up with a SCSI. Thanks for clearing it up!!! Paula

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11-24-2003, 12:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
MusicMakesDaMan Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 107	What exactly do you want to do? I mean, what software will you be using with the 8-track? If you just want to transfer audio from one to the other, then just plug them in and go....as long as you know how to properly use the 8 track, that is (one at a time or all eight at-once)....if you want the computer to work in a similar fashion to the 8 track(multiple separate tracks synching together at once), then you will have to get your hands on some mixing software, I know it's expensive, but in the long run its better to go with Pro Tools as a mixing program because most any other music software app can be added to Pro tools

11-27-2003, 06:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
MusicMakesDaMan Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 107	ok....basicly, the computer reads music files like .cda (CD audio) .wav (wave files) etc. The computer can also "read" audio via any type of cable (1/4", optical, RCA, etc....) But it is likely that when your digital (I'm assuming) 8-track records on its own hard drive, it will have its own format that cannot be read by the computer itself.....a common problem now with multi-tracks, the ability of the computer to record the audio is there, but the recording process must be done twice (once into the 8track and then once from the 8 track to the computer, or vice versa) If your 8track is a CD - burning or floppy drive model, it is possible that it records in either .cda or.wav formats, in which case the files themselves can be transmitted via a floppy or cd....or possibly straight via the cable, if I remember correctly Cakewalk saves in it's own format, just like ACID's .acd files or Reason's .rsn. Which means that the two programs work (just with recording audio)together but not terribly smoothly. Finally, I believe what you are looking for is a Controller -type hardware, which is a newer idea. When you have a separate peice of hardware that communicates through your computer to a software package (see Digidesign's Digi001 w/ Pro Tool's or the Oxygen 8 w/ Reason), then your turning a knob on thew hardware, turns the knob on the software. If that's what your looking for, then the 8track won't do that. So....to answer your question fully, Cakewalk will "listen" to, record, and manipulate audio from the 8track, but not in 8 separate channels, rather in one audio track, if you wish to manipulate further, then record individual tracks to the computer and then transfer to the 8track(very difficult due to timing problems with computer's on screen buttons)