21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

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Snarl 12/8
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21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by Snarl 12/8 » Thu Dec 02, 2021 12:02 pm

Hi,

I've been recording a bit again lately. I think having my studio computer die a few months ago was really good for me, but I need a way to get my stuff out of the box it's in. (HD24XR)

So, anyone know of a device out there that'll take stereo analog and spit out MP3's and WAV's? Perhaps to a memory card that I can then sneaker-net to my desktop in my office? (or straight to my network/soundcloud would be even awesomer)

What's the new Alesis Masterlink?

Thanks,

ck

PS I know the correct answer to this has been Audacity on a cheap computer in the past, just looking for a different option that keeps the computer out of the studio.
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Nick Sevilla
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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by Nick Sevilla » Thu Dec 02, 2021 12:58 pm

Maybe something like this? Tascam also has a fancier option for about $900.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... o-recorder

Uses mini SD cards...and / or USB to a computer for transfers.
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.

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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by The Scum » Thu Dec 02, 2021 2:57 pm

A Raspberry Pi with a suitable audio interface...either USB or a Pi HAT.
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CraigS63
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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by CraigS63 » Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:02 pm

I have one of the early Zoom recorders (H4), it will record wav or mp3 (with a couple different bit rates), onto
SD cards, it has a couple of analog inputs (xlr combo jacks). Maybe something like that will suffice? Mine is still going strong 15? years later, the newer models are probably better. This one's screen is tiny, and I'd like to have file names with date/time stamps.

https://www.soundonsound.com/news/zoom- ... y-recorder

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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by winky dinglehoffer » Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:39 pm

I read the name of this thread and envisioned the moldering corpse of Greg Lake screeching, "21st Century Mixdown Deck!" as the horns wail and Fripp does his Fripp thing.....

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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by vvv » Thu Dec 02, 2021 5:06 pm

Isn't that what DAT machines were for?
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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by numberthirty » Fri Dec 03, 2021 9:28 pm

Nick Sevilla wrote:
Thu Dec 02, 2021 12:58 pm
Maybe something like this? Tascam also has a fancier option for about $900.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... o-recorder

Uses mini SD cards...and / or USB to a computer for transfers.
Here's the obvious issue...

Between this box and having to transfer it to a computer?

Is this option really less of a "Computer In The Studio..." option than an "Interface..."/"Reaper..." setup that would allow you to speed up/slow down a mix with it's varispeed feature?

Just feels like things are getting to where someone has really got to dig their heels in to make the case that something is not essentially a "Computer..." option.

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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by digitaldrummer » Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:53 am

I don't think I could ever recommend "instead of"... maybe the no computer thing is a challenge, or maybe you are going for a specific sound or maybe you just feel like doing it that way. that's cool. but if the computer is the simplest way to mixdown then why not use it?

Myself, I could never go back to tape. or if I did I would have to charge quadruple to make up for the loss of efficiencies gained by the DAW.
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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by Nick Sevilla » Sat Dec 04, 2021 9:41 am

numberthirty wrote:
Fri Dec 03, 2021 9:28 pm
Nick Sevilla wrote:
Thu Dec 02, 2021 12:58 pm
Maybe something like this? Tascam also has a fancier option for about $900.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... o-recorder

Uses mini SD cards...and / or USB to a computer for transfers.
Here's the obvious issue...

Between this box and having to transfer it to a computer?

Is this option really less of a "Computer In The Studio..." option than an "Interface..."/"Reaper..." setup that would allow you to speed up/slow down a mix with it's varispeed feature?

Just feels like things are getting to where someone has really got to dig their heels in to make the case that something is not essentially a "Computer..." option.
I am just putting up what the OP asked for. No more, no less. Cheers.

"Perhaps to a memory card that I can then sneaker-net to my desktop in my office?"
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.

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Snarl 12/8
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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by Snarl 12/8 » Mon Dec 06, 2021 2:48 pm

Look, I have ADHD out the ass. A computer is the ultimate distraction box. The mix down computer I had died, and now I'm doing more recording, I believe there is a correlation.

I love the look of that Denon rack unit, but it only records MP3's up to 256kbps. It's "built for recording speeches and conferences".

I'm thinking of going for one of those handheld zoom/tascam thingies with some line ins, but I'd prefer something dedicated and always wired in, so it's not out of the studio when I go to use it.

I know I'm probably going to wind up with another computer, I just thought this was the time to explore my other options. I don't record other people or need to interface with other studios, so it's all about the workflow for me. I've discovered that I still prefer the analog work flow (I cut my teeth on a Fostex R2R in the 80's) but recording digital. Alesis HD24 -> A&H GL2400 is a great setup for me, just missing the 2-track mixdown piece.

Thanks so much.

ck
Carl Keil

Almost forgot: Please steal my drum tracks. and more.

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Nick Sevilla
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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by Nick Sevilla » Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:05 pm

Thus my mentioning Tascam... they have a few Stereo type boxes too. Maybe one more close to what you need. Since I don't know your budget... hard to pin down anything close.

Cheers, and no worries.
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.

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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by markjazzbassist » Tue Dec 07, 2021 5:53 am

Tascam SSR100 or SSR200. they are SD and compact flash solid state recorders, 1 rack space, their is a newer model super expensive, the SSR100 and SSR200 are not made anymore but can be had used for cheap. 20-20 freq response, 95db S/N, .005% dist, 95db crosstalk. disregard the courtroom/conference room marketing crap, i worked at tascam when this was a new model, we sold a ton of these to churches and live sound places who wanted to do exactly what you are talking about, a quick and easy stereo mix.

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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by drumsound » Tue Dec 07, 2021 9:43 am

Don't both Korg and Tascam make DSD stand alone stereo units that will also record PCM?

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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by digitaldrummer » Tue Dec 07, 2021 10:06 am

if you do end up with a computer for mixdown, I personally find that not having mine connected to the internet makes it much less distracting. rarely I will connect it (to authorize something) but 99.9% of the time it is disconnected and I use USB sticks to move any files. Then it's only for recording and also more secure (from malware, etc.).
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Re: 21st Century Stereo Mix Down Deck

Post by Studiodawg » Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:09 am

You could just get a Zoom H1n and try it. It's a cheap solution.

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