Yamaha MD8-no optical out, recording, etc

[vampirefish]

Hello all.... I'm hoping to get some experienced users out here to help me out. I really like my MD8 but my only beef has been lack of a digital out. The only way I've been able to transfer tracks to my PC is 2 at a time (one L and one R - mono). I've been looking at a

SMPro-Audio-A08-ADAT-Lightpipe-Converter. It looks possible, but need an ADAT in sound card and maybe it's overkill.

I do have an MAudio Delta 410 soundcard (with 4 ins - have yet to use/install it)... I'm trying to find the best/easiest way to transfer 8 tracks. I'm guessing this would be at least an 8 in sound card.... Maybe I'm making this more difficult on myself... trying to master all on my computer (meaning each track), rather than just recording the mix in stereo...

With this in mind..... I'm in a quandry as how to tackle recording live gigs and practice (for reference but want decent recordings) altogether.

I've been thinking of picking up an MD4S so it's not so bulky. AND...I also have a laptop... but am not sure I want to lug it around at gigs..... I'm just not sure what to do... anyone out there starting to rethink the minidisc format? The MD8 is a huge piece of equipment but I am really impressed with the sound (and ease of use) .... so that's why I was thinking maybe I'd go with the MD4S for portable recordings. If not, I guess I can buy a case for the MD8. As for the laptop dealio... if I went that route, I figured I could pick up a Tapco Link.FireWire 4x6 Audio Interface. Of course then I'd have to buy a firewire PCMI card for my laptop (and would only have 4 ins).

I'm just hoping I can use my existing equipment with a few additions... which would be easeier, etc? Guessing I may be opening a can of worms here.

Any suggestions would be mucho appreciated.

[Strungup]

Boom Recorder , is a full blown field recording app for Laptops , that records 8 tracks simultaniously so if you have a Firewire interface your good to go .

If your on Mac , REC for Mac is a free , very simplistic 8 track recorder . but again requires the interface . USB generally isnt very good for multiple track recording.

Firewire is stable about it , either way , you will need the interface to get 8 tracks in .

here is a suggestion.

http://www.rolandus.com/products/productde...mp;ParentId=114

this one is only 6 in 6 out but you get the idea. they have a level up that is 10 in 10 out .

http://www.rolandus.com/products/productde...mp;ParentId=114

Edited November 28, 2007 by Guitarfxr

[Ral-Clan]

Okay, I have the MD-8 and have been using it for years.

The reason the MD-8 doesn't have a digital output is because the mixer section is ANALOGUE. Atrac Data (encoded music) comes off of the 8-tracks on the Minidisc in the MD-8, is converted to analogue, then goes through the analogue mixer. ALL minidisc multitrack machines have analogue mixers. So, if there was a digital output on the back of the machine it would just be audio that had started out as digital, been converted to analogue, then converted back to digital - i.e. not a real 'pure' digital signal straight from the disc.

So, it makes no difference if the analogue audio is converted back to digital at the outputs of the multitrack, or in your computer's sound-card after going into its "line-in". In fact, it makes the MD-8 cheaper not to have included this silly feature. If the MD-8 had a true digital mixer like some modern multitrack machines, then a digital output would make sense.

I hope I explained that well.

Okay, so, how to get that audio into your computer. Short of buying an expensive multi-channel input for your computer, you can just dump it two tracks at a time (as you've been doing) into a multitrack recorder.

Obviously you need to sync up the tracks.

There are two ways to do it:

1. at the beginning of the song (on the MD-8 recording), record a short sharp noise across ALL 8 tracks. A handclap or tap will do. After transferring all eight tracks into your computer's multitrack program (two at a time), you can use this clap as a visual reference to "line up" all eight tracks. It will look like a little spike on the waveforms. Or....

2. use the MIDI output of your MD-8 to control the multitrack program on your computer. You can "SLAVE" your computer to the MD-8's MIDI TIME CODE or MIDI CLOCK. You set your computer's multitrack program to receive MIDI TIME CODE or MIDI CLOCK data. You put your computer into record mode and it will the wait for the MIDI timing signal to start. Press play on your MD-8 and the computer will start recording the two tracks. By using this method to record two tracks at a time, you can be sure that all the tracks will be recorded perfectly synced, and won't need to be "lined up" later by hand (as in method 1 above). NOTE: if your multitrack program can receive MIDI MACHINE CONTROL/CODE "MMC" then you can even control it via the PLAY/RECORD/SHUTTLE KNOB buttons on the MD-8 (you need to set the MD-8 to send MMC). You could also set the MD-8 to receive MMC, so that when you click the "RECORD" function/icon on your multitrack program, the MD-8 will automatically start to play. The pause/stop/shuttle controls in your multitrack program can also control the MD-8 remotely this way.

If your computer has a gameport or soundblaster, you can buy a very cheap MIDI cable (less than $10). Otherwise you'll need a USB or parallel port MIDI interface.

Edited November 29, 2007 by Ral-Clan