Recording audio in Vegas

[Peter Wright]

Hi Steve

Assuming you mean 16 tracks recorded at the same time, the basic requirements are

– a sound card with 16 channels, or 2 each with 8.

– a fast enough setup to carry the processing load.

Basically it’s a question of assigning each track to a different Sound Card IN.

I’ve never done more than 4 myself. The Sony Audio forum may put you in touch with more users who use Vegas for this.

Peter Wright
Perth, Western Oz
http://www.allroundvision.com.au

[Seth Bloombaum]

The workflow I use is to rent or purchase an Alesis HD24 (street price $1500) which will give you 24 tracks of 24/48 with line level analog inputs out of the box. I hook it up to the direct outputs of a 24-ch. mixer I already have and hit record.

Later, I can transfer via ethernet (takes forever but works) or their fireport interface (works VERY well and fast, street price $200).

Advantages:
No *^&#@ computer for live recording to screw things up. (I almost always am recording a live performance, but it does well for studio too.)
3 rack units – pretty portable compared to a desktop and monitor/kb, etc.
Just hit record! (well, almost)
Decent analog to digital conversion.
Uses any cheap ATA drive of 5400 rpm or better.
Easy back up to a second drive, even in the field.
Unlike most other standalone hard drive recorders, there IS a quick method to move files to Vegas using the FirePort.

Disadvantages:
Two step work flow – must transfer from HD24 to computer.
Too easy?
Has its own DOS called FST, you can’t just drop the drive in your PC… but that’s what allows 24 tracks on a cheap drive without fragging.

As far as multitrack interfaces for your PC, Echo has some of the best and most compatible. The issue of good drivers that work right and are updated and supported as needed has earned Echo a very loyal following. echoaudio.com.

[Ted Snow]

I have an Alesis HD24 in my studio. Great machine. When I bought mine, Alesis had a promo going on…buy an HD24 and get the Firewire adaptor port free with a mail-in coupon. It is an extra step transferring tracks to the PC, but it’s a simple process with the included software and is MUCH faster than using the ethernet port. Actually the transfer speed is the same as copying from one PC hard drive to another, which in essence is what you are doing…besides the fact of having to use the ADAT FST software. I still do most of my mixes from the ADAT HD24 thru my Mackie 32X8 analog console…stereo out to the PC for the stereo mix. But Vegas is a VERY powerful multitrack audio program but you really need a midi fader controller or you end up spending hours tweeking a mix one track at a time with the mouse.

[Stephen Mann]

Well, it certainly would do the job, but since quality is not a factor, the price is too steep. Heck, if I could get eight cheap sound cards into a PC, that would be my solution.

Thanks for the input.

Steve

[Seth Bloombaum]

“quality is not a factor”

My, that’s a different market! 😉

Well, maybe you can get 4 cheap sound cards that have 4 inputs each? (2 analog, 2 digital… of course then you’d need an external 8ch A-D box…)

Perhaps a rental would meet the need if it’s just a single project. Or maybe rent a 16ch. mixer and mix to stereo as you capture. Or build your tracks one at a time from a cheap stereo card (playback existing tracks on ch. L, record from Ch. R. repeat 15 times).