This mixer looks like it mixes 4 inputs to stereo out.
"enjoy a digital-direct STEREO connection with virtually any audio software application."

You actually need a DAW or recorder that can record 4 track at the same time. Like this:
M-Audio Fast Track Pro 4x4 or what Jon recommeded. (;

Or if you want something that will give you a little diversity a portable recorder like the TASCAM DR-40 or Zoom H4N can provide multi track files that can be imported into vegas or any DAW.

I personally have the TASCAM DR-40 and a Steinberg UR44 for multi track recording.

Thanks. Could clarify the connection chain?

The four cables out the 4-track, into four separate interface inputs...then out just one USB into PC,. or?

The recording software will record to separate tracks on the PC via the USB cable.
The separate outs on this device is if you're connected directly to a mixer and want to have different tracks from the recording software output to specific "Audio Outputs" on the interface.

Audio inserts is usually a TRS 1/4" jack that allows you to insert effects like compression, reverb etc. in the signal chain.

You can use inserts as direct out into a mixer too if the send is on the ring, you insert the 1/4 in jack one click and plug the cable into the mixer etc.

Yes,
you take the 4 analogue signals from the deck into the interface which then sends them as 4 data streams over USB, Firewire or Thunderbolt into the PC where the software sorts them.

Problem is determining which interfaces will actually send their 4 inputs as 4 discrete data streams over the interface. It's very difficult to determine the capabilities from the published specs. I'd really look for 24/48KHz capability plus I have reservations about using the USB interface.

Any device should work with Vegas via ASIO but some manufacturers ASIO implementations are better than others.

Bob.

Thanks, I will look into the M Audio.

As far as multi-track now, this is just to revive old 4-track tapes.

Thanks... is there a search term to find similar products with the discrete channels/ASIO as the ones suggested by John_Cline?

What about PCI/PCIe cards or just stick with audio interfaces?

Neither the Tascam DR-40 nor the Zoom H4N have four line-level inputs. One would need a Tascam DR-70 or the Zoom H6. I have an H6 and I use it all the time for a variety of audio recording needs, it's amazingly versatile.

You could also do a down and dirty 2 pass record into your current sound card and sync the pieces together in Vegas, depending on the material it could be easy to accomplish. You could even splice in a sync pop before each song and make it really easy to sync.

[I]" is there a search term to find similar products with the discrete channels/ASIO as the ones suggested by John_Cline?"[/I]

I just tried four channel USB recording interface and got plenty of results. I'd ignore the ASIO part as I think everyone ships their boxes with ASIO drives plus most ship with some "lite" version of some DAW software that'll work with the box. All you need that for is to do the actual recording, then you can use any other software to mix the 4 tracks.

[I]"
What about PCI/PCIe cards or just stick with audio interfaces?"[/I]

Normally they have a another box on the end of a cable and are pretty expensive if they're any good.

You will pay more than 2x the price of a 2 channel unit to get 4 channels but the 4 channel units are aimed at the more upmarket usage.


Bob.

Whew, for those prices take a look at the Tascam US-1800. It lists for under $200, i bought it for $130, and i've occasionally seen it on sale for about $70. It has 8 balanced XLR inputs, 6 line inputs, and 2 guitar inputs. Each channel is sent discrete and separate over USB. I can successfully record 16 simultaneous tracks with it. It also has 14 discrete outputs plus a master L&R pair.

Four times the channels for half the price seems like a no-brainer to me.

By connecting each single audio out, one at a time, you could make four different recordings through any sound card, then you would need to resynch the four tracks in Vegas.

Or two at a time with a stereo sound card. That would cut the time and effort in half. Of course, this assumes the tape machine runs a fairly constant speed each time.

Thanks. It has to be one pass. I've tried it before and a second pass is always different and becomes a mess.

I suppose if someone was good with something like ProTools it's possible, but not me.

Or with Vegas?

Thanks for the idea and info...I think this Tascam is a strong possibility.

Tons of ins/outs and other features plus Cubuse LE; it might have plug-ins I could use.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/TASCAM-US-1800-USB-2-0-Audio-Midi-Interface-106506520-i1562924.gc

I suppose it technically is possible with Vegas, but I don't recall any automated functions such as beat detection in Pro Tools. Cakewalk had this type of point/click/correct timing thing for a while now, too.

But overall, a second pass is different and even if could quantize, I possibly would be changing the feel of the originals in an undefinable way.

Your Tascam interface/rack mount suggestion seems the best cost/feature ratio device..

[I]"Thanks for the idea and info...I think this Tascam is a strong possibility."[/I]

Tascam certainly had some reasonable and very competitively priced gear however just about every supplier seems to have almost nothing left in stock made by Tascam :(

It seems Gibson bought Tascam a few years back and .......


Bob.

You could probably get just another PCI sound card (or ANY sound car, USB, firewire, etc, stereo) & have Vegas record two stereo tracks at once. Then you've got your four channels.

Oddly enough, dual sound cards may have slightly different clock frequencies so there's no guaranteed they'd line up at the end. They may also have different latency even if they are identical cards so the starts may not line up. However, it's easy to fix. Simply visually line up a loud beat near the beginning, then Ctrl-stretch one of the recordings to match the other, and then make sure the event stretch properties are set to "lock pitch to stretch". Should take a moment or two to get them back in sync.

More accurate then taping twice & a lot cheaper then buying a new audio interface.

But I'd like a nicer audio capture device myself so I'd use this project to justify buying one. :)

Thanks, that actually might be worth a try and if it doesn't work out then get an interface. I would probably record a reference clap across all 4-tracks on the tape, after the song, for line-up in Vegas.

If I pan all the way left/right on the four tracks, (1L/2R/3L/4R), I think I would get track isolation - but I wouldn't want tracks 2 and 4, for example, both occupying the right side/have to mix together. So, how would the cables out of machine/into PC go to ensure isolation?

I have: 4 RCA tape outs; should I I get 2 RCA splitters to 3.5mm stereo jack into each sound card input and pan L/R? (I also have 2 separate RCA L/R stereo outs, 2 separate RCA L/R monitor outs.)

L1R1 -> stereo 3/8" -> computer in 1
L2R2 -> stereo 3/8" -> computer in 2

Vegas should record a stereo file for each input on the computer. If you want then separate tracks in Vegas you make fore tracks, put file #1 on track 1 & 2, file #2 on track 3 & 4. Then on the audio file on track one, right click & tell it to use left audio only, on #2 right audio, track 3 left audio, track 4 right audio.