Can I import from a cassette 4-track portastudio?

Question

Can I import from a cassette 4-track portastudio?

Hi, hopefully someone can help.

I have an old Fostex portastudio, and loads of music on mixed and unmixed cassette tapes that I'd like to digitise. Is it possible to import music from the portastudio into Garage Band?

If so, what type of lead do I need to do this? PLUS, would it be possible to record each of the four separate tracks to it's own Garage Band track, so that I could generate a remixed track from Garage Band?

Thanks in advance.

iMac 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Nov 11, 2008 6:07 AM

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Answer 1

isteveus

Level 5

4,340 points

Nov 11, 2008 6:31 AM in response to Spindoctor1968

Do you have 4 tracks on the tapes with two outs on the machine?

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Answer 2

Nov 11, 2008 7:07 AM in response to isteveus

I think the machine has a separate audio line-out for each of the four available tracks, it also has a single output that merges all four tracks, and also a left output and a right output...it's been a while since i used it, so my memory is a little fuzzy!

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Answer 3

isteveus

Level 5

4,340 points

Nov 11, 2008 10:36 AM in response to Spindoctor1968

If it has 4 lines out the easy way would be to use a 4 channel audio interface.

If you only have left a and right out you will need to transfer two tracks at a time and sync the tracks later. For this all you need is the correct cable. First transfer track 1 & 2 by panning track 1 left and track 2 right and record to two separate mono tracks in GB. Then create two more mono tracks in GB and record tracks 3 & 4 and sync.

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Answer 4

Nov 11, 2008 1:10 PM in response to isteveus

Thank you for your help. Much appreciated!

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