There are not many threads on exporting stems from the Octatrack into the DAW. I was recently thinking of getting a mixing desk and a soundcard but then came across the Zoom R16. Now I havent a clue on multi track recorders so would love some advice on this. My standard way of recording a track on Octatrack is doing it live (just recording it all in then muting various bits to make a track). Am i right in thinking i could record various tracks from the Tanzbar and say 2 or 3 tracks from Octatrack (using out/cue/headphones) into the multitrack (in real time) and then just export their stems into the computer? Does anyone use this method? Or am i over complicating this and should use the arranger to compose and then (boringly) record each track into computer one by one …
A friend of mine had an all hardware set up in the early 2000s based around a Korg 1200 multitrack (i think?). We used to record my Korg ESX into it as a stereo track, performed live. The sampler was midi synched to the recorder so that we could edit things afterwards more easily / sync up arpeggiators on our keyboard.
This was a good method because it forced us to make decisions quickly, get the mix right early on the instruments being recorded, and generally focus on being creative rather than messing with editing a track.
However, these days i record everything to Abelton and then edit these bigger performances down to sections for use in a track - that means my OT is generally played into the computer with as close to a finished pattern / sound as possible rather than the track by track method.
So having had experience with both techniques which would i personally chose? The one i have now. I have the opportunity to go ‘old school’ and use my DAW as a straight recorder for a complete OT arrangement, OR to go ‘new school’ and record elements / patterns / bits of tracks for later ‘proper’ arrangement in the computer. I think that these days there has to be a really good reason for you to want to make a hardware only recording choice. you’ll get a lot more flexibility from a DAW / sound card route.
Oh and re: a mixing desk. Possibly think about a sound card with more inputs than go down that route. Then you can have your tanzbar, OT and what ever else all recording to different tracks. If you have a mixer, you’ll have a stereo out (and pos some auxes) at best.