Topic: Roland R-44: Getting 4-tracks on to your computer

[superreggie]

Strange. I record two tracks into the R-44, and when I connect to a mac, I see a nice little folder with two wav files. When I go four tracks, all I see is one wav file. Yet from within the R-44 I can still independantly adjust the level of each track, so I know the data is there somewhere. Roland has no support. Nothing in the manual. Can't even find an answer online. Surely someone else has had this problem, and it's something so totally obvious, I'll look like I shaved off half my moustache, right?

[Jema]

I use an R-4 Pro, which is very similar, and what you may have done is to choose a four channel interleaved file, or polywav, which contains all four channels in one file (just like a stereofile but with four channels). This is an option in the recording setup menu, when you choose how many channels you want to record (mono*4 for separate in a folder, or 4-1 for a polywav). Some programs might have a problem playing/importing this, but most DAWs should take it.

[mepaca]

There is an app on the fostex site that will divide the single track into 4 mono tracks. Also sound devices wave agent is available on their
site. Both are free. There are also some paid apps. Look for bwf converter. If recording 4 channel on the r-44 there are menu options for
4 mono tracks, 2 stereo tracks or 1 four channel track but not at high sample rates.

[acidjack]

I use an R-4 Pro, which is very similar, and what you may have done is to choose a four channel interleaved file, or polywav, which contains all four channels in one file (just like a stereofile but with four channels). This is an option in the recording setup menu, when you choose how many channels you want to record (mono*4 for separate in a folder, or 4-1 for a polywav). Some programs might have a problem playing/importing this, but most DAWs should take it.

This. Record in "Stereo X 2" and then you will get 2 stereo files.  That is generally what you want.

[Gutbucket]

Another consideration is 2GB file slits happen twice as often when writing a single 4 chanel file instead of stereo files.. and twice as often writing stereo files as writing mono files.  Sometimes I'll choose mono files over stereo files to double my  recording time per file and avoid a split.

[Jema]

On the R-4, I actually prefer to record 4 tracks in a single file (or stereo if I only use two tracks), since if you record several tracks in mono they will all go into a folder where the folder gets an individual name, but the files themselves are just called 1, 2 etc. This can become a real bother if you handle several takes at once in a Daw, since you may have any number of tracks just called "1". Creating a single file prevents this.

As was mentioned, it does limit the size though.

[morst]

On the R-4, I actually prefer to record 4 tracks in a single file (or stereo if I only use two tracks), since if you record several tracks in mono they will all go into a folder where the folder gets an individual name, but the files themselves are just called 1, 2 etc. This can become a real bother if you handle several takes at once in a Daw, since you may have any number of tracks just called "1". Creating a single file prevents this.

As was mentioned, it does limit the size though.

I don't like that naming at all. When I get 4-channel files from the R44, I rename them immediately. I use the folder name and then append -1 and -2 for the WAV files.

for instance, the original names:
folder:
111014235101.pjt
files:
1.wav
2.wav

My way:
111014235101.pjt

111014235101-1.wav
111014235101-2.wav

[Jema]

I don't like that naming at all. When I get 4-channel files from the R44, I rename them immediately. I use the folder name and then append -1 and -2 for the WAV files.

for instance, the original names:
folder:
111014235101.pjt
files:
1.wav
2.wav

My way:
111014235101.pjt

111014235101-1.wav
111014235101-2.wav

I agree it's pretty bad, and I'll definately start doing that too.