No CD

Plug your tape machine into your PC and record into a digital audio editor.

Once you have the digital file (the format will vary) you can convert it to an MP3 if it isn't already.

You can upload it to some webspace, make a page with a link to it, then it wil play when clicked on.

You don't need to make a CD.

MIDI is not needed here either.

Sounds great, but I'm not sure how to plug my 4 track into my computer. I guess I need some sort of adaptor to go from the stereo cables on my tape machine to whatever's on the back of my computer (I'm not even sure what kind of inputs I have on my PC but I doubt there are any stereo cable jacks).

Do you know what kind of adaptor I'd need?

a b c

You need to look for where your sound card connections are.

I would imagine there is probably a mini-jack input of some sort.

You then take a stereo feed from the left and right output of your 4 track.

You can buy ready made cables or make them.

Hey elvin,

I'm not sure which Portastudio you've got, but what you're looking to do is called running a 'mixdown.' While you've been recording, i'm assuming that you've been monitoring your mix through the headphone out (1/4" TRS) and possibly the monitor out (Stereo RCA). You'll note (depending on the model - this information is based off of my own experience with my 414MkII) that in order to control your monitored mix, you're adjusting the FX 2/Tape Cue levels, and that both the faders and Pan knobs do nothing. During the mixdown, however, you are outputting a mixed, 2-channel audio signal through your recorder's Line Out (another stereo pair of RCAs). You might want to think of this mixdown as a sort of final performance, as now not only can you adjust the balance (via the Pan knobs) of each track, but the faders are now active and can be used to attenuate each track. In order to get a sound you like, i'd hook your monitors up to the line out feed and do a few dry runs in order to get the stereo image you like and also to rehearse 'riding the faders' or actively mixing and balancing the levels as you send the audio. Once you're prepared to perform the final mixdown, you'll need to connect your Line Out to your computer's audio interface. If you're using either onboard audio or a more entry-level soundcard, you'll likely only have a stereo 1/8" ('mini') line in. If you just want a digital version of your material to pass around, don't worry about purchasing an expensive interface, and go pick yourself up a 2xRCA -> mini y-adapter.

Here's a 10' cable that'd turn your Stereo RCA Line Out into a usable stereo mini jack:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CMR210/
Sweetwater also has the same cable in 3 and 6' lengths, as can be seen on the right side of the page.

That connection along with a simple wav recorder (such as Cool Edit Pro) would allow you to dump your mix onto a computer and have MP3s of your stuff to email/host. Though, since you mentioned wanting to put your music onto cd, you may desire a better audio interface to allow a higher quality capture of your audio, say 16bit/44.1KHz. A modest solution for this might be an Audiophile 2496, and since it accepts RCA in, you won't need to deal with any y-adapters. The 2496 runs around $100.

Though if, as you say, you're just looking to throw some clips on the internet, a basic setup should be just fine, but, or example, if you're looking to master and market your music, it may be worth considering a more significant investment than a $6 cable.

All of this DAW mess aside, here's to the functionality and simplicity of analog recorders!

-Will

Thanks Will! And everyone else too!!