Which recorder should I be looking at ???

[Worldtraveler]

I am new to this forum and home recording technology so I apologise if this is a stooopid question or I am in the wrong forum....

Lately, after not recording anything in the last 35 years or so, I have become interested in doing some recordings in our home. I see that one of the local music stores is selling a Boss system with 16 tracks and 40 GB hard drive for $1300. I can afford to spend more if necessary, is this a quality unit or should I be looking at something else? I will also need a good mic to get the sounds from a Grand piano... any suggestions there?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Regards, Traveler

On edit: I would also like something that is easy to use. I remember the early days of MIDI and don't want something that is going to drive me crazy trying to understand the technology. Thanks again.

[guhlenn]

For just hearing yourself play i woudl get something with effects and cd bruner all in one. Look at the fostex vf 16 or alikes... with the boos you'll need a lot more stuff, with the fostex just speakers, mic's (for grand piano some condenser preferably... ) and cabling/stands.

but you should be a little more specific.

[IchabodVer7]

Me personally I like to see the tracks on the computer screen. It makes editing and fixing things a lot easier. Depending on how many tracks you want to record at once you might want to look at a Digidesign Mbox. It is pretty reasonable for price and it uses Pro Tools for the recording software. If you need more I/O then you can step up to the Digi 001 or 002. Just make sure you have a good computer. I used to work at a recording studio that did everything on ADAT before switching to Pro Tools. Night and day difference.

[Worldtraveler]

BTW, I plan to use the recordings as demos for promotion so I guess the quality doesn't have to be that great. I will hopefully be doing some recordings for a LPFM station. I already have compressors, compellors and an eq. unit.

On how many tracks will I be using? I really don't know yet without getting into this. It seems like we used up ten or twelve tracks before (back in the early 70s) and that number would probably be adequate now. I would like to buy more capability than I think I would will need as you never know what great idea you will come up with when you get into it.

Regards, WT

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Originally Posted by Worldtraveler

I already have compressors, compellors and an eq. unit.
Regards, WT

I'm not familiar with the unit you speak of but all in one recorders are not generally built for use with outboard stuff. They generally have a lot of effects/processors inside which (in my experience) aren't great, occasionally useable, but not great. Usually you're unable to bypass the onboard pres also.

The number of tracks and number of inputs you can record through simultaneously may differ. For example my unit has 12 tracks but I can record simultaneously on to just six.

I started out with an all in one recorder and am now saving my pennies for a decent PC/Mac setup so I can use outboard stuff if I wish, expand my setup and edit tracks more easily.

Hope this is helpful

[jeff5xo]

Not trying to step on Kevin's toes, but that is an incorrect statment. True all in one recorders do have built in effects, but they work very well with outboard effects as well. Computers have plug-in effects as well as work well with outboard effects. It's all in the preference of the individual. Some people like using computers to record, others like the all in one recorder.

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Originally Posted by jeff5xo

Not trying to step on Kevin's toes, but that is an incorrect statment. True all in one recorders do have built in effects, but they work very well with outboard effects as well. Computers have plug-in effects as well as work well with outboard effects. It's all in the preference of the individual. Some people like using computers to record, others like the all in one recorder.

Fair enough jeff5xo (don't worry, I'm not averse to being corrected ).

The units I know of (admittedly not that many considering the number of these types of units available) don't have aux send/returns etc. The unit I have has one output from which a signal can be sent (either individual tracks or the master) for use with an external processor which I've found very limiting.

Of course there's nothing to stop you putting a verb or whatever before you're recorder in the signal chain but this is only any good for tracking and I personally don't like to add anything while tracking.

As for the quality of the effects I guess that's a matter of personal taste but like I said there are plenty of these units that I've not tried out. I've also found the preamp issue a big one.

As has been said it's a matter of personal taste and what's important to you when you record.

[ntnguitarist3]

I also recomend the MBOX aswell, for its price its very powerful although it only has 2 mic preamps, when hooked up to a mixer it becomes even more powerful... 32 tracks availble for recording only 2 simutanously, but still very good... i use it to record full band demos and and hook up the mixer to record drums and still get good qaulity... so go with that if u have a computer that meets requirements...

[Worldtraveler]

Since my last post I have read and re-read this thread with your many suggestions.

In the past I have had some experience with Yamaha so I started looking at their offerings. I am currently looking at a used AW4416 for reasonable money. Anybody here have any comments, good or bad, about this recorder?

Thanks again for your many suggestions..

WT

[Worldtraveler]

OK, I finally figured out what the MBOX is and I think I like it. I already have a mixing board and a few other boxs so if it all looks like it will work with my existing boxes and boards (??), I may just go ahead and try the MBOX.