Yamaha MD8 thread

[dvance101]

I would like to hear what some other musicians think about their MD8's. I have had mine for about 3 years and the only problem I have ever really had was a digital "hiccup" that showed up on the minidisk - We figured that it was due to a minor power surge and fixed the "blurb" by copying and moving tracks over the area of error.

Todays Tip: When recording vocals, I was hardly getting any signal even with Phanton power, so I reccomend a mic preamp (I bought a SM Pro Audio PR8 for next to nothing) - works great and solves the problem PLUS it's an 8 channel unit so you could "technically" use it in a live situation to mic various instruments ALL into just ONE input on your MD8 (maybe for a rehersal or quick demo/dummy track project).

[dvance101]

I love my MD8, it has been a great recording tool for me, BUT unfortunatly I need more than 8 tracks so I have placed the order at AMS for a Roland VS2400CD - I had originally decided on the VS2000CD, but why not go for broke.......Anyway after some thoughts about what to do with my MD8, I came up with a cool idea that just might work, and could work for some of you guys whenever you decide it's time to upgrade.

I am going to be using the MD8 as a drum mixer, my studio drumkit only requires 6 mics and 2 overheads. I'll be "pre mixing" the drumkit on the MD8 and sending the mixed signal to the VS2400 (into just one or two tracks), where I can remix the overall tone. At the same time, I can back up the drum tracks on the MD8 by recording all 8 tracks at once. If I ever need them later, they're right there.

If you guys get a chance, go to my listed website and check out the songs I have (for FREE), all recorded on my MD8.

[johnny j]

if u can get ur drummer to buy an electric kit, ours did for about £1500. the improvement we have in sound for him over 2 tracks now is far better than we had with five mics over the "real" kit by far. with the right settings on the kit and eq'ing you wont be able to tell its not a "real" kit at all

[dvance101]

Originally Posted by johnny j

if u can get ur drummer to buy an electric kit, ours did for about £1500. the improvement we have in sound for him over 2 tracks now is far better than we had with five mics over the "real" kit by far. with the right settings on the kit and eq'ing you wont be able to tell its not a "real" kit at all

We have an electric kit in the studio (a Yamaha DTxpressIII) as well as the acoustic kit - we prefer the acoustic kit for actual recordings - more natural for the style of music we record (progressive rock/metal) - we love the electric kit for quick demos and one off jam sessions.

[Be Loveless]

I'm thinking about upgrading TO an Md8 from my tascam 488. It seems to have some great features.

[A Reel Person]

Well, I have a recently purchased MD8. I studied and price shopped for about a year, before plunking down for purchase. My deal was sweet. It was a full package deal for $600, which included the MD-8, 14 MDD discs, a regular MD, an MD Lens Cleaner, an Alesis Nanoverb and an Art FX-1. I figure my net cost of the MD-8 was $350, and all the accessories were "what the heck" additions,... especially the two effects units. The MDD disc MEDIA, count 14, was a HUGE hook into why this package deal made good sense to me,.. with MDD disc media going from $10-$15/ea., retail.

Anyway,... on & on,... I know recording equipment and porta-format units,... and I like the MD-8 very well, based on it's packaged features and verstatility,... not to mention fine SOUND QUALITY.

As I figure, the MD-8 took everything that was best about the Tascam 488mkII, and expanded on it a bit,... LIKE: full, discrete 8x8/8-simul recording, (something the 488mkII does not do),... AND, of course, all the non linear and copy/paste whizbang editing that digital and MD is famous for. Did I mention, excellent sound quality??

Okay,... you new guys may not know or appreciate,... but I have DOZENS of various Tascam recorders, mixers and Portastudios, as well as a handful of Fostex units,... and I deem the Yamaha MD-8 as a unique and valuable piece in recording technology history.

Honestly,... as I see it, and YMMV,... by concept and features alone,... the Yamaha MD-8 is completely unique and alone in it's class,... a merit only rivalled by the Tascam 388. (In all-in-one 8-trackers).

The Yamaha MD-8 is a completely worthy piece of equipment, that still holds up very well, on sound and features,... as compared to the massive teaming hordes of current 8-trackers.

As far as my not having a huge record of use of the MD-8,... of what little I've used it,... it's a fine and wonderful machine. Literally unrivalled and alone in it's own class.

Yamaha always had a knack of knocking out some very nice equipment, in most cases. Yamaha stuff is high on features and value. In recorders, Yamaha took lots of what Tascam laid the groundwork for, and in some cases improved on it. The MD-8 is an example of that.

[stodge]

The disk loader is broken on mine - won't eject the disk. I'll have to call Yamaha and see how much it will cost to fix it. Otherwise it is perfect for my extremely amateur requirements!

[bileshake]

I've had mine since they first came out in 1997-98? The MD4 was already out and I was warming up to the benifits of the format when I found one sole MD8 demo machine fresh out of the box.

I use it all the time, every weekend I demo my band practices onto standard stereo minidiscs with it.

The only short commings for me is the amount of 8track mode recording that can be done on a data disc. Since this offen makes for a project broken up onto three or four discs, it would be nice if there were a small hard disk inside to "cache" a song so that it can be moved to another disc.

[Loan Shark]

I currently use the Yamaha MD8 machine. I have been very happy with it. The only issues I have now are the 8 tracks (need more) and the quality of sound I get when transfer to CD. It never sounds like it does on the MD8. I am thinking of spending $2000-$3000 for a machine. Your suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Loan Shark

[The Green Hornet]

Yo high interest rates Shark:

There are some great buys on digital stand-alones. The new Korg 16 or 32 tracker looks very nice.

But, if you wait until after the first of the year, you may see even lower prices on name gear.

I use the Yam 2816 and like the cool Javelin Car, I don't think they make that unit anymore. They replaced it with the AW16. But, Yam still does the 4416.

Depends on your needs. I also used the MD8, still have one in storage, for a while. It is a nice box but lacks that CD punch and sound quality.

So, Korg or Yam? It's up to you. There are other units to research too. But, hang on until January 2, 05.

Green Hornet

[louki]

Originally Posted by stodge

The disk loader is broken on mine - won't eject the disk. I'll have to call Yamaha and see how much it will cost to fix it. Otherwise it is perfect for my extremely amateur requirements!

Stodge, I know this is an old post but I had that problem (and I'm sure others on this forum have had the same thing happen) - if it's giving you a weird error code (can't remember the code) and won't eject, that happened to me a couple of times. Apparently, you shouldn't leave a disk in the MD-8 for a long period when it's not being used and that's when the error code shows up. I searched and found a solution which was to turn off the machine (unplug it too while you're at it) pry open the minidisc door carefully and once the disk is out, it should work normally again. Of course, do so at your own risk... good luck.

[bdwwashburn]

I have 2 MD8's that I rigged to record together using the footswitch and a splitter and I love them! This set-up has been great for working on projects w/ my friends. 16 tracks + a total of 8 extra inputs or 4 stereo effects, not to mention somewhat flexible routing possibilities using the cue. The only thing I don't like about it is the time it takes to bounce things to the PC (real time .) I am working on getting one of the old Sony MD drives that connect via SCSI as well as looking into the new Hi-MD players (that work as data storage too) to see if I can speed this up.

[A Reel Person]

Eh,... why didn't I think of that?? Heh.

You are the man!!!

[bdwwashburn]

didn't think of linking them, or using a drive?

[A Reel Person]

I guess I'd thought of it, for moments in passing, but I'm surely glad to hear you've done it, for real.

I dunno if the Hi-MD will pull the data off the MD8's disc properly, but I think you should demo this, and report back later!

/DA

[Loan Shark]

Originally Posted by Loan Shark

I currently use the Yamaha MD8 machine. I have been very happy with it. The only issues I have now are the 8 tracks (need more) and the quality of sound I get when transfer to CD. It never sounds like it does on the MD8. I am thinking of spending $2000-$3000 for a machine. Your suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Loan Shark

I went with the Akai DPS 24...very nice machine. sound quality is awesome.


Shark

[COOLCAT]

Originally Posted by Loan Shark

I currently use the Yamaha MD8 machine. I have been very happy with it. The only issues I have now are the 8 tracks (need more) and the quality of sound I get when transfer to CD. It never sounds like it does on the MD8. I am thinking of spending $2000-$3000 for a machine. Your suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Loan Shark

i been doing the same for sooo long..upgrade...
looking anyway. no move yet.

love the MD8, but more tracks or digital output would be cool.
recently (over past year or so) added a SP B1, DMP3 and recent RNC.
damn it's the best I've heard in my headphones. the RNC addeed a real
punchy,warm sound...the DMP3andSPB1 last year was whooooa!!fhkngA!

i been round and round and circles....STANDALONE or PC??
oh fhk!!...it'll drive the old porta-heads crazy.

the tascam DP01 sounds to have finally made the Standalone
user-friendly, and don't doubt the quality.
only 8 tracks tho....and i got that. $500 all effects,
full multi-track download. fhkng USB....pc interface
(it don't get easier than USB) 16bit/44.1K...like the MD8.
looked at the Tascam 24/bit 16track is ~$1000
with CDburner "all in one".....but not sure if its user friendly.
been burnt on the Roland840...damn, couldnt deal with it.

PC...well they have every fhkng bell/whistle..gazillion tracks, mix/master..
burn....MP3....but you have to adjust the treble with a mouse!!!
c'mon..who am I kiddin....i'm a solosmuck home recording kind...
i want to play and arrange and press play/rec...and burn one for the car.

really need monitors bad...thats what my guts telling me.
Active Whaferdales...$275 pr...over by "Deepwater" homerec gang special.

i've no doubt i need monitors...yeaaaaa thats the ticket..GO MD8....

[COOLCAT]

Originally Posted by dvance101

I would like to hear what some other musicians think about their MD8's. I have had mine for about 3 years and the only problem I have ever really had was a digital "hiccup" that showed up on the minidisk - We figured that it was due to a minor power surge and fixed the "blurb" by copying and moving tracks over the area of error.

Todays Tip: When recording vocals, I was hardly getting any signal even with Phanton power, so I reccomend a mic preamp (I bought a SM Pro Audio PR8 for next to nothing) - works great and solves the problem PLUS it's an 8 channel unit so you could "technically" use it in a live situation to mic various instruments ALL into just ONE input on your MD8 (maybe for a rehersal or quick demo/dummy track project).

I was recording a "start-up band" today. Interesting in how easy
pressing play/rec was. Only had one microphone in a bedroom...
kinda punk music...i hadn't touched the thing in weeks.

so anyway, mic placement....amazing the difference it makes.
i'd read books in the old Mono-days, mic placement was an art form.
it was almost and "effect" moving to the wall to the corner to the floor.

enjoyable day recording, makes me wonder why MiniDisc didn't do
better...i'd prefer it in my car too, being smaller and a scratch case
over the cd?

[A Reel Person]

The MD8 is a superior machine, compared to it's peers,... of which there are very few actual peers.

The Minidisc is "the little disc that could"...

[COOLCAT]

i just laid down the best tracking to date (for me).
this board has been nothing short of amazing, and only regret
not having the info before (maybe 10years earlier!!!!!).

Hi-Quality cheap stuff...from the gang here.
Studio Projects B1> DMP3 PREAMP> RNC COMP-new> MD8.

!!!Did all tracking thru MONITORS not the HEADPHONES!!KEY!!!

humbly amazed again....all these years back, headphone mixes...
then GARBAGE CAN ASS CRAP playbacks in the car and depression
to follow after all the hours recording.
sometimes it's the small sht that changes everything!!!

moving on-
reading intensely last week or so..... MASTERLINK is a buy item too.
credibilty on this forum is tops.IMO. so saving pennies.

Monitors and an FORMAT upgrade? is in the works...if no layoffs/downsizing
hits soon but that damn MD8 is soooo user friendly. just not SPDIF outs.

[A Reel Person]

Originally Posted by COOLCAT

16bit/44.1K...like the MD8.
....

Eh,...

The MD8's front end mix is obviously analog.

Then it goes through the AD converters at 16-bit/44.1KHz.

Then an ATRAC encoding scheme is used to further reduce the data set, from 16/44.1, where it's then recorded to MD media in an ATRAC data compressed format.

It's idea of a ATRAC data compression factor that drives all the so called audio purists, pros and experts crazy about Minidisc.

AFAIC, you cannot hear ATRAC and it does not audibly reduce the quality of the sound. ATRAC is data compression that uses a model of actual human hearing range to calculate the reduction it makes. The ATRAC effect is transparent, and your ears don't hear in a 20-20kHz flat response, anyway.

That's why I'll stick with MD. YMMV.

[Josh83]

I am considering getting an MD8. Does anyone have any recordings they made on one for me to hear what they sound like?

Josh

[COOLCAT]

Originally Posted by Josh83

I am considering getting an MD8. Does anyone have any recordings they made on one for me to hear what they sound like?

Josh

you'd like it.

as others i went thru numerous porta-studio cassette units,
then tried the ADAT/8, MiniDIsc Porta-studio, 8-track cassette 488?,
then Cakewalk, USB, ROLAND 840 HD/ZIP.
MD8 has probably been my all around favorite.

The MiniDisc MD8 has been a great tool and is....fun.
No upgrades, no lock-ups, you can exchange discs and start a new song!

Following several years with this unit, i want to upgrade....
but haven't found anything yet that is a clear "upgrade".
I'd sell you mine ~$325 w/MD's,
but i just haven't found anything to replace it.

DP01 is user friendly, but is 8tracks (so whats the point? MD8 is 8)
2488 is 24/24 but so many articles state
"yeah my 2488 freezes up too!! and wipes out all the tracks...
but I LOVE IT! IT'S A GREAT UNIT!"

Computer PC- not porta-studio friendly.

round, round....MD8 is a great unit. I'd recommend it highly.

[gvdv]

I rented an MD8 a few years ago, and got down a track *exactly* as I had heard it in my head for about 14 years previously.

While this was partly due to my performance and the equipment that I used, I was very impressed that the MD8 did not get in my way at all, and that it was relatively easy to use.

I lusted after an MD8 for a couple of years, but by the time that I was ready to buy there were other, more advanced stand alones around. I was simply dying for an MD16, and would have bought one immediately, but unfortunately that never came to pass.

Very impressed, but it's time has passed - that's my opinion.

GVDV

[COOLCAT]

Originally Posted by gvdv

Very impressed, but it's time has passed - that's my opinion.

GVDV

yeah it's true, great fhkng time was had by all.....
MD8's one of those gems that never took off because of
tech-heads slamming the specs and sht...and who knows why.
coporate sabatoge. for those upgrading...no MD16!! damn.

i've surrendered, and upgrade is in progress.

I was trying to decide on new monitors and recording unit.

Realizing ,my analog outboard gear will have to satisfy my desire
to turn knobs. The Record Unit will be just that and hopefully will
not have to do much more than press PLAY/REC. Unit/PC will
just record and playback....48 tracks is exciting.

SP B1- DMP3- RNC..going in.
I'd like to grab a Toft ATC-2 and maybe another mic. but love my little
"channel strip", damn RNC and DMP3 is a sweeet combo.

I bought a 3.2/64 with 512/160gig HD, it flys. $569 w/ CDR-DVDR
been downloading and snooping out "free" recording software,
most are way too noisy...
noisy as in too much sht on the screen...
#1 so far is Powertracks. had a nice simple recording screen.
(and 10 million other little tiny icons. sucks)
of course my family has taken to this new fast pc.
so I may have to buy one and sneak it in the studio, or get a standalone..TASCAM 2488 is a front runner or the Korg 16track...both 24 bit with CDR! $1,000~

damn I paid $1200 for the first 4-track 144 cassette in 79!!!! now its
fhkng 24 Tracks/ 24 bit digital and a CD-R with effects for $1,000!!!!

yeah...gearlust, its still the best thrill hooking up some new speakers
and gear...crazymancrazy.