840EX or 880

[Seymour]

Hello, I am thinking of getting the 840EX (I would prefer the 1680 but cant afford it). Looking around at a music store I saw some 880 in plastic wrap for about the same price. From your experience which is the better deal?
Thanks

[dr.BarTee]

Hey Seymour,

Depends on whatever you want. The 840 EX (2*4 channels) vs. 880 at the same price: 880 has a built-in 1 GB hdd (friendofmine turned it into a machine with a 4GB hdd
and 16 tracks (not sure, check out www.roland.com for more details), and the 840EX has a SCSI port, and a 250 MB zipdrive. Last option works, but it isn't very practical in recording live-situations.

If you're into HOME-recording->840 is sufficient. But for live-recording==>use your brains and get the 880 (and a CD-burner)

Bye
Dr.BarTee

[Seymour]

Dear DR,
Thanks for your reply. I will take into account your comments.

[duck]

I have a vs880 not a vs880ex. Be careful of
whats in the plastic bag. Dont buy the vs880
Its inputs are 4- 1/4" trs and 4 - rca. Thats fine If thats all you want. Also you
can only use two tracks for processing
external effects. Its output is via master
out rca. (other than the digital outs spdf.etc) I have a mackie 1604vlz mixer and
cannot utilize it like I want with the recorder. Like the man said its really a
stand alone machine. The vs16 I dont know
about but I would research it for your needs.
Watch that plastic.

DuckHead

[Seymour]

Hello Duck,
Thanks for the time you took to reply.
Seymour

[Even]

Definately look into the 880 a bit more. I could be crazy but you can upgrade the 880 to nearly 880EX standards. I have an 880 that I did just that with. It now has a 2 gig hard drive in it, and I added the effects card to boot. The card runs a mild $250. But it offers two seperate channels worth of effects. Now I admit that if you have both effects (effects1 and effects2) being used, then thats it. Whatever effect you have the first processor using (example reverb) then thats going to be locked. Thats to say if you tell the machine to assign the processor to tracks one two and three.. they all get the reverb. and if you try to switch the effect to say chorus then you end up with chorus on all the channels. But, and this is a but and handy but, if after you record the reverb on one two and three and you want more effects added, bounce the tracks. In otherwords play back the "effected tracks" and record them to say... track four, hit save. and Pow. There they are mixed with reverb and locked. You are free to use the effects channel again. Takes some time, takes an ear, once you mix it down, it is mixed down.

[MrSinister]

Seymore, Do yourself a favor, save and get a vs-880ex. The 840 is a limited piece of equipment. Its really just a basic 4 track recorder. The 840 does not have an scsi port to hook up an external drive such as a cd-r. Also with 250 megabite starage you are also limited. The 840 is good if your a guitar player and you just want to lay down some ideas but thats it. The 880ex is a professional workstation that you can produce pro quality recordings with. I own a recording studio and I utilize 2 880ex's and I can honestly say that it is the best recording devise on the market today.Before you buy anything check out this site, it's very usefull. www.vsplanet.com good luck!

[Seymour]

Thanks for the mail. I am confused.
I think the 840ex had the scussi port.
You know I better take your advice and save up for the 880ex.
Thanks again