MR-8 Users and Examples/Samples

[junplugged]

Details on usage of the Fostex MR-8 by users. Other MR-8 thread also cool, has a lot of comparisons, and specs. Maybe we can post some links here to tracks produced with it too.

- - - - - -

So far the clean sound is great. I used Art V3 w/ ECm8000 and nice sound, mono solo acoustic and vocal one track. Also tried same with sm57, a little more boomy.

Transfer to 98SE PC thru USB 1 Lexar cf card is a breeze.
Installed drivers for the Lex for 98se, only when card is in slot will you see the added drive letter in 'My Computer.'

Anyone try the 'Mastering' bottons? I'm looking in manual to see how they're applied, don't seem to effect the internal mixing to tracks 7&8...

[junplugged]

I can't apply the mic simulations to the internal mic, even tho there is a line connecting them all in a group. Odd.

[junplugged]

ok, what's the deal here? In the Musicians friend catalog there's a big full-page thing about how the guy likes it, etc. and the internal mic, "...especially with the mic simulation butttons...." -Reg Hamilton

The manual doesn't seem to even imply that it can be done. I haven't been able to do it.

Hey Reg, can you explain how you got the mic simulation buttons to work with the built-in mic?

[mrx]

Great idea for a thread. I just got mine today and can't wait to give it a whirl. I bought (and returned) both the Tascam PS5 and the Korg PXR4.

Every other device makes it a nightmare to move tracks to a PC and back - the MR-8 is the only device in this class to get that part right. But that's typical Fostex - watch everyone else do it wrong, and then come out with a cheaper box with better connectivity.


(Now if Fostex would only repair their BBS... They can create these recorders, but can't keep a web site up - wow.)

[junplugged]

I got email from Fostex:

"...Mike Simulation doe not work with Internal Mic.

The MIc simulation only works on INPUT A and when INPUT A SWITCH is set to MIC/LINE..."

So there's my answer. Good to know my machine isn't malfunctioning. Interesting to note that the Musician's Friend catalog writer is full of S**T.

So from now on, if that catalog states that the guy USED some new equipment they are trying to sell, don't believe the so-called writer had any experience with it. If you can, come to HR BBS first, if it's a feature you really need, you better be sure your unit actually has it. This feature wasn't a decision point for me, so not too bad.... Really, whadda ya want for $300.

BTW, no EQ.

[mrx]

New group just for card recorders (like the MR-8)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalrecorder/

[junplugged]

first test post of anything. Did this on MR-8. Simple acoustic instrumental thing. Used the on-board reverb.

the link:
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/...d=2151&alid=-1

comments welcome.

[peacepiper]

After looking at sound card/mixer options. Realized i would have to upgrade big time. So now i'm looking at the MR-8 for her. Has anyone used it, do you like it?

Want to record an acoustic and voice and maybe a handrum. Then fine tune on computer and copy to CD-R (just need USB and CD-R)).

After getting the 2 mic's, do i need anything else to record? Is the MR-8 good for voice?

Does the MR-8 do 2 tracks at the same time? (guitar and voice?)

can i plug speakers directly into the MR-8? Or do i need to use a receiver?

Thanks

[adams]

Originally posted by junplugged
first test post of anything. Did this on MR-8. Simple acoustic instrumental thing. Used the on-board reverb.

the link:
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/...d=2151&alid=-1

comments welcome.

Thanks... Sounds nice. I was hoping to get the MR-8 mostly for use with acoustic guitar and vocals. Do you have anything with vocals to hear also?



Adam

[junplugged]

Originally posted by peacepiper
...do you like it?

Want to record an acoustic and voice and maybe a handrum. Then fine tune on computer and copy to CD-R (just need USB and CD-R)).

After getting the 2 mic's, do i need anything else to record? Is the MR-8 good for voice?

Does the MR-8 do 2 tracks at the same time? (guitar and voice?)

can i plug speakers directly into the MR-8? Or do i need to use a receiver?

Thanks

it records 2 tracks at same time. There's a few things to think about.

A. the built-in mic simulators and amp sims are only on input A. - one channel, one track.

B. no EQ. so fine tune on PC or mixdn w/ outboard gear, unless - you get it right on the input. Is this possible? Maybe, check my sample, I did no EQ, this was done all thru MR-8 only.

C. stereo outs only, that's a line level output. So you need an amp or self powered monitors, or whatever, I just use the same crap i've been listening to everything else on. Eventually I'll get monitors.

D. 2 track record. 2 inputs only. So you have to decide if you want stereo or not. If so, you have to use both inputs and 2 tracks. So you need to organize how you're gonna get it. Will I record guit and vocal at same time live and use the room and try to combine both part in stereo? this seems hard and I havent tried it yet. Since i am not dubbing a lot, i had to try to get a bigger, fuller acoustic sound. So I'll be laying down guit first, with 2 mics.... Next is my vocal, but I wanted to try one thing at a time, vocals in the works...

in my sample, i layed rhythm guit using 2 mic setup into 2 channels onto 2 tracks, then same for melody part. Then on the mix, i panned the 2 tracks opposite. So the one mic track on rhy guit to left, then mic track on mel panned left and visa versa.

E. USB - it only works with post win 98SE o/s. Otherwise, you'll have to get a cf card reader. for 98se. I do both.

F. even with a lot of limitations, yes, i still do like it.

G. there seems to be one and only one way to use it. It's kind of like an algorithm or a method. it's described wherever you see info where the mr-8 is for sale, see catalogs and web sites.

You do this:
record tks 1 to 4, mix in stereo to 5&6 then erase 1 to 4, record again on 1 to 4 then mix 1 to 4 with 5&6 to 7&8 done.

I personally never erase anything, and with a pc this is easy enough, you just archive your tracks to the pc. HOWEVER, i have yet to restore only parts of the contents of the chip. I've only restore the entire song to the cf card. This worked, but I'm not sure if I can pick and choose tracks.... I'll try it sometime, it would seem important if you don't like the mix you did to tks 5&6 and you already erased 1 to 4 !!!!!

H. you gotta just live with the distortion in the heaphone circuit.

- J.

(remember all this for only $300 - it's gonna have limitations)

[dyuob]

I have restored just single tracks, and its no problem, and I am getting a letter better sound pre amping through an ADA effects unit. and using a better mic has made some difference as well, I will try to finish a track, including editing within the next 2 days or so, I will post an mp3 when done (dont forget, im trying to record an ukulele, the dynamic range is very limited compared to a guitar, and it is frustrating...)

[clifchamb]

Originally posted by junplugged
first test post of anything. Did this on MR-8. Simple acoustic instrumental thing. Used the on-board reverb.

the link:
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/...d=2151&alid=-1

comments welcome.

Sound great! Did you use internal mic?

clif

[junplugged]

Thanks for listening, glad you like the sound.

Not the internal mic. I used 2 mics and a preamp on one. ECM8000 w/ Art V3, and SM-57. Close mic w/ 57 and 2 feet away with ecm. No sim.

Will post an internal mic test today for comparisons.

[dyuob]

Pre amping makes a big difference in the sound, doesn't it!
I am starting to warm up to this little machine, it gets more and more fun every day!

[junplugged]

Test of internal mic. Just a quick jam 2 tracks 12 bar blues based.

The original .wav and mp3 volumes were really low.

I went back and remixed them using the Mastering buttons.

I used "power" button on this one and acutally got the levels up.

You can tell, this is not my genre. Testing, this is just a test.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/...d=2151&alid=-1

Liking the machine tho...

[TNO]

Hard to believe the internal mic sounds that good. I'm currently using a minidisc to capture ideas but with the MR-8 it would be easy to get the basic idea down, then layer up a few tracks to fill it out.

[clifchamb]

Originally posted by TNO
Hard to believe the internal mic sounds that good. I'm currently using a minidisc to capture ideas but with the MR-8 it would be easy to get the basic idea down, then layer up a few tracks to fill it out.

It does sound very good. Almost like the recordings with the external mic. Bringing me closer to purchasing the MR8!




clif

[mrx]

I had the switch in the wrong place tonight and was picking up sounds from the internal mic - it was picking up conversations across the room like they were close-mic'ed. Great little box!

[junplugged]

Yea, I'm suprised how good the internal is. I only use it for scratch song ideas. As far as multitracking an ensemble thing virtual or real, I don't know if this is gonna cut it. There's no track outputs and effects return or, actually, any inputs for any tracks. Just two inputs that automatically get routed/assigned to what the recorder is doing. No external bouncing, no outboard gear, no inerts. Very basic. But for me, I'm not needing that now. And if i were to add a bass or other stuff, what if i wanted to remove some eq from the other tracks to make room for the bass? I couldn't do it unless I imported the wave files to pc software and then eq'd it from there.

But for now, for me, i'm doing solo acoustic stuff and i want the wide freq's to come on the tracks. I do have some minor eq with the preamping, mic modeling, and Mastering buttons, but that's lmited.

If i had to eq on pc for every session, i'd just get a better sound card, software, and do it all on PC.

Ok MR-8 users, where's your tunes?

[digitcallous]

I did this tune to learn how to use my MR-8. I was anxious to get it together so the playing is real sloppy, so don't trash me too badly.

This involved a total of 10 different track takes, so several of them had to be mixed down a couple of times. The song is an old Yardbirds song, except mine is "For Your Love (the twisted mix)."

http://home.attbi.com/~kitn13/music/lov.mp3

[mrx]

Some users might think the lack of routing and eq is a problem, but it's so cool to be able to move WAVs to a PC without the hassle of other products, and use some of the great tools available there.

Has anyone used Audacity? It's an "open source" (free) audio edittor that the creators want to expand into a full fledged multitrack application.

It's interesting that the guitar effects on the MR-8 are so bad, but I hit the mastering buttons last night and could not believe how great they made the whole mix sound!

Can't wait to post some examples of what we are working on!

[dyuob]

I was telling a friend of mine that in regards to eq'ing, I'm learning more about mic placement and acoustics with this machine than I ever did with the Tascam 244, (which had a great parametric eq) and as far as effects send and return, heck, if I want to use one, I just plug into it and then into the MR8, but, I find I'm worrying less about cool "sounds" and more about what I'm playing, sooooo, my playing has already improved greatly. I just hope that they aren't really "flawed" as I am getting very attached to it. The MR8 has been exactly what i needed, in a very affordable package.

[mrx]

Great point - one of my singers commented last night how this really makes her think about phrasing, etc. So many of these units pack in features that perpetuate the notion that "I can fix it in the mix." The MR-8 really "tells it like it is!"

[junplugged]

it is easy to use. and with such nice sound quality, i want to use it and i'm coming up with more tracks/ideas than before.

What's the deal with all the numbers for the tracks?

I have mr80001.wav, 1.8 megs
mr8002 same
mr8002 up to 3 meg
mr8004 same
mr8005 is 12 mb
same up to mr80008
9 and 10 are only 1.6 mb
11 and 12 are 12.8 mb
then i have s7.ad. and s7.bak
(s7 is my song name)

i recorded tks 1&2 then 3&4 then mixed them to 5&6
so why do i have 12 tracks waves?

too tired to play them all on pc now, i'll throw this out there and look deeper tmw when eyes work again....

[digitcallous]

I'm sure some of them are "undo" tracks. If you go to 'song' menu and do a 'delete unused' I believe the extra tracks will be gone.

The WAV file for my 3:45 minute song is over 28 Mbytes. If you have a chance, listen to it and see what you think.

DC