Newbie considering pro gear - DA-38+

[sdorange]

Hey Folks,

I'm taking the plunge and getting my first recording gear, and like a good net surfer, thought I'd ask some experts to weigh in.

Bottom line, if I want to spend $500 or less, I've thus far concluded the best bang for the buck is a Tascam DA-38 with separate mixer. Here's why:

I've looked at analog 4-trackers, and concluded the Tascam 414 would be a minimum for doing what I want to do, which is: #1 create rhythm tracks with guitar, bass, and drum machine, #2 get a hobby band going. Anything with less than four inputs is probably not going to cut it for the band thing.

But if a 414 goes for $249, why not go to ~$300 and get an 8-track Fostex MR-8? Or a 4-track Boss BR-532? Then I'd be digital, but with only 2 inputs! And then I figure that for equal money, the quality on the low-end digital would get me better sound quality if I went analog. So that would be a 424mkII or mk III, at around $329 new.

But for the same price as a 424, I could shop eBay for used gear, and (if lucky) get a DA-38 for around $325-$350. I'd be without a mixer, but then we're talking only another $150-$200. So for around $500, this would give me excellent sound quality for home studio projects, solid band gear for recording anything from practices to killer demos, and good resale for another 2-3 years. All that, and without dealing with hard drives and software, etc. So why should I spend $250 for an analog 4-track with 2-band eq????

On the surface this may sound like overkill, but anything less means less inputs and inferior sound quality. Otherwise, I may as well get a Porta 01 and just stick to recording practices and weak rhythms.

Does this make sense, or am I missing something?

Much thanks in advance,
-- Scott

[Brad]

Hey Scott,

I really have no suggestions as to what to get - you are doing your homework, and that is good. All I can say is that probably 99% of the people here (all people who record, for that matter) graduate to better/more gear after you get your first rig. You don't have to get the best thing right off the bat. I would even suggest looking into using your computer as a DAW; you might not ever outgrow that (you don't outgrow a DAW, you just upgrade and upgrade and upgrade...)

I also want to add that a DA-38 for $325-$350 is the steal of a lifetime. I have never seen one that cheap. If they are selling for that price now, I am way out of the loop.

Good luck and welcome to the board. Check out this BBS re: certain pieces of gear - there is a lot of help here waiting for you.


Brad

[Downside Studio]

Originally posted by Brad

I also want to add that a DA-38 for $325-$350 is the steal of a lifetime. I have never seen one that cheap. If they are selling for that price now, I am way out of the loop.

Brad

check for hours !!

If it is over 1500 be aware, you'll have to replace the heads soon.

A couple of thing about the tascam DTRS recorders....

Never use the official cleaning tape because it is pure destruction for the heads. (one time use stands for -50 hours of headusage!)

Tascam states that a machine should be serviced every 500 hours, and average lifetime of the heads is 1000 hours.......i've got 5 machines that each have over 1500 hours usage without any dropouts of problems (smoke-free commercial studio) Big unpartial Tascam service centre says normal heads shold last for 2500-3000 hours (only first machines should be 1500)