Selling my computer and recording different! HELP!!!!!

[RBrez]

Any suggestions on this, I'm getting tired of recording thru my computer, I'm looking at a VF 80 or something along those lines, something under 1500$! WIll you tell a difference in quality of sound? Is it easier to record thru a DAW?? What do ya'll think, I'm getting tired of all this, I think I'm ready to do it a different way......... Give me some pro's and con's ya'll, I need help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jcorliss]

the VF160 ... 16 tracks, 8 simultaneous and effects to mix as well.... save the computer for burning your cd's though.

God bless, Jim

[morindae]

Well you could try what I do, which is to track on the MR8 and then do all my editing in the computer. I get the best of both worlds doing it this way. All the advantages of using a stand alone recorder, and then using the power of the pc for effects etc.
The MR8 is cheap and sounds good. IMHO, the computer is better for editing, it really isn't user friendly when it comes to tracking. If you want something more sophisticated take a look at the Akai multitrackers, I hear they're excellent.

[bluesbear]

It is easier to record using a digital recorder than a computer in my opinion. Me and my music buddy used to use Cubase on a PC to record. Something would always go wrong. Clicks, pops, snags,
crappy yet expensive plug-in effects drove us crazy. When mixes got complex the computer would run out of juice even with the beafiest Wintel PCs.
He settled with and Akai DPS16 recoder and never looked back.
Things to look for when buying a recorder:
- Number of inputs that can be recorded at the same time. How many do you need?
- Does it have the ability to bus external effect racks? At some point you will get tired of the effects and you can't just add a plug-in like in coputer world.
- Does it have decent mic-preamps? You need to listen to them.
- Can you back up your files via CDR, SCSI, USB or SPDIF port?
- Ease of use is a real issue. Settings can be buried six nine levels deep into menus like some of the BOSS units do.

Go to a music store and dink with digital recorders. You can get
a hang of them really quick.

I have found that Yamaha, Korg and Akai make some of the best sounding units out there. Anything in the $1K and up range will be very decent and usable. Budget units like the VF80 can be very limiting in the number of tracks and quality of effects.

[RBrez]

What about this.?? What's the difference between a standalone recorder and a digital workstation? Check this picture...???? Do you basically just hook the mic up and roll or wassup!!!!

[Axe4Yahweh]

I'm with morindae on this one. I bought a VF-160 basically Track and transfer tracks to the puter for polishing. I have found all kinds of different ways to use the VF-160/PC together since I got it though.

I love this setup!

CR ><>

[travis16vp]

Check out korg products. Really good effects. easy to use. large screen. touch screen for the 16 tracks.

http://www.korg.co.uk/main.htm
http://www.korgboards.com/forums/default.asp

you can hear samples on korgboards.

[morindae]

RBrez, I think that the digital workstation is something you attach to the computer so that you have some real knobs and buttons with which to control the software in the computer. A multitracker, or stand alone recorder is something like the MR8 or the VF160.

[billisa]

The Vf80 is a great machine, and with a built in CDR, you may never go near a computer again. I would suspect detailed, very involved editing would be easier on a computer, but for portability, reliability and consistently clean sound, the VF80 is a bargain. If you must have more than 2-track at once recording, then get a VF160 (a VF80 on steroids). But again, with the VF160, get the built-in CDR. Like on the VF80, you can internally burn full back-ups or Audio CD's (plus import audio, etc).

Personally, a laptop would be a cool way to go, but it might be necessary to use one that is ONLY used for recording, hence no conlict problems with other software.

If you go with a stand alone machine, there are TONS of great options, with it difficult to find a "bad" machine. The technology is great! By the way, the VF160 isn't priced that much higher than a VF80, but it is significantly bigger, therefore harder to carry around.