Any Fostex FD-8 users lurking?

[Titanship]

I want to link to FD-8's together, or and FD-8 and an FD-4. Any advise/do's/dont's to offer? Thanks for any response.

Titan

[JR#97]

Linking the FD-8 to another FD-8 or FD-4 would be simple. Midi in to the other Midi out to have them synced. Audio connections done to suit your needs. Set one FD-8 to master, the other to slave and you're in business.

[Titanship]

Thanks JR, Do you use an FD-8?

Titan

[A Reel Person]

It sounds really bright and good clarity, but I'm less than thrilled with it's design and features.

The A/B AUX OUTs, [either/or configuration] are rather lame, as compared to an actual dual Aux Out.

The INPUT/TRK MONITOR, [either/or configuration], is less desirable than other cue monitors I've seen.

I don't like the FD-4's backlit LCD display, as much as other designs.

I don't like as much being on an external disc setup, Syquest EZ-Flyer 230, with no internal disc [factory installed upgrade], but somehow I prefer removable media, anyway.

I wish the FD-4 might have had a cartridge drive/removable media embedded in it, like the Tascam 564 and Yamaha MD-4, 'cept not ATRAC encoded Minidisc.

I'd envision the Fostex to need something like Iomega or Syquest 1Gb uncompressed/pc format discs, removable media.

Of course, if they geared Minidisc to record 16/44.1, uncompressed pc-format data, then MD would be acceptable too. I estimate the raw MD data space to be capable of holding about 14 minutes per disc, at uncompressed 16/44.1, for the 140mb Minidisc. Of course, that development will never occur.

I've scoped the inside of the FD-4, hoping for a quick & easy internal hard disc upgrade, but it turns out the connector is not even on the board. I'd have to get the right connector & solder it on myself, before the FD-4 would accept an internal disc. Or, have Fostex do the HDD upgrade.

Overall, it's a clean, functional unit, the features of which I'm not 100% pleased with, but just based on sound quality, I am very pleased. It's as easy to use as any portastudio-like clone should be.

Ditto, the MTC sync. Although I've not done sync with two Fostexes, I've synced the Fostex FD-4 to the Tascam 564. Using the handy master/slave function of MTC on these units is a low-budget way of doubling your soundtrack capacity. Plus, if you really like the FD- series, you'll have twice the fun with two of them!

It's a really great sounding recorder, and features are good, but not topnotch like Tascam's. However, for the price, you can't beat it.

FD-4 & FD-8, alike.

Rock on!

PS: Catch my two FD4-recorded covers, over at:

http://www.nowhereradio.com/davemania/singles

... as well as lots of non-FD4 stuff. Thanx!

[JR#97]

Originally posted by Titanship
Thanks JR, Do you use an FD-8?

Titan

Yup. I bought one last year used off of Ebay as a quick and easy mobile recorder. Then I picked up the Fostex VM200 digital mixer so I could record 8 tracks at a time via the ADAT optical. I also use the VM200 as a hardware controller for my PC. Be sure to post any tunes you record.

[A Reel Person]

WTG JR#97, on getting the VM200, to use the FD-8 to its fullest utility. As I've said before, I've scoped out & contemplated getting an FD-8, on many occasions.

In general, 2-simul-max record function is enough for me, most of the time, so the FD-'s standard 2-simul-max is fine for most things. If I were to need more than 2-simul-record, then I have other recorders,... you may have heard.

I'll say again, that the FD-4/8 are really clean & functional units, with excellent sound quality, & portastudio-like ease of use. They're both going for reasonable bids, and are a great value in a recorder/portastudio-like device. Features are good, not topnotch, but for the money you can hardly beat 'em.

[JR#97]

Originally posted by A Reel Person
WTG JR#97, on getting the VM200, to use the FD-8 to its fullest utility. As I've said before, I've scoped out & contemplated getting an FD-8, on many occasions.

In general, 2-simul-max record function is enough for me, most of the time, so the FD-'s standard 2-simul-max is fine for most things. If I were to need more than 2-simul-record, then I have other recorders,... you may have heard.

I'll say again, that the FD-4/8 are really clean & functional units, with excellent sound quality, & portastudio-like ease of use. They're both going for reasonable bids, and are a great value in a recorder/portastudio-like device. Features are good, not topnotch, but for the money you can hardly beat 'em.

I agree, Dave. I think had they made the FD8 with onboard storage at first, they would have had more success. For beginners, I think the FD series is a lot better than the MR8. An analog mixer section is a lot easier to learn on for the beginner. And for doing live work, it's a lot quicker to reach up and tweak a knob than it is to try and go through a few menues.

[turntablist]

The mr-8 is most definetley not for live mixing.

[Titanship]

When linking to machines, during regular recording/playback, how do you aquire the output of both machines? Likewise, how do you get a digital mix? How do you route both signals to one DAT or CD recorder?

Titan

[A Reel Person]

Your digitally recorded tracks are mixed down through an analog-style mixer. Period. That's why they class this type of unit at "hybrids". Digital recorder/analog mixer.

[Titanship]

Reel,
Thanks for your reply. I know the mixer section is analog. What I mean't in my question is: If I have 2 machines linked together, how do I get the output of the 2 machines(fd-8's) to the input of 1 machine (marantz cd recorder)?

You dig?

titan

[A Reel Person]

In the case of linking up two machines with MTC, you'd simply patch the OUT's of one machine to the IN's of the other machine , and link the L/R BUSS/LINE OUTs and MONITOR sections that way.

Bridge the functions & outputs of the two units with RCA cables. The signals are then "summed" the old fashioned way, in the analog domain. One mixer will serve as master [fader] to the outside world for both units, when linked.

That's the answer you were looking for, I think.

[Titanship]

Thanks Reel. That sounds like it makes sense. I'll try it when I get my other fd-8.

titan