Heylo
I have been planning on getting a combined system for over a year,
a vs880ex linked to a PC for auxillary processing/mixing and CD mastering, as well as my other music business and internet access. I've been waiting for a good Dcard for a portable and it seems they have one now.
But my point for you is that I've been watching the used market and places like the classifieds at Harmony Central (www.harmonycentral.com I think) regularly have vs880's at 1100 to 1500 US, I've seen them around other places, and in paper classifieds, and bulletin boards. So you might consider a used one to make it easier on your budget, all lot of these units probably have pretty low hours.
I'm really just starting on this myself, the folks here should be better at knowing budget alternatives that work with the VS880. That would get you going at least, and you can go with the PC when you upgrade your old PC anyway, just add a dcard when you get it and adequate software is not hard to get really, or expensive. I'm not sure, but you might not even need a dcard if you can link the vs880 to a computer via the scsii port(?) (I'm sorry, but I'm far from all my notes and the details are fuzzy, someone here should be able to answer that question) And then the VS880 is still a mixer and A/D converter. Their CDR seems overpriced, I don't know, but maybe you can dump to something else scsii based (exterior HD?) or get the CDR from a different source (I looked at one and its a standard model, forget which type). Find a friend/musician with a fast new computer who wants to get into recording/music and collaborate till you can afford your own.
You have
the VS880 and they have a computer.
I do something similiar by travelling with nothing but alot of great software on CDR, for music recording, processing, editing, and mp3 conversion; as well as my mailing list managers and graphics programs. I just load it into someone else's system when I need to work. (And sometimes I forget to erase the files when I leave )I keep my studio tracks on CD ready to load in as well. But I've had to use studios for the actual recording, a good way to learn what mikes work for me, but now I want my own system so I have the time to produce the quality recording I don't have time to do at studio prices.
But I guess my point is with a little research and some luck, you should be able to shave down the price of getting set up a lot with used and discount gear to get going. That's what I'll be doing , though I'll probably buy my diaphram mike new.
Well, I'm just starting on the same track, I'll be buying one in the next month or so when I get back to the States.
Peace
Brian / Folksinger
http://www.mp3.com/folksinger http://www.pan.com/folksinger