I'll buy the Akai DPS12i! No, the Fostex VF16! No, the Tascam 788! No, er - help!

D

Daniele

New member
I've saved up enough money to buy a digital hard-disk based multitracker (I won't buy a new Mac after all).

I have four machines on my shortlist: the Akai DPS12i, Fostex VF16, Tascam 788, Korg D16.

The Korg is just that little bit too expensive for me. The Tascam looks like a great machine, but will only record on 4 tracks at once, which will make live recordings trickier. So I think I will have to choose between the Akai and the Fostex. The Fostex has a few more tracks (and records on 8 instead of 6) but the Akai seems to have earned a loyal following and a great reputation. Neither machine appears to have any serious shortcomings. Which would you prefer? And are there any pressing reasons why I should not rule out the other two?

Now, effects: I never used *any* electronic effects with my old equipment. I've had a TEAC A3340 4-track reel-to-reel for 15 years, and I designed and built a large collection of devices out of things like cardboard tubes, damaged speaker cones and so on for that purpose. The closest thing I had to an effects unit was the circuitry of an ancient valve-powered reel-to-reel. Any treatments I applied were done at the time the track was laid. It will be nice to play with on-board effects with great ease, though I doubt there'll be one called "guitar amp behind shut bathroom door" or "microphone touching speaker cone". One effect I *would* like to have is half-speed recording, which I found very useful. Should I be aware of any important deficiencies or features in the effects units of the machines I'm considering?

Any suggestion, opinions or advice greatly welcomed.

Daniele
 
Personally I'd say, maybe take another look at the tascam. The akai 12 and the fostex only record at 16bit. The one thing that really bugs me about the tascam is that it has no digital input.

-Jett Rocker
 
I have the 788, and have to say that it's a fabulous machine. You can record up to 6 tracks at once. If it's live you're looking for, this may not be the way to go, unless you submix. I'd go for the VF16 in that case, but for anything else, the 788 more than gets the job done.
 
Fostex would be my last choice. I started out with a Roland VS-880EX. After 2 years, I bought the new Akia DPS16. If you can save up 2 grand, that's what I would buy. You can go to Akia site and check out the specs. The only problem with this deck is its lack of effects. Athough it has 44 that are all able to be edited by the user, there just isn't enough selections. Other than that, I love this deck, and having enough tracks at once won't be a problem. You have 8 analog + 2 digital and the deck is 16 or 24 hz. If your really serious about going digital, don't buy something just because you don't have the money right now for what you really want or need. You'll be sorry later. There are deals out there like at Musicians Friend. Give them what you've got saved up and charge the rest. Just pay it off quick.
 
Yo Daniele: [ I have a cousin in Rome named the same.]

If you pick up the latest issue of Electronic Musician, [I just got mine today 1/22/01, there is a great review on the Fostex recorder -- it isn't all that the ads say it is. Check out this article. It kind of cuts through the glow of positive advertising and the real truth of the product.


Adio,

Green Hornet
 
c7sus,

On my DPS16, I can see everything I want to edit, including all my waveforms on all tracks at once or one at a time. I would have to guess that you havn't seen (up close and personal) a DPS16. If not, check it out. Big screen and even adjustment for screen brightness.
 
c7sus,

Sorry, I thought we were taking about recording, not porn. Anyway, To each his own. I can still see what I'm editing and I don't need the porn. I'm more interested in making good music, not drooling on my keyboard.

Boardman.
 
If you use Akai's MESA software you can edit with your PC.

I have used it a couple of times and even though the DPS16's screen is big and clear, it is easier looking at a 19in monitor.;)

Lately I have been using my PC exclusively for porn, and editing exclusively on my recorder.:) The only problem is I have to keep getting new keyboards:D
 
I've been looking at a similar range on MTRs to buy and would appreciate some advice.

boardman.... Why would the Fostex be your last choice?

Green Hornet.... can you outline the major weaknesses noted in the article you mentioned. I don't have access to the Electronic Musician, and their web site doesn't have this month's articles yet.

Many TIA,
Rob
 
robca,

Fostex just isn't that great. I've owned Tascam, Yamaha, Teac, Roland, Akia and Fostex recorders. The fostex was the weakest of the bunch. If you're looking for the best deck for the money, the Akia DPS16 is the way to go. I've got one and it's killer. I upgraded from a roland vs-880ex.
 
I'd drop the 788 on specs alone.
C7sus.. Yeah, I love my Dell 19 Trinitron monitor too.
She's been on for nearly three years and still looks great.
 
Equipment does not perform well or not based on specs (alone). It all depends on whether or not it gets the job done. We as consumers have become too spec based. Try the gear out before you buy it, see if you're comfortable with it (or can BE comfortable with it), and see if it does what you need now and for the foreseeable future.
Good Luck!
 
C7SUS,

I know there are alot of people in home recording that are going to pc or mac based recording. In the pro studios that are running say pro tools, that's not all they have. They still record to a deck of some sort, whether it be analog or digital. If computer based recording is what you're into, them stay with it, but for the money in software and hardware required to get a product of good to great quality, it's going to cost some major bucks. The nice thing about a hard disk work station like the Akia DPS16 or the other brands out there is that if you want to use both, you can. I have a DPS16 and I can record tracks on it and then dump them into my computer and edit with a number of different brands of software. I don't because I have all I need in the deck or with my outboard gear, but I could if need be. And the cost and is far less and the ease of using conventional recording and mixing makes the learning curve much shorter. I guess it's that old thing of personal taste. I have a p3 800, 256 ram, sound blaster live extreme, voodoo 4500 video, 17" monitor, burner, 40 gig hd, the works, and I still wouldn't use my pc for recording. I just like the feel of real knobs and the control I have while recording that I just can't get with a computer based system only.

aliengroover said it pretty good. Companies and their marketing programs have programed us as consumers to think that because they "say" there equipment has the best specs, we believe them and now we tend to base everything on specs. Well, not me, screw the specs, how does it sound, do I like it, and will it do what I want now and in the future. That's all I need to know.

boardman
 
I also finally have the cash to get a multitracker and after reading this post have decided on the Akai 12i. Man, there is so many options it makes my head spin.
I also decided on the Lexicon MPX-1 and the Event 20/20bas monitors. That brings me up to the 3000 dollars or so that I have to spend.
If anyone sees anything wrong with my choices speak now or forever hold your piece. I would have bought something a cupla years ago but could decide on what to get.

davem
 
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