Can someone explain in easy terms the main alternatives for digital recording?
The way I understand it there is 3 alternatives:
1. Roland VS1680 or equivalent,i.e. all in one box. Does this mean that all my analog effect racks are useless (assuming I buy the effects card) Also, how do you mix down? Do you have to use 2 of the 16 tracks so you really only have 14? Given that all the controls are accessible one track at a time on the screen, you really don't have any "physical" controls (except fader), only volume, not even pan pot? Isn't this a negative, especially for straight live mixing where you're busy with your instruments and don't want to be bothered with interacting with the screen?
2. A Digital mixing board and a digital recording device (computer or adat). This seems like a better alternative for live playing (it offers physical controls) but what about effects? Do you then need to buy a whole bunch of racks? Can my existing analog racks be inserted? Isn't this a more flexible alternative than 1) yet you don't lose any functionality? Is the cost higher for same quality? Does the mixing board truly act as a standalone mixing board for live gigs?
3) Full computer-based recording.
I don't totally understand where to draw the line between 2) and 3). Can you do computer recording without a "physical" digital mixing board? Does that mean that the mixing board is 100% on the computer display and controlled with a mouse? What about effects? How do you funnel 16 inputs into the computer for live performance (without recording)? This seems like maybe the most powerful for recording, but the least friendly for live playing?
Also, is there typical effects that are of better quality as analog? Are there effects that have to be "in-line" such as noise gates and compressors before getting into the board?
I guess lots of questions. What I'm solving for is a system that is truly digital quality with a nice physical console for no-hassle live playing. What are the cost implications?
Any suggestions?
Sorry about the length...
The way I understand it there is 3 alternatives:
1. Roland VS1680 or equivalent,i.e. all in one box. Does this mean that all my analog effect racks are useless (assuming I buy the effects card) Also, how do you mix down? Do you have to use 2 of the 16 tracks so you really only have 14? Given that all the controls are accessible one track at a time on the screen, you really don't have any "physical" controls (except fader), only volume, not even pan pot? Isn't this a negative, especially for straight live mixing where you're busy with your instruments and don't want to be bothered with interacting with the screen?
2. A Digital mixing board and a digital recording device (computer or adat). This seems like a better alternative for live playing (it offers physical controls) but what about effects? Do you then need to buy a whole bunch of racks? Can my existing analog racks be inserted? Isn't this a more flexible alternative than 1) yet you don't lose any functionality? Is the cost higher for same quality? Does the mixing board truly act as a standalone mixing board for live gigs?
3) Full computer-based recording.
I don't totally understand where to draw the line between 2) and 3). Can you do computer recording without a "physical" digital mixing board? Does that mean that the mixing board is 100% on the computer display and controlled with a mouse? What about effects? How do you funnel 16 inputs into the computer for live performance (without recording)? This seems like maybe the most powerful for recording, but the least friendly for live playing?
Also, is there typical effects that are of better quality as analog? Are there effects that have to be "in-line" such as noise gates and compressors before getting into the board?
I guess lots of questions. What I'm solving for is a system that is truly digital quality with a nice physical console for no-hassle live playing. What are the cost implications?
Any suggestions?
Sorry about the length...