Why record with a computer when there are all-in-one portastudios?

[heatmiser]

I imagine you've already plotzed about this unit but I missed it so what the hell is that thing to the left?
Is that a cassette based recorder that does a zillion channels?
It looks awesome!!

That is a Tascam 688 8 track cassette recorder/mixer. It's a beast. Probably 50lbs or so. I think it was the most badass cassette "porta"studio ever. I loved that thing, but it doesn't see so much use now. In three years of heavy use, I didn't even scratch the surface of what it can do.

And Armistice, I'm glad your new setup is working well for you. It sounds pretty sweet, although I have to confess there was a small part of me that was hoping you'd find you missed the old Yamaha when I read that you made the switch.

Same with rami, as I don't detect any regret on his part about moving from a 2488 to reaper.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

I would love to have just one unit, do everything I wanted. I don't even care if it was $25,000. I would find a way to buy that. Problem is, we have to use what we have at this point...

iZ Radar 6

 

[RAMI]

Same with rami, as I don't detect any regret on his part about moving from a 2488 to reaper.

Yeah, other than the slight sentimentality, I can do everything and WAY MORE recording into my PC. It doesn't affect things like tracking, but there is no comparison between how easy it is to edit on a PC vs. a stand a lone.

I loved my 2488, and took a long time to let myself move to PC. I did it in baby steps. First, I kept recording on my 2488, but them would move a single track at a time into my PC to add compression or EQ, for example. Then I'd bring that file back into the 2488.
Next step, I still recorded into the 2488, but moved all my tracks into PC to mix.
Final step, do everything in the PC.

I wish I had done it sooner, but I think it was an easier transition the way I did it.

 

[heatmiser]

Yeah, other than the slight sentimentality, I can do everything and WAY MORE recording into my PC. It doesn't affect things like tracking, but there is no comparison between how easy it is to edit on a PC vs. a stand a lone.

I loved my 2488, and took a long time to let myself move to PC. I did it in baby steps. First, I kept recording on my 2488, but them would move a single track at a time into my PC to add compression or EQ, for example. Then I'd bring that file back into the 2488.
Next step, I still recorded into the 2488, but moved all my tracks into PC to mix.
Final step, do everything in the PC.

I wish I had done it sooner, but I think it was an easier transition the way I did it.

Damn. It sounds like kicking smack or something!

 

[futuredays]

I've been doing this since 4 track cassette days. I moved up to an Akai DPS16 recorder and later to PC. I prefer the PC for all the same reasons being mentioned here. I now use Superior Drummer for my drum tracks so I doubt I would ever go back to a standalone recorder. But honestly, outside of the drum tracks, everything I'm doing could be done on my old DPS16.

 

[Armistice]

Yeah, other than the slight sentimentality, I can do everything and WAY MORE recording into my PC. It doesn't affect things like tracking, but there is no comparison between how easy it is to edit on a PC vs. a stand a lone.

I loved my 2488, and took a long time to let myself move to PC. I did it in baby steps. First, I kept recording on my 2488, but them would move a single track at a time into my PC to add compression or EQ, for example. Then I'd bring that file back into the 2488.
Next step, I still recorded into the 2488, but moved all my tracks into PC to mix.
Final step, do everything in the PC.

I wish I had done it sooner, but I think it was an easier transition the way I did it.

In answer to heat's question, I made the switch in a similar fashion to that which RAMI's described above, only as a non-drummer, I was doing drum tracks in Addictive / Reaper on the PC then flying them back as a stereo track (after burning to a CD - what a PITA that was) into the Yamaha. That got really tiresome when I decided the snare was 1 db too loud or soft, I can tell you!

Then I did an instrumental track and used some VSTi synths, piano and drums and flew both of them back - and thought, "I could never in a million years have actually played that piano part, but relatively simple to program via Reaper midi editor... mebbe it's time to jump" then when I got the system all together, the first recording I made was far and away the best recording I've done - no contest, and had me thinking "why did I wait so long?"

Bristol Posse's point about the potential for time suckage is a good one - there are a million plug ins to choose from and so you end up comparing 6 compressors on a track and getting into conversations about them, but you get over that - and I've never been an equipment junky - whatever works! - so I've settled down into a routine with things that I like and I refuse to try any more unless there's a compelling reason to do so...

Onwards!

 

[Doctor Varney]

First, dood, please quit feeding into the form of 'PC is the cause of all problems'. I am really starting to get annoyed by your judgment about PC's. People read your comments as truth, and they are far from it. You need to let go of your issues, and realize that you just had a bad experience, with the one you started with.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry you feel that way, "dood". Perhaps you ought to run this past others who have expressed the same sentiments as me? Perhaps I'm the one who should be annoyed at your judgements and the way you single me out? Except I do have rather too much on my mind to worry about this any more. I'm not even sure you've read my posts thoroughly. Seems to me, you pick out what you don't agree with out of context. You know my position and hopefully, now my solution, which makes certain use of the PC?

Perhaps what I need to let go of most, is this forum... and the attitudes within it. If you feel so inclined, please feel free...

 

[Doctor Varney]

And Doc ...... it was just a year or two ago that you came on this site knowing absolutely nothing ..... I remember very well your early posts asking about the very most basic things.

So you haven't suddenly become an expert and should not be making statements about things that you don't understand in such a definitive way. You might scare off newbies or even more experienced guys that are considering going 'puter with your condemnation of PC's because they might not understand that you don't know what you're talking about.

People make their own decisions in the end. I have received bad advice from this forum as well as good but always seek a second opinion and I see no point in bothering people with that. I assume others are independently minded enough to seek more than one opinion. If you feel that strongly about it, then counter it with your own advice.

 

[RAMI]

Perhaps what I need to let go of most, is this forum... and the attitudes within it.

Promise? Your case is not common.Yes, others have similar problems, but in any forum, the people that express having issues will far out-number the people not having problems. Nobody goes on an autonotive forum to say his car is running fine, so we'll only read about the negative. So, your "issues" are a very small minority. Most people "DON'T have problems recording on PC.

It doesn'thelp that you build your own computers. Pretty sure you're not qualified to do that. Or if you do, don't complain when things don't work on them.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Varney, you know I've been happy to try to help if and where I can, but I'm afraid I have to line up behind Jimmy here.

I mean, I hate microsoft products with a passion, but I'm open minded enough to realise that their products suit hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people.

Two people on here who describe almost flawless setups are Jim and Bobbsy, and I know first hand that both of them put the research and thought into their setups. They also spent the money.

Now, that in itself is the reason I prefer apple products and mac OS.
You don't really have to think when picking your system, but that's irrelevant.

The point is that neither platform is incessantly problematic by it's nature.
If your computer is incessantly problematic then something is wrong.
Something is physically broken, badly matched, not using the right drivers, or just being driven by the blind.

I mean, think of the issues you had and then ask yourself how multibillion dollar corporations rely on machines like this on a day to day basis.
Sorry man.

 

[Doctor Varney]

Promise?

Already let go of one thing. Only one left to go...

Your case is not common.

My case is common enough.

Yes, others have similar problems,

Others have identical problems.

but in any forum, the people that express having issues will far out-number the people not having problems. Nobody goes on an autonotive forum to say his car is running fine, so we'll only read about the negative. So, your "issues" are a very small minority. Most people "DON'T have problems recording on PC.

I appreciate your reasoning but have you got any statistics to back this up? Your summing up goes only as far as this forum, unfortunately. I'm not saying you're wrong, just asking you if you can account for all those who go elsewhere, other than this forum. Interesting that when the question is asked, they seem to pop out of the woodwork.

It doesn'thelp that you build your own computers. Pretty sure you're not qualified to do that. Or if you do, don't complain when things don't work on them.

That depends on far too many variables for you to make that judgement from where you are sitting. I could explain why, if I had the time, or I liked you. But I don't... either of those things. Plus, I am the one who has got it all fixed up and working now. So I can't be as bad as you're making out, if I've managed to solve the issues by my own efforts. Sorry, but we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

Anyway, I didn't want to start an argument about this. I merely posted to state my preference and my solution, as per the question in the title. Which works for me. I don't see any point in scratching away at this any more. I'm sure we both have better things to do.

 

[RAMI]

Well, you'd make an interesting, yet very un-convincing lawyer.

Your case, besides being hilariously comical, is a very small exception. I don't have numbers to back that up, but neither do you. Common sense would determine that I'm right. Since you have no common sense, I don't expect you to be able to grasp that. Keep complaining, I'm sure it makes you feel better. It's a great way to cover incompetence.

 

[Steenamaroo]

I've managed to solve the issues by my own efforts. Sorry, but we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

Maybe I missed an update but what was the problem in the end? This is the BSOD machine, right?

 

[Lt. Bob]

People make their own decisions in the end. I have received bad advice from this forum as well as good but always seek a second opinion and I see no point in bothering people with that. I assume others are independently minded enough to seek more than one opinion. If you feel that strongly about it, then counter it with your own advice.

you have a closed mind and have repeatedly show an inability to understand and use the equipment and advice given to you.
Further ..... I have said many times in other threads AND in this one that your way of working is just as good as any other way.
And THAT is the example of the closed mind ..... the positive things people say are ignored by you and the critical things get exaggerated and overblown by you.
You wouldn't be able to do squat if it weren't for this forum ....... so don't come around here anymore if you feel you've suddenly become such an expert and BTW ..... where is the music you make since I have agreed with you many times that the thing that matters is what you do with it?

Really ..... you've found a method that works for you so why do you feel such a need to insist that your way is the best way because 'puters are terrible?
Your way is the best way for you ...... it may also be best for other people too ..... hell, I don't record to a 'puter ( another thing I've said many times which you ignore in your defensive outrage) so I'm basically with you.

But you do a disservice to others when you declare that 'puters are a big problem when you simply don't have the experience and knowledge to back that up even a little bit.
You've tried with what, one or two 'puters?
It's a disservice to beginners to present that as enough experience to make statements or give advice to others.

That's really all I'm saying although I'm sure your reaction will be to further insist that you are right and we're all meanies.
What are you ......... 12?

 

[Mr Clean]

I have a piece of shit HP P4 2.80GHz, off the shelf thing running XP Pro 32bit with 4Gb RAM. I bought it second hand off evilBay from a guy who had loads of them from a closed down business or something. I can only record 8 inputs at a time as that is all my interface and preamps I currently have allow me to do. Only ever had Reaper installed on this machine as a DAW. My latest project currently has 28 tracks and quite a few plugins running. It's sweet as!

I use it for a lot of other things as well as music. Video Encoding, Games, all general internet.....I'm on the thing now. Never had a single problem.....

We should start a "hands up everyone who doesn't have a problem with their recording pc" thread. I'll bet it'll outweigh those that have problems.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

My computers all pretty much work fine until I do something stupid, the operating systems become obsolete or they just wear out. My nine year old laptop still works pretty well but the monitor illumination went out about four years ago so I have to use an external monitor.

 

[heatmiser]

Our family has been through 3 or 4 desktops plus a laptop in the past decade alone.

I just replaced a 2 yr. old HP desktop where we'd apparently fried the motherboard? I guess that isn't good. I definitely think in our case it has to be our own fault somehow.

My kids do tend to dowload lots of free online games and stuff, and that seems to sometimes promopt unwanted instrusions and system slowness. We keep Norton up to date and and everything, but anti-virus software can probably only do so much. I think most of you would agree that if the one PC in the household is being shared by everyone, it probably doesn't also make for a great DAW platform.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Unless you physically abused the machine (dropped it, kicked it, blocked the airvents), I doubt you were responsible for a fried motherboard.

I'd wholeheartedly agree with the idea of keeping your windows box away from day to day (ab)use though.

I worked at a studio where the portable macs doubled as the owners family computers.
Man, they were a damn mess... Crap everywhere, free this, downloaded that...yada yada.

Never ever skipped a beat though. I distinctly remember thinking "Thank god he didn't pull out a dell".

 

[Mr Clean]

I wouldn't install Norton on an enemies PC. It's more of a virus than a virus. Over-rated, bloated garbage. I don't use any anti-virus. I have a hardware firewall router that does a good job. I disconnect when not using the internet. But I'm the only user and I don't install crap on my machine.

 

[Steenamaroo]

I wouldn't install Norton on an enemies PC. It's more of a virus than a virus. Over-rated, bloated garbage. I don't use any anti-virus. I have a hardware firewall router that does a good job. I disconnect when not using the internet. But I'm the only user and I don't install crap on my machine.

I'm not bang up to speed but yeah, I've never had a good experience with Norton.
If I had a lb for every time I used the wrong abbreviation......

If I had a £ for every machine that was running slow and removing Norton was the solution....
They used to ship it with machines that, in my opinion, just weren't capable.