4-channel playback device. RELIABLE

[11miles]

I need one, and dont know all the options.
MY bnad needs it to play all the loops in the song.
SOme arpeggioos, backing vocals, weird noises,... are all set in sync in the perfect timing in the song.
So i need a device that i could record that into, with stereo image(2 channels) plus one for the drummers click. He has to play everything in click for the idea to work.
So i need a device that would play 3 channels separately. Loops in stereo and click(mono).
And one more so the drummer can have the orignial song. He has this thing...
i dont know. He says, if he has to listen to click for the whole cncerts let him have a bit of music.
SO i say way not, have the whole song that is already recorded in studio.

Anyway the way i say it i have some options.
For now a simple mini disc deck was sufficient. Stereo uot, one to d-box and PA, another into drummers ear.Actually he re-routed the submix from hte monitor line back into this small behringer 4 channel mixer, mixing the click line, the loop, from what went to PA, and some of his drumms, kick, and hi-hat, i dont know!

Anyway, our ambitions are growing faster than our budget, but anyway.
I want the loops to be stereo, click, and the song in original, for the drummer.


SO what i need is a 4 channel recorder device, that is very reliable!
No Laptop ideas, please.
We cant afford any technical help onstage to operate the laptop, and the drummer wants to start and to control the thing.
And i would not rely on a comp onstage.
Ugh, the thought of something lagging...

Any normal stereo device is also not an option, because of only 2 outputs.
So, there is ADAT, 8 channel, but thats tape. In case something goes wrong fast rewinf on tapes just anit fast enough!

DVD, 5.1 output, would that work?
I am looking at some MINI DISC 4 channel recorder.
SONY MDM model. Any comments on that.

Any ideas?

 

[xstatic]

What about an older 8 channel hard disc recorder? I know Fostex makes some. I have seen a lot of old Akai 12 tracks in touring Broadway road show rigs as well.

 

[11miles]

Well a good thing about this mini disc is that you can operate singel channel while playing. Eq,... just like a mixer.

Dont know if you can do that with the sole hard disk, you need a mikser along, right!

But thanks for the tip i will look into it!

Any other possibilities?

 

[adamcorrell]

I would check out a Fostex D-80 on ebay. They can be had for $100-200 depending on the condition and hard drive size.

 

[11miles]

Yes i am into the hard drive too.
Thanks for suggesting!


How reliable is that really?
What could go possibli wrong!
I mean on stage with the hard disk?

 

[xstatic]

They are pretty reliable. MD seems like a good option though because it seems a lot more feasible to have MD bachup discs with you then even one hard drive.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Well, you need 4 channels, but it all has to get mixed to 2 for the drummer's headphones, right? My Korg PXR4 Pandora would rock at that job. It's got a built in metronome, so you can set and adjust the click, you get 4 tracks with separate faders and a master fader. You can send anything you want into it by line in. You don't need to use high resolution for the tracks, so a 128mb card would give you plenty of playback time. It fits in the palm of your hand, and what the hell? you could even use it as a recorder!- Novel idea.-Richie