A little dissapointed with FOSTEX MR8 sound quality vs PC recording

[crgl]

My complaint:

I have had my MR8 for at least 8 months. Haven't use it so much but I have tried all its features ( Wave manager, etc ).
Some months ago I got a used computer ( Dell pentium II, 400Mhz with a Montego Soundcard...old ). It has line in , mic in, line out ( speakers ).

I have always assumed that apart from being portable ( an advantage I don't really use in this machine ) the Fostex MR8 should have a better sound quality because it is built for this purpose ,also shouldn't have any latency problems ( which I have not had with this computer ).

The things is that I ( maybe unconciously ) began to use the computer
( with Cakewalk ) to record some music and use less frequently the Fostex MR8.
Yesterday, I did a test.
I recorded some chords in stereo ( with Behringer X V-Amp ) to the computer and to the MR8 .
I then transferred the the two mono tracks ( left-right ) to Cakewalk to make comparisons.
To my surprise I found the recording made with the computer with more definition, crispness and brightness. ( the recording on the computer was done in 44 mhz, 16 bits and in MR8 in Normal mode ) The MR8 recording sounded less defined and I noticed a "phase" kind of effect compared to the Cakewalk recording.
I then split the stereo recording and sent it to MR8: it still sounded better in the MR8 compared to the MR8 recordings.

I did not change the signal level from the X V-Amp to record on the computer or the MR8 so I understand that the soundcard recorded the signal level better than the MR8.

Has anyone else noticed something simmilar????

 

[dave in toledo]

pc vs mr8

i have done the same test with n track instead of cakewalk.,...]


the result, the wave forms were exactly the same.... sound, exactly the same,,,

the pain in the ass award went to the pc, by the time the soundcard issues and latencey were fixed to do my test, i was pretty tired of recording into the pc,

are you shure you werent recording at 24 bit... just a thought, that will show the difference..

 

[Rokket]

are you shure you werent recording at 24 bit... just a thought, that will show the difference..

I have done the same test, and ditto the response. The mr8 is easier to record into, because like he said, it's made for that. When I bumped up to 24 bit, the response was brighter and more defined, but it ate my CPU big time. I still like my mr8. Not one problem with it in the 8 or 9 months I 've owned it.

 

[Nils K]

In my experience the MR-8 makes impeccable 16-bit recordings - if you use it right, balance the inputs correctly, use the best microphones available, preferably condenser mics with a separate 48 V phantom power (obtainable for a modest fee), and record good, strong material.

I see it as a valuable, portable extension to my n-Track based DAW setup.

I've raved about the flaws in the output and monitor circuits of the MR-8 elsewhere (Fostex discussion site), but as long as the recordings are of a 'pro' standard, I don't mind...

regards, Nils

 

[crgl]

Thanks for your responses

To Dave in Toledo:

I have a demo version of N-track to do the same test but that doesn't change that the one I already made with Cakewalk sounded better than the MR8 in the same cirscumstances ( I believe all the conditions are the same ).
..no, I am sure my PC recordings are 44.1 Khz, 16 bit but I will look for another parameter that maybe doing the difference.

To Rokket:

I don't use 24 bit for the same reasons.
I have had problems with 16 bit recording but is not frequent.

To Nils K:

I haven't recorded with microphones.
I recorded direct from Behringer X V-Amp. It is not the best amp modeler but that is not the issue here.
My complaint is that the same signal was recorded on MR8 and PC and I have found that the PC recording sounded better.
Maybe I am doing something wrong when I am recording on the MR8 but from what I learned from the manual I should turn the input level knobs just until the red led stars to flash on both channels to not overload the input. Maybe I should "overload" it a little to see if the signal records more brigthly like in the PC ( ? ).

This was my experiment:

Some chords played on my Ibanez Artcore Talman TM71 > Behringer X V-Amp amp modeler > PC line in then Fostex MR 8 inputs ( line-mic selected ).
Mr8 recording then transferred to PC and viceversa for comparison.

Thanks

 

[dave in toledo]

mr8 preamps

the preamps in the mr8 are not strong, all good recording i have heard have used a mixer or seperate preamp, and if the red light is flashing at all, it is clipping and your signal is already distorted, signal should never induce digital clipping....

i think you will find if you run into a good mic, into a mixer with PROPER gain structure you will be amazed at the difference in your recordings...especially after you move them to the pc, that is where they should really shine, if yours do not, you are doing something wrong... like no preamp and clipping....

 

[crgl]

Ok

the preamps in the mr8 are not strong, all good recording i have heard have used a mixer or seperate preamp, and if the red light is flashing at all, it is clipping and your signal is already distorted, signal should never induce digital clipping....

i think you will find if you run into a good mic, into a mixer with PROPER gain structure you will be amazed at the difference in your recordings...especially after you move them to the pc, that is where they should really shine, if yours do not, you are doing something wrong... like no preamp and clipping....

OK, that should be the answer.
My X V-Amp has a line level output, I thought that would be sufficient.
I have fed the same line output without modifications to both the PC and MR8.
Should that mean that my pc soundcard has a better preamp than MR8 ?
If you are right then I should buy all that to record better than my computer

Thanks for your response.

 

[dave in toledo]

effects box

thats a guitar processor right, (i think) what about vocals and other insturments...cant run the vocals through there .... not shure why your results are less then expected but i bet you willfigure it out and fill us all in i hope....

 

[crgl]

Yes, the X V-Amp is ( very cheap $69 ) guitar processor similar to the V-Amp 2 ( like the POD ).
It lets me record directly to the PC or MR8 without all the miking, etc.,etc.
The product of the recording is something I am satisfied with ( it's a hobby ).

I do record my Alesis QS7 synth direct. Have to check on that for comparisons. I have not recorded vocals. I tried once the microphone that came with my MR8, Nady 9,.. not good.

Again, I was very surprised about my findings on the differences in quality of the recordings. I have had other people hear both recordings and they also think that the one the computer made is better.
I will make other tests to improve the MR8 recording and will let you know about my findings.

 

[dave in toledo]

good luck

to me there is nothing like the sound of a good guitar, through a nice amp, with a sm 57 micing the cab, run through a mixer into the mr8...... when you do eventually try it, youll like it, run your processor into your amp, and mic that if its the sound you are after.....