All-in-one OR Computer based

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Lucaso

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I have no recording equipment of my own so I don't want to learn the hard way... and thanks in advance for your wisdom and advice.

I've been looking at all in one packages like the Fostex VF160EX and the Boss BR1600-CD. An all-in-one is appealling to me especially the portability of it. However I'm a solo artist and want to use drum tracks and desire editing capabilities. Plus the forums seem to trash everything I look at so I end up getting more confused. :confused:

Computer recording seems like it's twice as much equipment (CPU, mixer, soundcard, $$$ software). I'm not rich (yet) so I can't afford ProTools and big boards and $1000+ sound cards.

#1: Am I screwed or can I get a quality recording from an all-in-one unit like the above mentioned.

#2: I'd like to retain the flexibility with the unit to be able to later transfer the files to the computer and add or mix.

Is there a good quality mulititrack (at least 8+ track) digital unit that does this well? I'll be using this unit to record demos for myself to shop to different A&R reps.

 
I was in the same boat as you, but i found that for me a computer based system is best. My friend however thinks an all in one unit is better for him. I'll tell you what I told him.

Make sure your stand alone unit can export the files as wav.
If it can, then you can invest money in just software for the computer rather than sound card etc. Something like sonar, or Cool edit (now adobe audition) can inport the wav files and you can edit them on there (you may have to import them as 16 bit files tho because most computer sound cards can't handle 24 or 32 bit.

Once they are on the comptuer you can edit them as much as you want.

Just use the unit to get the tracks down in some decent quality.
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edit: whoops your post didnt sink in until just now. You have the right idea. IMO. Look for a unit with good specs, can do 24bit, can record 8 tracks simultaneously (it'll be a big help), pick up some decent monitoring speakers possibly.

I am however not sure which unit is the best right now because i havnt looked into all in one units in a long long time. My friend was looking at the boss1600. he seems to think it's nice. I dont know specs on it tho.
 
I have a Roland VS1680. That would probably be more than perfect for what you are trying to do. Contrary to what all the gear sluts will say, you can get more than ample results with the 1680. And a used one is under a grand now..and built to last.
 
I've also been seeing some Yamaha AW4416s on E-bay for A LOT less than the 3,500 grand list price new. They sell used in the vacinity of 1200 and under! Is this a good unit?
 
Thanks I just saw that the Korg dropped in price quite significantly from my last musiciansfriend cataloge! With the features and ability to transfer to computer for later editing via USB, 24bit recording, and 8-track simultaneous recording; I think this is the one. Thanks for the advice.
 
Unfortunately some people trash everything that's not cutting edge.

Bottom line is that both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Which is best for you is a personal decision you'll have to make. You already hit on a couple of plusses to a hard disk based recorder- portability and simplicity.

Also, you need to look at what you're trying to accomplish. These lower end units are probably not practical for recording a huge project with hundreds of tracks or trying to record an orchestra live, but for one peron trying to document their songs with decent quality (probably better than most demos were 10 years ago), then I'd say they're fine.

I currently have an AW2816 and while it makes fine recordings the UI is not the easiest to work with.

I am really looking at the Akai DPS24. This might be the best hard disk based recorder available. Used (if you can find them) they're around $2000.00. New, they're $2800.00, but no one has them right now as Akai is changing the look of the unit and they're out of old ones and new ones haven't arrived yet.

Ted
 
No matter what you end up on pc so why not start there. I started off with a Boss BR-8 and still had to buy a zip for my pc and then I had to find the .wav converter and then load everything up into the pc. It would take anywhere from 5-15 minutes converting everything. But Now I have the Tascam 428 and a preamp all together spent about $450.00 for that. Or you could just buy the Tascam 122 it has a built in pre amp but it is not a mixer it is just a usb interface but it's only about $200-$300 somewhere in there so if you go pc you have a lot of different choices but my main thing is why not go ahead and go pc when to do your editing you will have to go there anyways. That's just like in the pro studio I work at we don't even use our mackie hd24 (hard disk recorder) anymore we hooked the mackie d8b up to the mac running pro tools 6 with the digi 001. The Point of that short story is to say that everyone especially the pros is going to pc recording with pro tools. Unless you have thousands of dollars to buy the pro tools stand alone mixing board
 
The trend is inevitably to computer based systems. That being said, the "front end" is still the weakest technical link (the critical factor still being the material and the performance!).

Without a good acoustic environment and decent mikes and preamps, you can merely be accurately recording cruddy sounding stuff.

Also--workstyle is critical, If you want to capture performances easily without a lot of monkeying with computer files and worrying about backups and lost data, it might be best to reconsider tracking to an easy all-in-one and then later choosing which performances are worth spending time to mix and transfering those to the computer.

I have both systems---and use both. Depends on how much attention I choose to dedicate to engineering and file management as opposed to playing and performing. Engineering and performing is a split brain experiment that frequently leads to problems with both. Serious tracking sessions I go direct to computer (and to backup hard drives)--and I use an engineer. Keeps screwups to a minimum.
 
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