all in one or seperate?

[Ibanez^]

I'm going to buy a home studio..I'm on a pretty tight buget. I was wondering if it is best to buy a more all in one product like the akai dps 16 or a roland or buy a seperate mixer and a seperate hardisk and effeks. And when recording is it better to plugg the guitars into the recorder through the amp. or to just use microphones on everything?..(isn't it hard to edit it then, because you have the sounds from the other instruments in it..or is it?) please help me..

 

[dobro]

"I was wondering if it is best to buy a more all in one product like the akai dps 16 or a roland or buy a seperate mixer and a seperate hardisk and effeks."

Depends on your personality. Buy a standalone unit like the akai, and it's way easier to set up and use from the beginning, but the system is self-limiting. Go the computer + software route, and you have more setup hassles, but it's very flexible (you can use any software you can get your hands on) and easily expandable, plus it's nice working with a big screen, especially for mixing.

"And when recording is it better to plugg the guitars into the recorder through the amp. or to just use microphones on everything?"

Loads of people mic guitar because it sounds better, and loads of people run the bass direct to the recorder, no cabinet, for the same reason. If you mic one instrument at a time, then there's no spillover between mics. If you mic more than one instrument at a time (maybe your band prefers all playing at the same time), then you either have to rig some sort of separation of the sound (sound baffles, different rooms, close-miking with hypercardioid mics, etc) if you want some control over the elements of the sound later on when you're mixing, or record everybody playing with just one or a few well-positioned mics - loads of spillover, but sometimes you can get it sounding okay or good.

 

[DavidK]

dobro is right, if you enjoy messing with computers,
and putting up with hassles, go computer.

If you dont edit much and just want to lay down
several tracks, go Akai.

The Akai is not expandable, a computer is. If
you are just laying down tracks like a garage band,
go akai, it is a good unit. If you need midi, loops,
editing, all that stuff, go computer, and hope it
doesnt crash!! Most computer DAWs are ok now, but
if your needs are more matched for the AKai,
you will have a limited product, but one that
is easier to use and wont cause you hassles. David

 

[lazyboy]

If your worried at all about a learning curve with the Akai, there's no need. It's almost as easy to get around as a tascam 424. It really allows me to concentrate on the recording. Mixing may be a slightly different story, I haven't spend any time doing anything but rough mixes up to this point. Happy hunting.