Analog verses Digital

  • Thread starter Thread starter Danny B
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Danny B

New member
Yes I'm brand new to this board, but have done alot of reading on this board for the past several months regarding recording. I love music!! I have been playing for 35 years and now want to get into recording.

Heres my main question. I was looking at purchasing a Tascam 424 MKIII. My wife thinks I'm crazy for wanting to purchase a cassette type recorder. She thinks I should get a digital recorder setup instead, so I can make CD's, and download the material onto the computer. I told her that even though it's on cassette it can still be downloaded onto a computer, mixed, and CD's can be burned, (Is this correct??)

My concern for digital recorders is the expense of media cards, and the amount of material they will hold. I also don't like the fact that they sometimes "Crash or Freeze up" and you loose your material, and with technology changes your digital recorder is outdated within a few months.

Anyway if anyone of you would give me some further pros and cons I'd sure appreciate it. Also any input on the Tascam 424MKIII would be welcomed also. I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions in the near future.

Thanks in advance!!

Danny
 
Go digital.... you have enough to learn anyways without also having to fight with analog portastudio limitations.

Consider using your PC for recording.
 
HERETIC!!!!

BURN HIM!!! BURN HIM!!!

:D


I've used the 424 and the 424 mkii, and I think they are great for beginner recording. Very simple to operate. They may have some sound limitations, but if you don't want to mess with computers and the like, they are a very nice alternative. The media (cassettes) is cheap.

You can't easily download to a computer. The quality won't be as good. If you are looking to make super-pro sounding recordings, then you should probably look at a digital and the PC recording, and all the fun and games that entails.

But, if you are looking at learning a little about recording and just want something to put down ideas and such on, then the 424 is awesome. Besides, they aren't all that expensive, so you can start with a Portastudio, and when you reach it's limitations, you can better decide if you want to move up with analog, or switch to digital (Pc or standalone).

That's my advice anyway. :cool:
 
Welcome to the bbs Danny,


Both mediums (Digtal & analog) have wonderful things to offer and each have their own unique limitations...
You can burn a cd from either medium with varying degrees of quality as well.

IMO the best thing about both is the price.
Maybe you can get a cassette 4 or 8 track machine AND a digital multitrack unit and see which works best for your needs.

Personally I would get a four track cassette and learn some of the basic techniques of recording as well as the functions and possibiltes of different pieces of outboard gear. (That's not to say you couldn't do the same with digital.)
Once you become familiar enough with the process you will most likely have a handel on what you're doing, what you'd like to do further or do better. Things like warmth, headroom, editing and flexibilty in terms of the amount of tracks you have to work with will all come into focus... You may find you are perfectly happy with what you can do OR you may long for something different or bigger or better, but at that point YOU'LL likely know why and what you're after.

Try to keep in mind that regardless of the medium home recording is simply fun.


Again,
Welcome

:)
 
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Ok my 2 cent,s Even if you get say something like a Tascam 424mkIII You will never be sorry you bought it. Its portable, It sounds great, And if you play with it for a year and out grow it you would not loose that much in cost if you decide to sell it.

Just ask how many of these digital boy,s still have there old cassette units sitting around.

I had Adats, For me they sucked I have a good 8 in 8 out card
It sucks.

Analog,s learning curve is small compared to digital.
Cheap analog to me always sounds better than cheap digital and Im over half deaf.
If you go digital it wont be long before you are looking at things like cheap tube mic preamps or cheap tube mics to try and get some analog warmth to your sound and then it still wont sound good. You will be fighting computer programs. Compter programs for recording are not like sticking the disc in your compter and setting up a printer and in 5 minutes its working. If that happens
you are very lucky.
For a beginner I say go analog. It,s the wave of the future!
 
Gotta agree there. I bought my first Portastudio 2nd hand with no manual. Took me 10 minutes to figure it out.

On the other hand, I downloaded N-Track recently and couldn't get it to do anything I wanted throughout the entire demo period.
 
Blue Bear Sound said:
Go digital.... you have enough to learn anyways without also having to fight with analog portastudio limitations.

Consider using your PC for recording.
Click to expand...

AHHHHHH!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Peace ;)

Daniel
 
There ya go ...
 

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I find it strange that in a forum labeled "Analog Only" some posters choose to take the digital position in this, the oldest argument of all.
 
That 246, above, is primo equipment, if you want to go vintage.

The 424mkIII's a decent Portastudio, and the best one that's still available as new, retail. Easy & fun to use, good recorded sound, highly flexible mixer, & inexpensive media makes the 424mkIII a winner in my book.

F/I, You can develop your music on the Portastudio, in 4-track tape format, then mix down to computer, and burn cd's of your work, if that's what you want as your end product. [... and who doesn't want a cd of their stuff, these days?].

It doesn't mean, outright, that you have to record the bulk of your work on the computer. Most analog recording people I know mix down to computer and burn cds of their primarily analog recordings. It's easy, people do it all the time, and so can you.

You're right to be wary of the speed of digital obsolescence. It happens way too fast. First it's Smart Media cards, then it's Compact Flash-memory cards, [not compatible with each other], and tomorrow, who knows. It's not that long ago when 16-bit/44.1 recording was "it", or when the 20-bit people thought they were "it". Well, 24-bit/96K is now "it", and the rest are regarded as [shit]. Anyway, that's in technology terms.

Most of the standalone digital recording workstations are pretty stable, but leave a lot to be desired either in the mixer department or some other hidden little 'catch', like,... oh, this is a 16 track recorder, sure, but if you want top resolution, then it's really only an 8-track recorder. The digi's are full of those hidden little catches, so you have to compare features very carefully.

Pure computer recording is fraught with all sorts of technical issues, pitfalls, and hang ups, that don't endear a person to his computer, or get a musician closer to his music. A lot of times, techical issues will get in the way of recording. YMMV.

A real, authentic Tascam Portastudio is very portable, [hint: porta's part of the name]. It is a straight forward, simple and robust enough unit to be the preferred recording solution for millions of people, beginners and advanced users alike.

The 424mkIII's still available as new, for $329 retail & online, which, even in these glory days of digital, is still a great value. Did I mention that the 424mkIII has a full 8-input/2-buss mixer, with 6 full mixer strips, and records 2-simul in BUSS-mode, or DIRECT-to-4-track, switchable.

Used analog recording equipment, on the other hand, Portastudios & other, off Ebay is often times a super-dee-duper value for your gear buying dollar, but as always, buyer beware! You have to shop Ebay/Tascam for the most mint items, while simultaneously trying to keep your bid as low as possible, which can be harder than you might think! [Ha.] Still, with patience & perseverance, it can be done.

If you're not into the used gear scene, [ref: Tascam 246, above], then shag on down to GC, musiciansfriend.com, zzzsounds.com, or samash.com, and score yourself a brand new 424mkIII,... and that'd be alright with me.

In fact, I'd congratulate you & pat you on the back, for a smart decision, that I don't think you'll will regret.

;)
 
Danny B

Your wife is correct. You are crazy to consider just a lowly Porta-studio using cassette tapes.

If you truly want to experience the real analog sound, pick up a decent 8 or 16 track reel to reel that runs at 15 ips on a non "skinny" format and at that point, you will hear what real sound is supposed to be and never look back to digital unless you need a lot of hamburger helper type features where you can cut and paste a partial performance together to make it sound like you are a real good musician.

Otherwise, if you have a decent amount of talent and can play your parts correctly, analog can capture the performance and give you a wonderfully warm documentation of your efforts.

Tracking and mixing on analog gear is natural and intuitive with a little bit of practice and the hands on feel of analog mixing is something that only the highest end professional digital studios can achieve with SSL, half million dollar boards that reproduce every knob, fader and switch, in effect, mimicking what analog always has done.

Cheers! & good luck with your sound. :)
 
Danny B said:
Yes I'm brand new to this board, but have done alot of reading on this board for the past several months regarding recording. I love music!! I have been playing for 35 years and now want to get into recording.

Heres my main question. I was looking at purchasing a Tascam 424 MKIII. My wife thinks I'm crazy for wanting to purchase a cassette type recorder. She thinks I should get a digital recorder setup instead, so I can make CD's, and download the material onto the computer. I told her that even though it's on cassette it can still be downloaded onto a computer, mixed, and CD's can be burned, (Is this correct??)

My concern for digital recorders is the expense of media cards, and the amount of material they will hold. I also don't like the fact that they sometimes "Crash or Freeze up" and you loose your material, and with technology changes your digital recorder is outdated within a few months.

Anyway if anyone of you would give me some further pros and cons I'd sure appreciate it. Also any input on the Tascam 424MKIII would be welcomed also. I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions in the near future.

Thanks in advance!!

Danny
Click to expand...

Get the 424mkIII, learn from it and then move on to reel to reel machines (eBay) and then come back here for advice. To get sounds from your new mkIII to cd, just go from your RCA line outs (424) and into your sound card of your pc. Use cool edit 2000 to edit, normalize, whatever and then burn the .wav file to cd.

Daniel

Daniel
 
RCA cables ...
 

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Shun the digital recording world like the bastard demon child it is.

In my opinion anyone who wants to make great recordings should start with a solid cassette machine to learn the basics.
For the money a portastudio can sound maybe not 'clearer' but definitely more natural than a comparable priced DAW.

If you must go digital just go with computer recording and skip the rest. That's the best way to get the most out of...(shudder)....digital. :p

I'm mostly serious.
 
This is great!! I usually hang out on the Carvin bbs do to the fact that I own alot of Carvin gear. I have NEVER had this many replys to a question, or had this much information made available to me.

It's nice to know that there are bbs' that have people who are willing to share (good quality information) and help a new person out. Most of the time responses are minimal, with little information given to the asking party. My many thanks to all of you for giving me this information.

I do like digital equipment. I am not a computer expert, maybe a advanced novice, but still have alot to learn. I don't have time to be messing around with machines that have fourty knobs, twenty six menus, etc. That is why I AM going to order the MKIII. I'm sure I will have some questions when it comes time to transfer some audio to computer for CD burning. Again, thanks to all of you that gave your input!!

Danny
 
cjacek was referring directly to the RCA-to-1/8"-stereo Y-cable adapter.

That's both ends of one cable, as pictured above.

That's how you'd go from the stereo-RCA-outs of the 424mk3 to the stereo-1/8"-line-in of your typical sound card. It's a simple and inexpensive accessory.;)
 
Get one of these and a cd burner to go with it. You'll be happy and have a good time recording your stuff. I had one and loved it. It's not as fun as analog but sounds good and is easy to use.

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...t=1&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&query=Tascam+788

Dennis

You will also need a (for jake-owa) Decent pre-amp and mic.

These work fine.

Preamp
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=10658&Category=Audio_Processors

Mic
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=10142&Category=Microphones

There are about a zillion more options but this will get you started and will sound good.
 
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You don't need an additional preamp for a 788 at all.
It comes with like 8 of them.
 
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