anybody still rocking the hard drive digital recorders from in the 00's ?

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christopher crusty

christopher crusty

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I have a Korg D1600MKII that I bought brand new on clearance at Guitar Center in 04 . I still use it all the time and works great nice anolog feel with physical faders and fairly decent internal preamps and effects . it still amazes me the quality this produces esp when combined with with good mikes and some decent outboard gear comps ,dreams etc. it even spits out a finished red book CD master when your finished mixing and mastering your songs (all inside the box too). anybody else still using hardware type workstations anymore and gone to computer based DAWS ? am I the last of a dying breed?
 
christopher crusty said:
I have a Korg D1600MKII that I bought brand new on clearance at Guitar Center in 04 . I still use it all the time and works great nice anolog feel with physical faders and fairly decent internal preamps and effects . it still amazes me the quality this produces esp when combined with with good mikes and some decent outboard gear comps ,dreams etc. it even spits out a finished red book CD master when your finished mixing and mastering your songs (all inside the box too). anybody else still using hardware type workstations anymore and gone to computer based DAWS ? am I the last of a dying breed?
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I used a Roland VS840 (which recorded to a zip-disc) and a Roland VS880EX (which writes to a hard drive) from 1998 to until about 2013-14.

I now use a Tascam DP-32SD. This guy....

Tascam DP-32SD.webp
 
Hi everyone I m new here. I have a Korg 1600 digital recorder and I m in a position where I have to record myself. I was recording in a studio for many years. I see it's capable of importing and exporting wave files but how do you actually get the files to a PC,lab top? I m rerecording a 6 song demo with the first band I recorded with 30 years ago which is really cool. But one of us is in Australia!! So I m recording my vocals and sending to him from my laptop after recording on my Korg 1600. I m going to import the new updated music to the Korg record vocals then send just my maybe 3 vocal tracks back to him. What is the easiest way to do that? Thanks for any info!! Appreciate it!! Peace!!
 
I still have my AW16G and AW1600 but haven't used them in years for recording, only for pulling projects off for reworking in Reaper.

The 16G only has a 20GB HD, but I grabbed an IDE to SD card adapter and want to try to use that as the storage medium, just to see if I can. It's one of those "one of these days" projects. It would give me more room, which at one time, would have made the Yamaha a much more practical machine.


RMASIAS, From what I see, the D1600 is much like the AW16G, in that the only way to get files from the unit to a computer is either via SPDIF or by burning to CD. It's an early enough unit that it doesn't have USB (something Yamaha added to the AW1600 -- VERY handy). That's is what I needed to do to move projects to my computer. I would write the individual tracks to a CD-RW, then copy them to my computer, and repeat. Since the project I was working with was about a 2 hour long practice session, I could only dump one mono track at a time (CD limit of 700MB).

The procedure for copying wav files to and from the D1600 is on page 86/87 of the manual. You can either come from a SCSI hard drive or a properly formatted CD.

You might check out this old thread about the Korg.
C

Thread 'How do you download from a Korg D1600 to a PC'

running Cakewalk HS?

You might check on Korgforums.com

Make sure you keep the files in a compatible format for bit rate and bit depth. 44.1kHz only. No 192K wave files! ?
 
BTW, this is EXACTLY the reason I work pretty much exclusively in the PC/DAW realm. There's no problem exchanging files for collaboration.
 
RADAR 24 user for years now. I do sessions on it but edit in Audition 3. Final mixes are done through an analog console.
 
christopher crusty said:
anybody else still using hardware type workstations anymore and gone to computer based DAWS ? am I the last of a dying breed?
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It would appear that there are not many of us left. I use the Akai DPS12i
1727807952392.webp
and I love it to bits. It's my recording go-to. I made a decision a few years back that I wasn't going to go in any other direction. I'm not going back to tape, I'm not going to go the computer route. I have 3 back-up units. I've been using it since 2009 and this machine is the perfect halfway house for me.
 
I gave up on my roland VS 1880 back around 2008, moved to a pc setup with Sonar, have never looked back.
 
PorterhouseMusic said:
I used a Roland VS840 (which recorded to a zip-disc) and a Roland VS880EX (which writes to a hard drive) from 1998 to until about 2013-14.

I now use a Tascam DP-32SD. This guy....

View attachment 142935
Click to expand...
I'm new to home recording and this type of set up is exactly what I was thinking of. I'm aware of the advantages of a PC DAW. But there is something with the directness of somethin as the above. I even considered one of the tape based 4 tracks Portastudios. But I guess at this point, it would be only for nostalgia? A digital set up as the above is way more practical?

Is there a source of info on the Portastudios ? There seems to be so many models to be found on the used market. For example I was looking at some called DP-01FX or Just DP-01. Hard to know the difference or if they are the same and is just sellers typing the incomplete model number. Or DP-02CF. They all seem to be 8 tracks, which i think for what I want to do is plenty. My goal is to record band type of music. So 2 guitars, bass, drums and vocals. So 8 seems plenty?
 
You can see all the old Tascam models on their website. There are differences, like CF means Compact Flash and SD means SD card. Stay away from CFs, they are harder to find and expensive. SD cards are used and sold everywhere and are cheap. FX means it has Effects.

I wouldn't go close to a cassette based recorder. It's old technology and unless you're handy with replacing belts and rollers that have turned to tar, you are maybe looking at expensive repairs. Hard drive recorders are ok but hard drives are getting harder to find (most were IDE) and you are limited to the size of the drive. With SD cards, you buy one for $10, fill it up and drive to Walmart get another for $10.

I'm not enamored with the little compact ones like the DP-03, DP-006 or DP-008. You're stuck with 2 inputs at a time. I would go DP-24SD or find a Zoom R24. Not that much more money and you have way better ergonomics and capabilities.
 
TalismanRich said:
You can see all the old Tascam models on their website. There are differences, like CF means Compact Flash and SD means SD card. Stay away from CFs, they are harder to find and expensive. SD cards are used and sold everywhere and are cheap. FX means it has Effects.

I wouldn't go close to a cassette based recorder. It's old technology and unless you're handy with replacing belts and rollers that have turned to tar, you are maybe looking at expensive repairs. Hard drive recorders are ok but hard drives are getting harder to find (most were IDE) and you are limited to the size of the drive. With SD cards, you buy one for $10, fill it up and drive to Walmart get another for $10.

I'm not enamored with the little compact ones like the DP-03, DP-006 or DP-008. You're stuck with 2 inputs at a time. I would go DP-24SD or find a Zoom R24. Not that much more money and you have way better ergonomics and capabilities.
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Thanks. I had not considered the mechanical side of tape. I just asked because I have read people waxing poetry about it. But I agree with you.

Again agree with CF. I have had cameras which were CF and it is a pain compared to SD. But hard drive would be a total ok alternative to SD for me. You can always off load it once it's full. The Tascam site (thanks for the tip) says the DP-01FX hard drive fits 60 8 tracks songs. Seems plenty or? before you need to off load, which would probably take only a couple of minutes. Do you any other downsides? The only 2 inputs is more of a downside for me.

What about a Tascam 2488? 24 tracks, 8 inputs. I saw a Zoom R8. But that seems to be also only 2 inputs. I just don't want to invest too much in a first recorder. As I might just hate the workflow and want to go for a DAW PC instead.

By the way, my plan is to use it for recording only. Then mixing, editing, effects etc I will do on the computer. getting the files out via the USB. I just think having the recorder is less messy than a PC or Laptop, clicking things etc. Also most likely the interface for the PC and set up etc might cost more than one of these recorder and is not as practical in my eyes.
 
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Here's an old review of the DP01/DP01FX.

Tascam DP01 & DP01FX

Tascam's two new digital multitrackers are the latest in their long line of Portastudio products.
www.soundonsound.com www.soundonsound.com

As long as you can handle just two inputs, and the unit is fully functional, it should work. It has USB so back up is easier. They are vintage 2005 machines.

I haven't really looked at the 2488 is a long time. It was a popular unit back in the day. I would probably lean towards one of those before the DP01. More inputs, more channels. Zoom R24s are similar in capability. You also have stuff from Roland and Boss.

I have an R24, and it records in standard wave file format, which transfers straight into Reaper.

Some of the newer units use proprietary formats which then need to be converted to WAV. It's probably more efficient for the machine to handle the proprietary format, but extra work for you.
 
TalismanRich said:
Here's an old review of the DP01/DP01FX.

Tascam DP01 & DP01FX

Tascam's two new digital multitrackers are the latest in their long line of Portastudio products.
www.soundonsound.com www.soundonsound.com

As long as you can handle just two inputs, and the unit is fully functional, it should work. It has USB so back up is easier. They are vintage 2005 machines.

I haven't really looked at the 2488 is a long time. It was a popular unit back in the day. I would probably lean towards one of those before the DP01. More inputs, more channels. Zoom R24s are similar in capability. You also have stuff from Roland and Boss.

I have an R24, and it records in standard wave file format, which transfers straight into Reaper.

Some of the newer units use proprietary formats which then need to be converted to WAV. It's probably more efficient for the machine to handle the proprietary format, but extra work for you.
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The thing is since the 2488 can be found for almost nothing more than the DP01, I would probably go with the 2488. So the DP01 is pretty much out by now. ;)

Supposedly the 2488 is even better than the DP24SD, apart from the SD card. I just read a few reviews saying the DP24 lost a few things and quality is not as nice. I also think the MKI 2488 doesn't use proprietary format for recording? I think I read .WAV somewhere.

The R24s I found around me are 2-3x more than a 2488. So I would be ok with a 40GB HDD in the 2488.

I also have to look at other options I found mentioned in 2488 reviews as being competitors, such as Korg D3200 or Zoom MRS1608, Yamaha AW1600 and Fostex MR16HD/CD. I know they are less tracks, i think 16. But not even sure I need 24. But the question is should I even bother if I find a 2488 MKI for a great price? The only thing which be nice to add is a drum machine of sorts.

The only thing I worry with old gear like this is scratchy pots, sticking slider faders etc. I can't test as I would most likely buy online from private sellers.


Edit: Found the Zoom MRS1608 and Yamaha AW1600 for about 20 bucks more the MKI 2488. Choices...
 
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I also have an AW1600. The workflow is very nice on it. You can back up files via USB (not available on the AW16G) which was one big improvement. Yamaha did use a proprietary format, so you can't just transfer files directly from the AW1600 to your computer. There was a process needed to convert them to WAVs. Otherwise it's a great recorder.

My R24 is what I use when I record remotely. I feed vocals into my old Yamaha mixer, and mic up guitars, drums and bass. Then I just swap the SD card into my computer and dump the files for later mixing.

Here's my setup from a jam few years back.

Zoom R24 Mobile.webp
 
TalismanRich said:
I also have an AW1600. The workflow is very nice on it. You can back up files via USB (not available on the AW16G) which was one big improvement. Yamaha did use a proprietary format, so you can't just transfer files directly from the AW1600 to your computer. There was a process needed to convert them to WAVs. Otherwise it's a great recorder.

My R24 is what I use when I record remotely. I feed vocals into my old Yamaha mixer, and mic up guitars, drums and bass. Then I just swap the SD card into my computer and dump the files for later mixing.

Here's my setup from a jam few years back.

View attachment 146879
Click to expand...
Nice set up.

Do you know anything about the Zoom MRS1608? It seems it will be between the AW1600 and the Zoom MRS1608. The 2488 seems to have a somewhat fragile reputation? Found some stuff about software and reliability problems? Also, despite having 24 tracks vs the 16 of the Zoom and Yamaha, it seems only 4 XLR and in 24 bit not more than in the Zoom and Yamaha?
 
If you get an MRS1608, make sure it has the optional USB card.

Here's a review from Sound on Sound, again, 2005. (Sound on Sound is a good resource for reviews of older equipment!)

Zoom MRS1608

The latest multitracker from Zoom is their most sophisticated yet, but can it see off its rivals in what is an extremely competitive marketplace?
www.soundonsound.com www.soundonsound.com
 
TC2024 said:
Nice set up.

Do you know anything about the Zoom MRS1608? It seems it will be between the AW1600 and the Zoom MRS1608. The 2488 seems to have a somewhat fragile reputation? Found some stuff about software and reliability problems? Also, despite having 24 tracks vs the 16 of the Zoom and Yamaha, it seems only 4 XLR and in 24 bit not more than in the Zoom and Yamaha?
Click to expand...
What is your budget roughly? $1, 2, 3, 4, 500?
 
TalismanRich said:
If you get an MRS1608, make sure it has the optional USB card.

Here's a review from Sound on Sound, again, 2005. (Sound on Sound is a good resource for reviews of older equipment!)

Zoom MRS1608

The latest multitracker from Zoom is their most sophisticated yet, but can it see off its rivals in what is an extremely competitive marketplace?
www.soundonsound.com www.soundonsound.com
Click to expand...
Thanks.

The MRS1608 I'm looking at has a USB connector on the back. I guess that means it has the USB card.

I see a lot of mention everywhere that the MRS1608 is great for guitarists, which I happen to be. But my impression is they say that because of amp simulation, pedal effects built in etc, which to me probably doesn't matter. I will use my own real amps and pedals. Either mic'ed into the recorder or direct line in if possible. So I can get my real amp sounds and my pedal sounds. So this doesn't matter for me.

Effects probably don't matter much either. Guitar effects I will use my amp's and pedals. Other effects it's probably better done when editing and mixing in a computer. Unless I'm missing something.

So basically I guess what I need is a great quality recorder, easy to use, easy to off load to a computer for mixing and editing, easy to record multi tracks at the same time for at least 4 or 5 instruments, reliable. I guess what I would be doing in the recorder is plugging the instrument, recording each on different tracks and then off loading all to a PC for further work. Unless I'm missing something else necessary? So what functions would I actually need for that? I'm totally new to recording. Have been using my looper for that, just for fun so far.
 
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