Solved Best digital workstation for under $2000

[Big Daddy]

I'm looking at the Roland VS2400Cd and the Yamaha AW2400.

Each one seems to have something I like but not both. I can't believe the Roland has no inserts!!!!! But you can add a monitor and mouse. The Yamaha looks like a better unit though for the money.

Well, I was wondering if there was some opinions on which one was better and if there was an alternative.

Also about the learning curve.......I don't want to spend too much time on figuring it out. I want to make a CD and learn as I go, not learn and then make a CD. The latter is a sure fire way for frustration and disappointment.

In other words, I want to have fun not another job.

 

[CoolCat]

I had a 2488, my brother has it great tool. frkn easy to plug and play and your recording and burning CDR's...

the Yammie 16, seems to win the first place for build and quality...is great and saw a couple on Craigslist for like $200. they've been around. And I think 16 tracks is plenty for most HR? I know I never came close to using 24tracks.

My nephew uses one of the Rolands and loves it, but its a bitch to operate is my experience with those. their tones and sound are really good though.
My brother still uses some amp sims from the Roland to thew 2488 which has crap for Guiatr sims.

 

[Oancient1]

Also about the learning curve.......I don't want to spend too much time on figuring it out.

Manuals are generally available for download at the manufacturers websites and at the sellers websites as well, and reading through them before you buy can give you a feel for how hard it will be to figure things out. My experience with such shopping is that Tascam's manuals are a bit easier to understand than Yamahas and Rolands.

Tom

 

[The Green Hornet]

I've been using a Yam 2816 for a few years and the "learning" curve is not TOO bad; it is a shame that Yamaha and the other makers of SIABs don't hire some high school English teachers to do the manuals--like 1, 2, 3 and then you get .... Instead there are usless pages in my 2816 manual dealing with steps I've never used. Like the "quick record" button is much faster than arming tracks as the manual sets forth and back and forth and back again.

Sound quality of the Yamaha is good as is its construction; however, my 2816 popped the plastic return-to-go button recently. I can still use the button but have to dig it out frequently which is a pain. The 2816 has RCA stereo outs; I believe the AW1600 has 1/4 inch stereo outs; but, a patch plug would do the trick if one needed the RCA outs like I do at present.

Now, the BR1600 [funny they both have the same number....?] has many features that are interesting. [Just read the advertising promo in any catalog or go on line.] But, its construction has been noted as less than the Yams.

I've had one vendor tell me that it is "easy" to use. That, I don't believe as the vendor would not tell WHAT WAS EASIER?

Too many menus and routing crap on the Yamaha--I navigate the unit and get good CDs; however, I don't quite fathom all the little squares with numbers and what the hell they are for, other than to cause confusion.

Just wrote a letter to the President of Yamaha, in Japan and told him about the same thing. I once wrote to the President of Sony and got a personal letter back from him direct from Japan--I was impressed. Likewise, the President of Sweetwater once called me direct to straighten out a problem I was having with my rep and price quotes--in one minute all was well.

From what I read, the Roland big units are harder to learn; however, ALL THE SIABs have similar operating methods;it's just a matter of being familiar with the general direction and what menu to punch up. Someone just said that the sound of Roland was very good but navigation was difficult.

The price on the Yam 1600 is less than 1k and there is a site dedicated to its use with good information and problem solving.

Since I am familiar with Yams, I guess I'll get the AW1600 and if I don't like it I'll send it back and get the BR1600--[check with your vendor on return policies ALWAYS.]

Cheers,
Green Hornet

 

[CoolCat]

check craigslist, I saw a AWG16 for like $275.... this place is nuts!

pc software is FREE. I'd look into that. get a $50 USB recording station and see if its fun. if you like it, you'll upgrade quickly. Best Buy and Wal Mart have them, too.

The tones are in the instruments and that side of it...the recorder is the mirror digital realm, and there is no comparison to editing on a pc, even an idiot like myself can do it..


4-track cassette recorders, Yamaha MD8 are nice and pretty cool too....for fun.

I don't think you can beat the Tascam 2488 for ease of use. My brother has mine and he's a zero tech head...and he was recording without reading the manual nearly... its that easy. but its plastic, no going on tour with it, imo.