Buy now, pay later or, buy later, pay now?

[Ptron]

Sorry for posing such a vague question but what do y'all think about the near future of computer recording?
I guess what I'm asking is, as someone who has a servicable 8trk cassette setup, but is very tempted to blow a wad of cash on an 8 I/O soundcard, would I better off waiting a year or more? I know it's all speculation, but let's speculate here. Are we on the verge of a major breakthrough in the bang for the buck catagory? How 'bout ease of use or narrowing the gap between pro & am. Or, has that big leap already been taken and it's slow and steady from here on? I'm not really sure where I'm going with this.

Oh man! I ment to post this in the computer recording forum. I'll swicth it later. I'm too hungover. Sorry.

Unless someone with the power will do it for me. I don't wanna type all this again.
[This message has been edited by Ptron (edited 04-21-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Ptron (edited 04-21-2000).]

 

[JimH]

My short, perhaps inexpert opinion about that is that no, there is not going to be a major breakthrough.

The worry is: if I spend money now, will there be something out in a year that I HAVE to have but can't get because I already spent the money? Or, will whatever I buy today be obsolete in a year?

I think the real question is whether or not you have a capable computer already because that's the big expense. If you do, then don't let the sound card issue stop you. You can get 24-bit cards for pretty cheap now. For example, the Gadget Labs 4/24 is only $269. Some venders are adding 96KHz support as the next step. But I question whether this is even worth it. For 96KHz, you require your computer to work twice as hard and it's arguable whether the improvement in sound quality is worth it. So to me, this means that things are relatively stable now. But of course, in the computer industry, things always improve and whatever you buy will lose its value. You may hesitate to buy that Gadget Labs 8/24 because in a year they will have replaced it with a 96KHz version, or maybe they will have dropped the price from $499 to $399. But you will have been happily making nice, quiet recordings for that year. So it will be worth it. I am currently using a Turtle Beach Fiji card that I bought quite a while ago for $270. It's hard for me to justify buying a new card because the Fiji still sounds really good to me.

Your perspective may be different, though. If $100 is a lot of money to you, then it might make a big difference that a product will be $100 cheaper in a year. Also, as I'm sure you've already considered, there are other expenses when switching from cassette to computer-based recording, such as software and a way to backup the data. So all these expenses taken together may cause you to stick with the cassette. But I'd say, don't let just the sound card issue alone stop you.

Jim

 

[James HE]

I'd definitly go for the soundcard. Factor in some software too. It depends on what you can afford, as far as software there are some out there that are pretty cheap and even cheaper shareware. You can use the mixer section on your eight track cassettte for now, and of course all the equipment you already have. The only thing that might stop you is the performane of your computer. Check around here and elsewhere to figure out what you'd need as far as hardware. The mainthing is to find a happy medium as far as price and performance, you won't be wasting your money cause at least you will be learning!

-jhe

 

[Fishmed]

Ptron,
I know how you feel. Technology changes very fast. You can wait a year to buy the next best thing, but then you would be in the same place you are now, thinking there will be something better that following year. IMHO, There is never a perfect time to buy electronic equipment, you just have to do some homework, find the best technology availible for your budget, bite the bullet, and go for it. Reguardless of what you buy, there will always be somehting better that comes along. With that in mind, I have found recording to be a blackhole.