Computer VS Multitrack Recorder

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pafballou

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Can someone please explain to me the basic pros and cons of using software like Cubase vs going with a multi-track recorder like a Roland VS series? I am literally putting the bricks up on a home studio to record the family band and am now thinking about the cost, learning curve, scalability issues of the recording technology. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
 
software on a computer is just generally more user friendly. it gives you everything you really need. plus in a lot of ways it can be cheaper. for $1500 or less you can get a computer and a software program to fit all your needs while something like the Roland VS-2400CD costs about $2500. I think a computer DAW systems will work best for you. It's a lot more visual too. I think it kind of sucks to work on a little 5" by 5" screen when you can get a 17" monitor to edit your files. Learning curve is going to be about the same really. Just depends on if you learn better by actually touching controls on a multitrack recorder or working with software on a screen. You also have to be confident in your setting up audio gear on a computer (ie. installing audio card, software, fixing problems common with PCs, etc). Hope some of this helped. :cool:
 
Having used both I can say that they both have advantages and disvantages over each other and by choosing the right combination of a standalone multitracker and computer software & hardware you can have best of both worlds and the best bang for the buck also. A multitracker is by far the most solid and hassle free solution for basic tracking and that combined with the editing power of even the cheapest computer daw software can beat just about any stadalone multitracker in that respect.

If you already have at least a half decent computer the software to turn it into a studio does't neccessarily cost you an arm and a leg. You don't have to get software like Cubase costing hudreds of dollars to get you going, N-track studio costs about $50 and gives you about 80 per cent of the features of Cubase and certainly enough to make a record with and there's tons of quality effects plugins downloadable for free on the internet.

If I were you and on a tight budjet I'd start by hunting down a used Fostex VF16 or VF160 (about $500) and start learning the basics of tracking with it. Even if the recorder would come with the CDRW and you can use that to transfer the tracks recorded on VF over to computer I'd still recommend that you replace the built in sound card of your computer with one with ADAT i/o (EMU 1212m $200) so you can fly the tracks from VF to computer via ADAT lightpipe. Not to mention you'd get better sound out of your computer too. At this stage for $750 (not including the computer) you'd have system capable of recording 8 tracks at once and with editing power beyond a standalone multitracker costing at least 3 times more. And if that's not enough you can for an additional $200 get a Behringer ADA8000 and record 16 tracks simultaneously. How's that for scalability?

IMHO this example shows clearly that by carefully choosing the pieces that work together and complement each other you can have best bang for your buck. And while being a modular solution you can replace any part of the system with higher quality one when needed (or when you can afford it) without rendering the other parts of the system obsolete thus keeping the TOC in control throughout the system's lifespan. I'm not getting to sound too much like a computer salesman, am I?-)
 
Thanks all for your generous comments. I will take them to heart.
 
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