D-8 VS BR8

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shana
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Shana

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I bought the BR8 and Im pretty happy with it. Notice I said pretty because its not exactly perfect. I dont understand why it boasts 64 v-tracks if it barely holds 3 mins on the zip disk. Like how would anyone take full advantage of all those tracks anyways? The phrase trainer is scary to listen to and the center cancel sounds like a kareoke machine but i dont use those features much anyways. I like the effects and it records nice and it is real simple to use. I only have a few more days to return or exchange the br8 so i was wondering whats the deal with the D-8? Im recording vocals, guitars (accoustic and classical) piano and keyboard. For another40 so dollars should i go with the d8? If you have it or know about it id love the 411 on it. The br8 is the first recording equipement ive used so keep it simple. Thanx!
 
The d8 is an wondefull recorder for the SOLO!!! artist. The main problem with the d8 is it only has two inputs. Aside from that it will do anything you want it to with a number of great effects and 2.1 gig hard drive for I believe around 6 hours of recording time to two tracks and about 35 min. on all 8 tracks.
 
I was going to return my BR8, but dug in and gave it another chance.You can get around the record time issue by changing the data type from the default of MT2 to LV1 or LV2. Look at pages 28& 29 of the owners manual.I did not notice any degradation in sound quality.

I agree the phrase trainer sucks and is of no pratical value. I have been able to generate
great recordings with mixes that make me smile, but you just have to get into this thing and experiment.

I like the fact that you can retain a song on a disk and change the final mix at any time in the future.I have found that when I have mixed down to two tracks and listen to the result in my vehicle or home system, I can hear things I should have done in a different
way. The system gives you the flexibility to do that. With a hard disk system if you have not backed up the data, you cant go back once you clear the drive, and do some tweaking.

Throughout numerous posts in this site, we are well advised to listen to your mix on a variety of machines and conditions.This is the best advice I have received.It is quite amazing the diffences you will hear.Again that's why I have decided to keep this machine- so I have the flexibility to change anything I have laid down, as I get smarter or just bored with the prior product I have produced.
 
Being able to save a song and than change the mix, for me is great. I brought a 10 pack of ZIPs at Tigerdirect.com for $78. I don't ever use the phase trainer, so I don't have any thoughts on that subject. The BR-8 is fine for what I want to do with, I have turned out some great mixes. When your friends are impressed, you know that you sound good.
 
But once you've got all this great music on the zip disk, how are you mixing it down? To cassette deck? To DAT? To CD?
 
OK so I decided to keep the br8 in the meantime. The d8 looks harder to deal with and like you guys said its great to have the zip disks so you can save the original version. I recorded an instrumental (only guitars actually) and it came out great so why make myself crazy right? Oh and am I the only one who finds the bass sim. not that great? Im using a classical guitar for the bass line but the sound comes out all distorted and the note doesnt hold. I think theres the option of tuning down the sound an octave so i might try that. One more thing: why does the preamp effect make so much static for my dean markley magnetic pickuo? Its basically impossible for me to use the preamp without the horrible static sound. Whats the deal with that?
Over and Out
 
I mix down to cassette first, to listen to the mix. If I'm happy with the mix, I'll save the positions of the faders and make a CD using my computer. I'm not intending to send out demos, I make demos of my songs for my band to listen to and get the ideal how I want the song arranged. I wrote a new song today using the BR-8, it took me longer to handwrite the lyrics than to record the music.
 
Hey guys & gals
Iam very pleased with the BR-8 its alot of machine for the money.Its so easy to use also.
Well the rhythm guide isn't the greatist but its real handy when I just want to practice some scales or just jam for a while.

I was experimenting with the rhythm guide the other night.I recorded a rock beat to cassette deck and then brought it back into thr br-8 and did some EQing and tried adding some fxs ,it sounded pretty damn good.I didn't use a tempo map, but I think it would serve as a half decent drum machine if you dont have a drum machine.

About the center cancle well, so far it sucks!!!!!

I mix down to cassette tape only for now.
I think CDs are over rated anyways.If you mix down properly to tape I think the sound is real close to a CD.

I think there will be alot of BR-8 users in the future so that makes us the pioneers.
All the tricks we learn will be passed on to some other folks.

So record on------> Brothers and Sisters.


jimimac

[This message has been edited by jimimac (edited 04-22-2000).]
 
jimimac- are you happy with the 100 meg zip disk? Have you filled up all 8 tracks and still had enough time left? Can you utilize all those virtual tracks with the limited capacity of the zip disk? (damn, I wish they made it with 250 megs! Maybe the BR8.2?)
 
Keith L
I havent run out of time with the 100 meg zip disk yet.I wish it was 250 meg also but it not. I think in the future like the vs-840, there will be an upgrade for the BR-8 to 250 megs.I have used all 8 tracks and still had some time left.I dont have much use for the v-tracks,but you would have a time problem using them.If you use the optimize utility to clear unwanted data you should have no problems.Theres always ways of working around problems when recording.
 
Does your boom box have "input in", that will allow you to record it? If not, do you have access to a cassette deck?

On the BR-8 there is a line out that has two female RCA plugs, you use a stereo Y patch with RCA male ends and patch to the "line in" on the cassette deck.

Adjust the EQ, pan and any other effects on the BR-8 and watch the record levels on the cassette. I'm assuming that you're a newbie, so press the 'pause' button on the recorder, press the record and play buttons at the same time. Press play on the BR-8 and check the recording level meter on the deck. You want the level to peak in the red a little. Zero back the song, release the pause button and press play on the BR-8.

If you don't have access to a cassette deck, RadioShack makes a stand alone cassette deck, around $59. I have one, this keeps me from having to lug the BR-8 around to my main cassette deck.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shana:
I have a boom box and i want to mix down to a cassete. I have the Br8- Ok ,,,so how??<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
 
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