deciding. new boss br-8, br-532 or used roland vs-880

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katmandude

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I am considering the Boss BR-8, but was also intrigued by the newer 532 model. I dont see any online places with an updated price yet since the bR-8 should have come down a little I believe.

now I could likely get a used Roland VS-880 for the same price as a new BR-8. What would any of you all recommend. Obviously the VS880 has more options and likely will yield a better end result. I like the internal hard disk storage and the ability to use a bunch of SCSI devices to store data. also the ability to record more tracks at one time is nice. But theres something to be said for simplicity of the boss machines. a guitarists sketchpad. not bogging down on the recording techniques so much, but rather on the song ideas.

any thoughts? I have been going round and round on all this for the past month now.

Initially I want to make some simple demo tracks, but I am looking forward to doing more with it. Using it with a band.
 
BR-8, 532, VS880EX

I signed up for the list because I heard another voice, crying in the wilderness: I've been entangled in the same dilemma for three months - searching cyberspace for answers to questions I didn't know existed, but the real question is, what recording unit is best suited for a personal home studio.
I paid $1,300 for a VS880EX with 6.1 GB-HD, and was actually excited when it arrived; 10 hours later I was completely convinced I needed a brain operation, if they could put one in, I could decipher the manual. The machine is a marval, the manual is a diabolical plot against North America: If a manual had come with my Nissan, it would take three days just to drive to the post office.
VSPlanet.com came to the rescue, and after downloading re-translated application guides and printing out BBS advice, I finally managed to insert a few effects on 2 pre-recorded masters; that was one week ago, but I haven't written or sung a note for 3 months. The VS880EX can do everything it claims - and MUCH more, but if spontaneous creativity is your MO, you might as well pour water on a dead deer.
The BR-8 (by comparison) seems to have serious limitations, but it's a joy to use (also by comparison), and I've almost traded my 880 for the BR-8 on numerous occasions. The BR-532 hasn't been user reviewed yet, but its features and functions appear to be tailored made for creative spontaneity; I won't buy one until I can download - and read - the manual. I don't see how you can go wrong for the price, and it's an introduction to VS technology should you want to upgrade sometime in the near or distant future.
I've done extensive research on the Yamaha MD-8, it's a straight forward digital mini data disc 8 track with an analogue mixer (no effects) with excellent editing functions. I'm seriously considering buying a used MD-8, and using the VS as a multi effects and mastering tool while feeding the signals directly into the MD-8. I should add that I do not intend to use my computer in any way to create or manipulate my compositions, I have nothing negative to report regarding those who do, it's simply a matter of preference, which is what home recording is all about.
Good luck and keep us posted,
SB
 
I have a BR-8 and love it! It was designed for the 'bedroom' guitarist and people who don't like it were trying to use it in situations that it wasn't designed to be used. It's not really for band recordings but you can. There are inde groups that have CDs out that were recorded on the BR-8.

Yes, if you use all 8 tracks, you'll only get a 5 min song, that's fine for me. The BR-8 does have 3 recording modes, if you're just trying out a song, use one of the other modes.

I use the BR-8 to develop my songs and than record them for my band to hear. I recorded my first song 30min after opening the manual, I did have a 4 track analog so I knew the basics about recording. I can't emphasize the ease of recording. I have a friend that had never recorded, recording his first song using the BR-8 after 15min of instructions, he later brought one and is having a creative surge.

Musician Friend has the BR-532 for $399.99. Check out a BR demo here http://namm.harmony-central.com/SNAMM01/Content/Boss/PR/BR-532.html
 
VS-880

Seanb has some good advice, especially about ease of use, but contrary to his post, upon receipt of the original VS-880 I was recording tracks with effects in the first day and had a complete song recorded in the first week. Also, I wouldn't even consider compromising my sound quality with a MD.

Caveats: Yes the 880 is probably not as intuitive as the BR-8 and yes the manual is lacking. Additionally, there is a bit of a learning curve and there are numerous submenus to navigate. Also, I'm the type of person that likes diving in, figuring out, and learning things. Thus, I enjoyed spending the time to learn the tricks.

katmandude said:
Initially I want to make some simple demo tracks, but I am looking forward to doing more with it. Using it with a band.
Click to expand...

If you truly want to do more with it and use it with a band, get the VS-880. It is a more powerful system in the end.

Note: Get the VS-880EX or better, not the V-expanded or older. The newer VS-880's have more effects (like mastering effects and speaker modelers) and have an improved, backlit display (I really wish I had the backlit display).



Matt
 
BR-8 = Simplicity

When it comes to the creative process, I'm a huge fan of simplicity. Are you one of those people that wants to be able to push a button when an idea pops into your head? Then BR-8 is your thing. Could you ever imagine yourself complaining about not being able to hook up 15 different pieces of equipment, and micing up your drum kit with your 12 specially angled mics that you did complex algebraic trigonometric calculations to figure out where to put them using MIDI signaling wave analysis compressor ratio blah, blah, blah? Then forget it. BR8 is the Macintosh of home recording. And I love it.
 
Thanks everyone.

It seems to me that the simplicity of the BR-8 is what is most appealling. to be able to bang down some idea real fast plugged directly in w/o worrying about micing an amp and knowing too much tech.

I think the new br532 might be col, but the 4 tracks may be limiting. plus it is much easier for me to move zip disk files to the computer for archiving than the smartmedia card.

I'm gonna say that since I am not in a proper band right now, THe br-8 still makes the most sense. If I decide to "band" it again, then Maybe I'd trade up to something better.

Now I just need to see the final lowered price on these and decvide to go New or 2nd hand.

thanks again everyone. I'm new here, and I am sure I'll have some more questions in the future.
 
One thing I'd think long and hard about is backup: once you start rolling with the BR-8 you're gonna spend a lot on Zip discs unless you don't care about keeping your stuff and just erase over it.
 
If you've got a PC or Mac with a zip drive, you can back-up the song files to your computer, or, you can convert each track into a wave file on your PC and save them that way. You can get a 100 Mb external Zip drive for $100 on Amazon. Cheaper on eBay, I'm sure.

And if you want to get sophisticated with editing, for an additional $35, you can buy N-track for your PC and have computer-based editing and mixing on your PC... of course, that's taking another step away from simplicity, but keep in mind that you can expand the system greatly that way.

These days, I use the BR8 as both an easy to use sketch pad for ideas, and also as the recording front-end when I want to work on a full song, polishing it up on my PC, and then mixing down to CD.

Pete
 
I brought a 10 pk of ZIPs for $59 (after rebate) at TigerDirect.com, also used ZIPs work just as good, check out Ebay.
 
There is much more to the BR-8 than meets the eye.

Editing features are great. Tons of virtual tracks. Some fun amp models, loads of effects, etc. And it is VERY portable.

The only serious drawback from a BR-8 is the inability to record several tracks simultaneously.

Up untill now, I haven't viewed this as a drawback. When I'm not playing all the tracks myself, I generally prefer recording a track at a time, anyway.

When I need to record drums, I just run all of the microphones through a mixer, and then from the mixer's line out to the BR-8. Only trick to this setup is you have to make sure your drum mix is perfect before recording to the BR-8. So far, I've been very careful to do this, and luckily, haven't encountered much difficulty with this method.

Still, I can see myself moving more and more towards recording bands, so I am starting to wish I had just gotten a VS-880 in the first place.
 
The BR-8 is really for the 'bedroom' musician, some people are trying to do things with that it wasn't designed for, like recording a band but there are bands that have CDs that were recorded on the BR-8.

If you need to record a band than you need one of the VS models but be prepared for HUGE learning curve. I saw where the VS-840GX was under $700.

Like I've stated, I only use the BR-8 to help create songs and to take my songs, mixed to cassette for the band to hear. I've never had the need to record 2chs at the same time.
 
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