digital recorder with best editing capabilities?

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pougher

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hi, of all the stand alone digital recorders on the market, is there one that has vast editing capabilities? Such as being able to reverse a recorded track, speed it up, slow it down, fade it in, fade it out, etc. Is there a recorder that allows you to perform these tasks easily in real time while mixing down? (For example i would like to turn a knob to speed up a track while mixing down)
Or do most people edit tracks on their computer?
Thanks alot

John
 
John,

> of all the stand alone digital recorders on the market, is there one that ... Or do most people edit tracks on their computer? <

For the most bang for the buck, and the most comprehensive and convenient editing capabilities, a computer-based DAW beats any standalone recorder by a mile.

--Ethan
 
Akai DPS 16, 24 both have a program which by using your computer for editing and automation via midi you have the power of computer editing and full automation. It doesnt move the faders Physically though but thats the next best thing
 
"Bang for your buck"... yes, computers are cheaper.

"convenient editing capabilites"... I don't really agree.
A stand alone unit won't crash on you, won't confuse and confound you, and you won't spend 8 hours working on the same guitar solo, only to have it disappear because you clicked on the wrong window.

There's stuff I can do with a stand-alone unit that would take me much longer with a computer. My Akai DPS-16 has a ton of editing capabilities and on-board effects that are extremely easy to work with.

You have to answer a few questions for yourself, like...
Do I like to do an active mix with REAL faders? My personal choice is to push REAL faders and turn REAL dials when panning. Actually, a digital recorder is a computer with a hard drive and all... but, with a much easier learning curve.
Anyway, I don't think either one is "better" than the other. It's like many other things in life... subjective to the individual.

Recording with a computer is better if you know alot about computers and have patience. I'm not a "computer guy" and I don't have the patience for computers, so the stand-alone route works better for me.

Buck
 
Can You Move several faders at once with a mouse? No!! Computers are good for mastering to and burning CDs. Oh yeah they make exelent MIDI Sequensers.
 
Hey Buck

Did you get in on the 900.00 price drop at Mars on your DPS-16?
 
Buck,

> A stand alone unit won't crash on you, won't confuse and confound you, and you won't spend 8 hours working on the same guitar solo, only to have it disappear because you clicked on the wrong window. <

I don't have any of those problems! I will agree that for folks who are fearful of computers and don't want to learn about them, a stand-alone recorder makes sense. Outboard is also good if you do a lot of remote recording. But there's no way a stand-alone unit can edit at the level of detail of a good DAW, or let you see what you're doing was well as on a pair of 21-inch monitors.

Also, with a computer, if you don't like the EQ that came with your DAW program you can buy another. And when an update is available you can just install it. Versus having to buy a whole new unit!

> Recording with a computer is better if you know alot about computers and have patience. I'm not a "computer guy" and I don't have the patience for computers, so the stand-alone route works better for me. <

Yes, that's what I meant. But for people willing to learn a little more, a computer-based system is ultimately more satisfying IMO.

--Ethan
 
Computer rcording is the work of the Devil, and I REFUSE to do it!!!!!! :)

Just kidding. I use an "all-in-one" package (whatever the hell THAT means, since I have $3,000 in ourboard gear....), but the computer transition is inevitable for ALL of us one of these days. Someday, I expect the expectations and demands of clients to make it nearly impossible to get around it. You may disagree with me, but I bet you're ALSO the guy who thinks analog tape is still the greatest thing since sliced bread!! Oooops, did I just hit a nerve?

Okay, I just opened myself up to a bitch slap or two....so let me have it!! :)
 
Yo Yo Yo:

I have the Yam 2816 and it's a stand-alone DAW; but, you know what? It's really a PC in a miniature box with a smaller screen and I don't have a mouse but one is available.

I dig the 2816. I might dig other gear if given the chance to experience it first hand.

Green Hornet:D :D :p :p :cool: :cool:
 
Another thumb up for the DAW

Green Hornet and I already had the car-pulling in Huaxtec "Korg D16-thread", so I'll give a couple of suggestions:

-Korg D16 16 tracks, 8 track simul. record, 13 50mm faders, pan knobs, TOUCHSCREEN (!), 2,1 Gb HDD (yes, small) $550-900
-Korg D1600 D16's bigger brother, 17 60mm faders, 20Gb HDD, phantompower for 4 mic pre's, internal CD-RW drive $1499
-Akai DPS1616 track, 10 track simul recording, 17 60mm faders, 4 aux sends 12Gb HDD $999
-Yamaha 2816 9 60mm motor(!)faders, 16 track, 8 track simul recording, big screen, nice touch... $1800
-Yamaha 4416 17 60mm motorfaders, 4 band EQ, dynamics on all channels, 16 track, 16 track simul recording, real nice mutha $2700 (price= :( )

-Forget the Fostex stuff, that's for kids :D
-Roland VS-series has a steaper learning curve, (maybe consider VS-1824)
cheerz
 
Dont Forget Roland Uses Data Compression.
By the way the Akai has 20gb hd. and Auotomation (not the kind that uses motors to move the faders) for those parts that need drastic changes in a mix. The Yamaha Moves the faders but charges about 2000 more for that feature and dont really compare in effects and dont have Pan pots that are automated or even touchable for that matter.
 
Darrin, yeah, but...

I was gonna say that about Roland, but the VS1824 has a lot of non-compressed recording modes.

BTW, the automation from the Akai, which you were talking about; well, the Korgs have that too since software v. 2.0.
They even have MIDI-message send capabilities through fadermovement.
I agree that the Yamahas ask a lot just for those moving faders, but remember, the EQ and dynamics on the Yammies ARE very comprehensive compared to the others....
 
I can't comment on the other brand all in one recorders but I have both a vs880 and a sonar based daw and imo the roland effects kick ass on all of the sonar effects.If you need portability the all in one is the way to go.If you want to edit,loop and automate it's daw all the way baby!As far as data compression I realy think it's a non-issue in the top recording modes,only your dog will know for sure.Good luck!
 
drummerbones...

Yes, 2-inch tape is still the best way to record.

There.... I said it.
And I believe it, too!

The best sounding CD's have "dad" on them (digital-analog-digital) rather than a totally digital product (ddd).

Problem is, I don't have $100,000 to toss around for the proper gear. :(

Buck
 
Sometimes to smooth out digital recordings that sound too harsh I master to my reel to reel. then burn from it.
 
Im using a Tascam 788, and am pretty impressed with the editing capabilities. ..Dont have much personal time on the others, but as far as value goes..... Im pretty impressed.
 
Prior to getting a Tascam 788, I had a Roland VS880, Logic Audio, Cakewalk 9, and Power Tracks. I like the 788. Soon they are coming out with a v. 2.0 chip for it that will allow 4 gig partitions into as much 60 gigs.
 
you had asked if there was a way on a stand alone to change the speed of an individual track while the mix is playing.

No there isnt.

Only thing that can do something similar is a plug called Pitch n time.
its only for pro tools.
sorry.
 
Just to add that half the fun for me is figuring out ways to make a machine (whatever machine) do what I want it to do. There are really so many options on most new machines that a lot's possible. For instance, I just finished a rather complicated piece--16 tracks humming, lots of orchestral parts--and I set up a dozen automated scenes. Sometimes, though, I needed to use faders to ride various solos, so I easily disengaged those particular tracks (from the scene recalls) and worked the faders while everything else changed automatically. Very easy to set up, easy to do... and good results. Automated faders would be nice, but I'm usually able to work around my lack of them and was able to use the saved cash for some outboard gear. (If money had been no concern, though, I'd certainly have gone for automated faders just for the extra ease of use.)

And I'm only talking here about my simple Yamaha aw16g. So much is possible, even with the cheap machines, if one takes some time to research and experiment. I imagine that more expensive machines do the job easier, but the sonic results may not be much different in many cases.

And 18 months of regular use with no crashes, no losses of any kind. Even as a guy who's basically comfortable on computers, I'm obviously a big fan of the stand-alones for music recording.

J.

P.S. I just saw a demo Yamaha 2816 for $499 at my local Guitar Center (Ventura, CA). I'd have bought it in a second if I wasn't already set. It seems that the prices keep falling--ya' gotta love this strong competition and rising technology.
 
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