digital recorders

[Sandman2000]

I'm looking for a recorder in the $1000-1500 range.There are 3 recorders that I have in mine.The Roland Vs-890 and the cheaper Fostex Vf-16 And the Akai Dps12i.I Want to know which one to buy.The only thing I don't like about the Vs-890 is that It only has 8 tracks.Thats the reason I considered the others.I know over all that the Vs-890 has more features(mastering kit,mic modeling and guitar effects) but the others have more tracks.Can any of you help me.

 

[Roger Harper]

IMHO the best value out there right now is a used Roland VS 1680. You can find them in the $1200-$1500 range on ebay. I actually have a 1680 that I am thinking of selling. Please let me know if you are interested.

Thanks,
Roger

 

[PannyDeters]

The VS890 may only have 8 tracks, but it also has a shitload of virtual tracks. Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't that mean you can bounce with almost ZERO sound loss? That means you could have four drum mics, send it to two tracks (for stereo) and still have six tracks left.

How many tracks do you need?

Drums 1
Bass 2
Guitar Left 3
Guitar Right 4
Guitar solo 5
Vocal 6
Backup vocals 7
Track 8 for percussion, horns, keys, whatever.

If you know any ska fans check out an album called The Clubs of Hopes and Fears. Buford O'Sullivan made that thing in his apartment with an older VS880. We're talking ska here. That means vocals, backups, drums, bass, guitar, keys, trombone, and trumpet at the very least. I was surprised as hell when I found out that he made that album on that machine....

Danny

 

[fanbagglia]

Make sure you actually touch the Akai and Fostex units. For overall quality, the VS880EX I have is surperb. Other units may feel cheap to the touch (faders, knobs, etc.) and not offer as good as sound quality as the Roland units.

For somenbody like me that never stepped into a pro studio and watched anyone run any of the various equipment (let alone somebody like me that didn't have any knowledge of what, how, and when to use copy, adjust EQ, control phase problems, on and on) I'd say that the recordings I've done on my VS880EX is pretty damn good.

Even though Roland has its' downfalls, I was looking for a unit with digital features and something with great sound quality for my demos at a good price. I found it.