digital recorders?

[beatlefreak]

Please inform me because I am very confused and have looked for a thread to clear this up for me but haven't found one. That means that this is probaly a stupid question but bear with me. I want to be able to record demos out of a homestudio. I thought that the best way to do that would be to hook up a the sound system to a computer with a program such as pro tools or cakewalk or something. Then I started reading about digital recorders and got confused. I have really to questions that I would appreciate answered throughly and understandably.

The first question is, exactly what is the difference between digital recorders and a computer set up?

The second is, are they used together or seperate or att diffrent times?

I am confused on how this is all set up. Please explain it to me. I want to have a good set up and want to go the best direction. I also have a budget so I want to go the best anmd cheapest way I casn. I don't however want to go the crappy way if I can go a good way. I am willing to find money for good quality.

PLEASE explain it to me and help me out.

THANKS.

 

[Stealthtech]

Digital recorders are stand alone and portable. They make good recordings but can be limited as far as track count and effects and editing.
PC recording has far more flexability. More track count, more effects more editing. But you will need a descent program and card and a relatively fast PC.
It can be a difficult choice, but I have found that the PC route is better all around.

 

[Prophet_81]

First, I don't have a lot of experience with computer based studios, but I have been working with digital studios since I started.

They are different routes to the same destination.

The main reason I prefer digital studios is because many of them are portable. In February, I was able to take my whole studio in my truck from Kansas City, MO to Wichita, KS to record a blues band. Now, you can use laptops for your studio but, the laptop alone can be a couple thousand dollars before you buy the software and other equipment you might need.

Portable and cost effective.

 

[MiXit-G]

Whats your budget?

Digital workstations "can" be connected to computer and vice-versa, but mainly they work inependently of each other.

Portability is a big one, like prophet said hauling a computer around isn't much fun and laptops are expensive (ones powerful enough for music production).

Checkout the fostex forum people are having good results with the mr-8.

Checkout the computer and soundcard forum for options in that direction.

 

[Adam J. wannabe]

if you already have a computer,and you plan on doing this at home, the best bet would be too use that for starters. If you have any money, then get a better sound card that has the correct inputs that you will need. (i have a sound blster audigy that comes with a 5 1/4 bay drive ( goes where your 2nd cd rom would be) so i have optical, RCA, and digital inputs, as well as opt, spdif out.
normal soundcards will have a single input and a cheap mike input, they dont sound the best, but you have to start somewhere.

When i first got into home recording i went to a shareware site. (look up music shareware on yahoo), and got some shareware multitrack recording programs for free.

Its either that or go buy a standalone unit that doesnt need anything but whatever your recording.( they're even putting cd burners on them now).

the standalone unit i had was fun (Roland 890ex) but i didnt like how miked drumsets were sounding on it.

 

[gospel]

I researched this topic for almost a year before I took the plunge into digital recording. I found out that if you go the computer way most computers do not come with soundcards that have multiple ins/outs so you have to buy a soundcard that does. They cost from $250 on up to $1000s. Then you have to buy multi-track software. Also, you either have to install the card yourself or pay someone to install it. This goes without saying that your computer needs to have a fast processor and at least 256mb RAM to do a decent job of recording. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that recording on a PC is not the way to go. I'm just saying that for me being a newbie to recording and not having the $$ it was not the best way to start out. Now I'll tell you what I did do.
I already had a decent PC: 1.7ghz celeron, 256mb DDR RAM, 20gb HD. So I bought a Fostex MR-8 for $299 and downloaded n-track multi-tracking software for $49. I record tracks on the MR-8 and then transfer them via USB to my PC into n-track for mixing, effects, etc. The only drawback to the MR-8 that I've found is you can only record two tracks simultaneously. However, Fostex and other brands have other recorders for more $ that will record more tracks simultaneously.
This may look like a feeble setup to some of these other guys on here, but it works well for me (especially for $350)

 

[wedsr1]

Digital Multitrackers

Check these out:
1. Korg D1600 http://www.korgnorthwest.com/D1600.htm
2. Yamaha AW16G http://www.awg16.com
3. Boss (8-track) $500 http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/en/BR_864.html

 

[iwanarock]

BeattleFreak .... You have had some good help and suggestions already let me put my Two cents in.

First and foremost which ever direction you go (PC or DAW) both have there merits and both can deliver great results. I happened to be one who does both. The biggest draw back on a DAW is probably editing capability, not that it can't do it, it is just not as easy as it is on a PC (cut and paste). So I record to a Yamaha AW4416 (DAW) and when I have a lot of editing to do I will transfer from their to a PC. There probably is more available for Mastering on a PC but I one of the reason I went to the 4416 is Waves built a add on Card for that system that provides some great and useful mastering tools and I usually do it there but will probably do more in the future on both the 4416 and the PC. The PC does usually provide more tracks but there are some very nice 16 & 24 track DAW's on the market with tons of Virtual tracks available behind each track, so I depends on your needs. But Keep in mind that bouncing in the Digital world (combining multiple tracks into one or a stereo pair) is much much better then in the analog world, you don't lose much if any clarity of the sound. My 4416 has 16 tracks, with, with 8 virtual tracks behind each track. Most of my recordings are over 16 tracks when done utilizing bouncing, but I like to do a lot of overdubs and stereo pairs. Tracks haven't limited me yet I just have to plan a little more.

Another positive on a DAW is you buy it and take it out of the box and have everything you need to get started, a mixer, multiple inputs, Effects units, EQ, Dynamics libraries, phantom power, Mic Pre's, 16-bit, 24-Bit, etc. But don't be fooled you can outgrow, but you can also use it with a PC down the road and continue to expand. Many PC users say it is a better investment. I am in the IT field and let me tell ya you can outgrow a PC real quick, next time Microsoft comes out with a New OS that requires more memory or processing power all the software manufacturers build there new plug-ins or recording packages around that and all of a sudden you need a new PC at the minimum more Memory and a larger hard drive to run the stuff. Pc technology moves very quickly so don't be fooled that either one will last for ever. I personally like the DAW better I feel it is easy to use, and the sound quality is outstanding, and I think it looks cooler IMHO, but both are good solutions depending on the amount of time you want to put into building your recording console and how PC literate (SW & HW) you are.

I agree with WedSr1 take a look at the Yamaha AW16G it is getting great reviews and has a lot of the functionality of my machine at a fraction of the price. Good luck on your decision.

 

[beatlefreak]

what about the Roland VS-840GX multitrack recording system will that plug into a compuer for additional mixing and editting. The recorders i'm looking at is either that one or Zoom MRS-1044 recorder.
What I want to know is for the l3east amount of money can I do this. Run through a recorder (that has to have at least four mics preferably 5 at a time recorded.) to do the actual recording then hook the recorder up to my computer through a USB cable to the computer to a program like maybe cakewalk sonar and do the mixing and editing and then burn it onto as CD that way and get good to semi-good results. I'm looking to just get started in this. I know to get pro sound you have to run it through a computer with a control board. But could I record good sounding demo's this way, or could I record at all this way?

THANKS

 

[Stealthtech]

what about the Roland VS-840GX multitrack recording system will that plug into a compuer for additional mixing and editting. The recorders i'm looking at is either that one or Zoom MRS-1044 recorder.
What I want to know is for the l3east amount of money can I do this. Run through a recorder (that has to have at least four mics preferably 5 at a time recorded.) to do the actual recording then hook the recorder up to my computer through a USB cable to the computer to a program like maybe cakewalk sonar and do the mixing and editing and then burn it onto as CD that way and get good to semi-good results. I'm looking to just get started in this. I know to get pro sound you have to run it through a computer with a control board. But could I record good sounding demo's this way, or could I record at all this way?

THANKS

Having a Digital Recorder in conjunction with a PC editing program is a great way to go. You will still need a descent card to do the transfers. Preferably spdif transfers.

 

[MiXit-G]

You will still need a descent card to do the transfers. Preferably spdif transfers

Not really, any cheap card with spdif will yeild the same results, its your source that will make the most difference....how you recorded it.

If spdif is all you need, but if you need lightpipe and or analog I/O's then you will have to part with more cash but if you are using say the roland to do your recording and just mixing down to your computer then your soundcard needs will be reduced significantly and spdif will suffice for your transfers, although with lightpipe you can transfer 8 at a time instead 1 or 2 with spdif.

 

[LongWaveStudio]

i think my main thing about it is i know i can turn on a stand alone recorder and it's very unlikely to crash or give me some microsoft junky problem! while ive never had problems with my computer, it is possible! but saying that, yes a standalone could crash too, but at least it hasn't got hundreds of drivers to conflict with.


i have a nuendo machine with loads of outputs which go into a mixing desk. I also have some digital machines synced up via MTC. this works fine for me. anything that requires editing, i fly over to nuendo, or record it in nuendo in the first place.

 

[MiXit-G]

i think my main thing about it is i know i can turn on a stand alone recorder and it's very unlikely to crash or give me some microsoft junky problem!

I with you on that one, a PC is always likely to crash.