Fostex VF160

  • Thread starter Thread starter lar
  • Start date Start date
L

lar

New member
Can anybody that has a VF160 tell me if they REALLY like or do not like the unit and basically why. I've been considering the new Tascam 2488, but something about the Fostex unit seems like a good value considering the current price difference between the two units.
Thank you
lar
 
I love my VF160. It's VERY stable, very well thought out. The system hardly ever freezes, and if it does, there's no data loss because the machine saves as you go. It's harddrive is easily upgradable, the preamps are transparent, it's very intuitive. I am VERY glad I bought one.

Personally, as one who listens to DVD-Audio, SACD, as well as regular 16bit CD's, I think 24bit recording is over-rated. BUT the Tascam looks like a nice unit... a real bargain too. I understand some of the early models have had some teething issues, but that's to be expected, perhaps.
 
Thanks Billisa,
The one thing I like about the VF160 is that it is true 16 tracks with no paired stereo tracks.
Can you import .wav files easily and can you insert an audio CD and record tracks directly to the unit's hard drive?
Thanks
lar
 
lar said:
Thanks Billisa,
The one thing I like about the VF160 is that it is true 16 tracks with no paired stereo tracks.
Can you import .wav files easily and can you insert an audio CD and record tracks directly to the unit's hard drive?
Thanks
lar
Click to expand...

The separate tracks is a great thing. Yes, wavs and audio CD's can be easily imported via the onboard CDRW. Sometimes wav files not saved properly on a CD won't import, but I've never had a problem... The burner on the VF160 is dead-on accurate.

The VF160EX is just coming out, with a silver facia, and no SCSI port, but other than that, it's the same.

The eq low band on each track is shelving, not parametric -- mid and high eq are parametric.

2 effects can be applied to each track, but only two can be used at any one time... However, you can bounce a track with an effect applied, then bounce it back, then add different effects to that track or other tracks.
 
Hey billisa, really appreciate the info.
Re the new EX model you mentioned, if they dumped the SCSI, do you know if they put in a USB port?
If not, then buying the current model would not be loosing out on any advanced features
lar
 
I can't say for sure about the USB, but I don't think the new model has one. American Musical Supply is advertizing the VF160EX, so their website might address whether or not there's a USB.
 
link...

Lar,
There's a really good discussion group dedicated to vf160 users. If you go there and visit the previous threads you'll find answers to most of your queries, and more, from people who are users.

The link is here...

http://pub15.ezboard.com/fvf16frm1

BTW I own one and love it, I don't regret buying it even though I bought when they were new and I paid £999 (about US $1400) a couple of years ago. These are great machines. Solid and reliable in my experience.

Having said that I am not familiar with the competition, so you must shop around and make your decision.

Good luck.
 
Hey billisa and glynb ...... thanks! Really appreciate the info
lar
 
VF160

What I don't like about it is that I'm probably not going to get rid of it for a long time (I still have a 24-year old Teac 3-head cassette deck that does everything that a Dolby-B deck should, and still does it well!). It's a great CD-quality recorder---tough, easy to set up, and the TOSLINK I/O allows for easy and inexpensive expansion.

If I needed a MIDI module, 4 LoZ inputs, and USB (which is convenient), I might spring the extra $500 for the 2488. Then again, the inputs and MIDI might be better purchased separately for use with the next generation of stuff (preamps and instuments are the things that you tend to keep anyway). The effects on the 2488 look more versatile.

If you want to use your machine a lot with a live band (namely, more than 8-tracks at a time), the Fostex is very tough to beat. With a Behringer ADA8000, you'd have a 16-track (10 of 'em LoZ) recording unit for an additional $200 (right now, that's a total of $900). If your band works with an MD/CD unit with S/PDIF (or your guitar player has a modeler with S/PDIF outs), you'd have 10 recording channels right out of the box. It's amazing how many channels you can go through with even a trio! Then again, if you usually do stereo-pair location micing, 4-LoZ+4HiZ inupts and 8 recording tracks seems like plenty., so the 24888 might be fine.

Since I have the VF160 and a lot of outboard gear, my next recording pruchase will probably be a another laptop/software/interface combination. But, even with that, for 44.1kHz recording, I could use the VF in ADAT Mixer Mode.

Like I said . . .I think it's going to be a while before I give it up.

Good luck,
Paj
8^)
 
I just noticed in my latest Musician's Friend catalog that the VF160 is only $699 - with the built-in CD! That's only $100 more than the VF80!
 
jfrog said:
I just noticed in my latest Musician's Friend catalog that the VF160 is only $699 - with the built-in CD! That's only $100 more than the VF80!
Click to expand...

It's a phenomenal buy. The VF160EX will be out soon, at $899.00, I believe. Still a great buy!
 
Fostex VF160 at $699.99 - OR - Tascam 2488 at $1,199.99.
What do you think?
lar
 
Oh, I love the thing. I use it strictly for remote recording, like for example I'll take it out to a warehouse to record drum tracks in a big empty room, etc. - it's like a minature mobile truck! I use outboard mic pres (Presonus Digimax, connected via optical) and that makes all the difference in the world.

I've never mixed with it, I just immediately transfer my tracks to cd and load them into the DAW for mixdown - but it seems like it would be easy enough to deal with; i LOVE having 16 physical faders on it. Brilliant.

I mean, being 16bit sorta limits it to "semi-pro" quality, but on the other hand nobody has ever listened to my recordings and said "hmm, the bitrate on those drums seems low" or something... It's clean, that's for sure.

I have nothing bad to say about it - maybe that the mic pres are cheap and noisy, but of course you'd probably expect that in this price range. In a dream world it would have more i/o connection options and the ability to run at 24 bit... But, I'm still not complaining. Totally solid piece of gear that I rely on, often! You could absolutely make a really decent, pro-sounding recording with it - absolutely.
 
24bit

DaveSweet said:
I mean, being 16bit sorta limits it to "semi-pro" quality, but on the other hand nobody has ever listened to my recordings and said "hmm, the bitrate on those drums seems low" or something... It's clean, that's for sure.
Click to expand...

I must say, I am finding 24bit recordings to be VERY subtle in difference to 16bit. I'm comparing some Peter Gabriel CD's to their SACD counterparts, also some CD's with their DVD-A's (24bit/96khz). I really don't think I'll be buying anymore SACD's or DVD-A's if I own a nice CD remaster, or one is currently available...

Obviously surround sound would be different, but when I played the latest Peter Gabriel in both formats (CD/SACD), side by side in stereo, no one could tell the difference.

Any perceived or obvious differences in some other recordings could be due to a better or different remastering for the new formats -- in which case any comparison is apples and oranges.

I'm not saying 24bit doesn't have advantages, but I'm wondering if this is yet another example of diminishing returns -- like .0005%THD as opposed to "only" .005%THD. I don't plan on recording a pin dropping onto cotton, so I think there comes a point where most lister's hearing just isn't that attuned and will not benefit from the added bit depth.
 
Well, I agree - I can definitely hear a difference between 16 bit and 24 bit recordings, however... if we're talking about budget recording, and we probably are, then there are a ton of other potential problems that outweigh the 16 bit/24 bit issue. I mean, if you're recording a drumkit in a horrible sounding garage, it's going to sound equally lousy at 24 bit. Hell, it might actually sound WORSE at 24 bit, as the extra clarity only reveals just exactly how bad that room sounds.

For the majority of users, I've gotta say that 16 bit 44.1k is completely acceptable. Of course I'd love it if the fostex was 24 bit, but obviously it's not a dealbreaker. I'M still the thing that screws up the sound quality, I can't blame it on the bit rate!
 
So what did you do?

Did you go for the Fostex VF160EX or the Tascam 2488? I had the similar dilemma on what to get and ended up going with the Tascam 2488 and must say I'm not convinced I made the right decision. The Tascams display view is tiny (hurts my eye's), the guitar FX (especially the distortion) don't sound very good, and the learning curve is kind of big. I'm a songwriter I want simplicity with quality. I was also considering the Yamaha 16G. So how do you like the Fostex and what did you end up paying?
 
VF160 owner here. I paid $899 (AMS) and got the CDRW thingie with it.

Display is a little small for my taste but does the job. I started with a really nice MOTU unit for my computer and developed a fast HATRED for recording with computers. Some guys can do it.. some can't. I have little patience for bullcrap and dumped it off for a huge loss. (Sorry for being rather blunt but just wanna be honest)

I wanted a digital multitracker built like a tank and that could take a beating. Heck.. I accidentally knocked a beer over the thing and wiped what I could off with my sleeve. Still works fine. It might crap out in a few weeks.. who knows. For now it works great.

My only peeve with it is the instruction book. It gets a little techy at times and I had to re-read a few things to figure them out. I should also mention that I'm an idiot and just a plain musician and not a studio geek type.



Your Tascam should probably work fine for ya. Alot of people feel the grass is greener on the other side of the fence and often feel someone elses unit is better. This is common with most gear. (Especially if some mag reviews the item you DON'T have and gives it a rave review... then you feel all the worse... and I've been there man)

As long as your unit doesn't crap out on ya then you should be fine. Start writing music and stop worrying about what the other guys own! ;)



Cheers,
//AdrianFly
 
I've had my VF160 since April. Picked it up from Musicians Friend for $699 w/CDRW.
I don't like the compressor limitations. It can't be used on all channels without bouncing tracks. What a hassle, so I bought a dbx 266XL. Take that Fostex!
It only has 2 XLR connections. That's not really a problem because I only have two condenser mics that need phantom power anyway. But it would be nice to have more.
It would be nice to A/B the setting changes to the scenes before saving them.
I also had a track selector button stick on me last week. It has since assumed normal operation. Kind of scary.
It has alot of buttons on it. A lot more than the Tascam Porta One cassette 4 track I bought in 1986.
I researched the crap out of these things(16 track hard disk recorders) before I bought one. The VF160 seemed to fit the bill for what I was looking for. I actually read through the manual twice before I bought it, once before I powered it up and again while I was messing with it, so it was pretty clear to me.
I am very happy with mine. It makes some kick ass recordings.
 
AdrianFly said:
Heck.. I accidentally knocked a beer over the thing and wiped what I could off with my sleeve. Still works fine.
Click to expand...

The VF or your sleeve?

:p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top