Getting started

[frankdoodles]

I'm trying to get started with recording.

I play mostly alone, or with one or two others sometimes.
I rec guitar, vocs, midi, little drums.
I'm trying to figure out whether I should get

1) a delta 44 or 66 audio interface and a mixer

-or-

2) get a tascam fw 1884, which does both, and is like a DAW w/ motorized faders, etc.

the tas'll cost me a few hundred more i figure, but it might be worth it. I'm leaning towards the tas.

Is this a mistake?
What do you guys think?

Will it work with cubase sx?
AS a sererate question : should I switch to protools? Is it that much better that cubase, or is that a matter of taste?

thanks.

 

[Jeyan]

Cubase, Protools, Sonar all matter of taste, stick on to anything you are comfortable with. Going for a HD is a very good option because you get better quality analog to digital converters than the soundcard ones for sure. Mostly the mixer part is controlled through software in the DAW and it is the better way to go in that price range you are searching for. Using a mixer and a soundcard may have a little bit more flexibilty, but I prefer DAW for better quality. Have you considered your other options like MOTU 896 HD and DIGI002 rack?

 

[frankdoodles]

Have you considered your other options like MOTU 896 HD and DIGI002 rack?

Thanks for the info. I've looked them over a bit now. Here's how it seems to me :

1) to my newbie eyes, the MOFU seems a lot morepowerful for the same price. I am wrong here?

2)Comparing the MOFU to the tascam FW, you lose the mixer surface, but gain a lot of processing power, inputs, just quality in general.

So I'm thinking this way: I get a MOFU HD now, continue to mix on my comp, and if I decide later on to add a mixer, I can, digital or otherwise. If I get the tascam, I kind of limit my potential a bit, becuase any upgrade from there would require a new mixer, and a new interface. Am I thinking ok here?

++OR++
I found a classified ad for a used Roland VMC 7100 for like 450 bucks. In "good" condition. If I just bought this, do I even need anything else? It seems to have both a processor and a mixer. If I used this, and recorded on my computer, would I still need to buy a high end audio inteface for the comp? or would the roland do all the processing, and the comp could just record?
I currently have a soundblast audigy platinum 2, which does 24/96 conversions.
Then I could use the extra dough for monitors and a pre-amp.

Is the procesing from the roland relatively simlar to that of the MOTU?

What do you all think of used equip.? Worth the savings? or too risky?

This is all so confusing!

thanks for the help!

 

[tdukex]

frankdoodles, I highly recommend you spend a good deal more time at this site and others like Gearslutz before buying. I've been hanging around these places for four + years, and I haven't heard too many people say a DAW has better AD conversion than a good quality sound card. Better than a Delta 44? Maybe. But I am skeptical, and there are much better soundcards than the Delta 44.

Fact is, although DAWs have their proponents, the majority of serious recordists opt for the computer recording setup for the obvious reasons that you have access to potentially more power, much more versatility, tons of incredible software, and also more flexibility when upgrading individual components to your recording setup (including ADA conversion).

I'm not knocking DAWS. There are good reasons to choose one, but I'm not of the opinion those reasons include because it offers better ADA conversion. I don't believe either system is better, although the advantages of a DAW most often mentioned are ease of use and portability.

You should consider what your needs are today and five years from now, and you should definitely get more opinions before you buy.