Help ....16 track ....What to buy?

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tape

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I currently have a fostex 8 track reel to reel with a 16 track mixer by Mackie. I would like to upgrade to a 16 track digital and burn my own CDs. Does anyone out there have any feedback on "best buy for the money"? I'm not looking for the cheapest just somthing decent to great. I'm also not opposed to reading any books on digital recording recording equipment. I'm sure I have a lot to learn. Have been using tape .......well.......Forever.... Thanks
 
Many of us around here are singing the praises of the Akai DPS-16. I own one, and can honestly say that this unit simply kicks ass.
It has 24-bit recording, 56-bit processing, and the editing functions are superior for such a reasonbly priced unit. The first song my partner and I recorded on this thing sounds like it came from a top-notch, big $$$$ studio.
Check it out here....

http://www.akaipro.com

You won't be dissapointed with the DPS-16... it's a gem. ;)
 
Buck's right. I love my dps16, too. It really is the best
stand-alone recorder I have ever heard.
 
They sure look cool. I like the way the display is slanted way up and it actually has 16 sliders. Anyone want to buy a Roland VS880EX? Just kidding. I wouldn't get nearly my money back and I use Cakewalk, but those Akai's just look like something to consider in the stand alone catagory. Do they come with effects or is there at least an option?
 
yes.

for a standalone that is one BEAST of a machine. i played with it at mars, i dont want one got my trusty reel to reel. but for a standalone it is AWESOME. $$$$ though.
 
At the moment I have a VS1680 which im pretty happy with, but will definitely check out the Yamaha AW4416 when it hits the shelves. From the sound of it, it is basically an 02R with a hard disc recorder and a 16 track hard drive thrown into the package. The only one of the 16 trackers that lets you record 16 tracks simultaneously. If this machine is as good as all the reviews are saying, it is definitely pant wetting time!!!!
 
I downloaded a manual for the Akia. Looks pretty good. I was wondering if the Yamaha was out or if anyone knew when it was going to be coming out? By the way thanks for all the great responses. I just found this board on Monday. Great place for Info.
 
Yes the Yamaha is out.It may be hard to find someone who has them in stock right now though.I think Musician's Friend may have some.I am considering either the Yamaha,or a PC based DAW.It's a tough decision.I understand the Yamaha still has some minor O.S. bugs,and does not export to wav like their website said it does.But they are supposedly going to fix that in a software upgrade.There is a forum for the AW4416,but it is new and doesn't have alot of users yet.Here is the URL...
http://www.socialentropy.com/aw4416/

http://www.riksmusic.com has a really good price on the unit,but you either have to sign up for their buyers club,or call them before you can see the price
 
Buck, ffmada:

* What's it like working on such a diddy little screen?

* How does it handle effects? Does it take plug-ins? Can it handle external effects units? I don't see any S/PDIF connections listed. Does it have any?
 
dobro - It has coaxial SPDIF in/out. The internal effects are decent, but I also use my laexicon alot. It is easy to use external effects because you can use the aux sends and return the effects into two tracks at mixdown, so you don't waste any tracks. I have done this a few times and it works just like mixing down on an analog board. I have just recently started using a program that lets you open up entire projects on your PC. You have to make a CDR backup off of the DPS and you simple put it into your computer and open it up with the free program. It opens all the tracks into individual wave files so you can edit with your program of choice. Please ask anymore questions ya' got and I'll try and help.
 
oh yeah, working on the little screen isn't bad at all. The display only takes a couple of minutes to get used to because it is really clear and was actually made for people who want to record without a magnifying(sp?) glass.;)
 
Hm. Why export your files to a computer editor? Can't you edit individual tracks on the Akai? Also, since it's got S/PDIF, why not just export the file from the Akai directly to the computer hard drive?
 
Also, what are the preamps like? Also, how does it deal with external preamps and channel strips? Can you bypass the Akai preamps completely?
 
dobro - You can edit individual tracks on the unit itself. In fact, it is sometimes easier then with n-tracks. The main reason that I load the projects into my pc is so I can use my plugin's. I have recorded a few songs in which I did not require the use of additional effects and therefore never transfered on to my pc, and I like the results just as well.;)

The reason I don't use the SPDIF out directly to the computer is because I have had many problems with my lexicon core 2 card and I have yet to get a replacement. I have to use the SB Live card that came with it, and it does not have SPDIF.:)

The preamps are not good, IMHO, but I get great results using my Joe Meek and Art pres. You cannot bypass the pres all together unless you have an external pre with SPDIF out. But I have found that the onboard pres don't add any noise or artifacts if you keep the turned down (send them a line level signal).

I think I answered everything;) Feel free to ask any other questions:)
 
If I understand it correctly, the instant you get your hands on a mindprint envoice, they are no longer grubby, but translated magically into Golden Hands of Skill and Grace. Well, that's what I heard, anyway.
 
Yes... it's true. It's like having Todd Rundgren in a box.
You are magically tranformed into a top-notch producer/engineer.
Not bad for 500 bucks, eh? :D
 
HOT DAMN!!!!:)

I don't really need to eat for awhile. . . . . . . . . . I'm gettin me en envoice. :);):);)
 
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