Help me choose a digital recorder... korg, zoom, akai... ahh!!!

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fooshkee2

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so i've been researching for a while and really want to purchase a digital recorder soon...
here's what i am looking for as far as "must have" features:

1. atleast 4 track simultanous recording, 6 or more would be preferable
2. decent effects
3. atleast a 20gb hard drive, or one that is upgradeable
4. cd burner option (preferabley a bay i can just install one in myself)
5. usb interface would be nice

My budget is about $800 max... I'd prefer to buy new, but I'm willing to buy used if I'm gonna get a good bit more...

here's the ones i've been throwing around...

1. Akai DPS 16 - I know this has been hardcore discontinued for a while, but all the stuff I've read about it looks

awesome... and that screen is so big! I could probably snag one for $600-800 on ebay... i'm wary of buying something so far

out of production though

2. Korg D1600 - also discontinued... but probably about $800ish on ebay... looks like an awesome system all around, that touch screen is cool.

3. Korg D1200 - discontinued as well... only 4 simultanous which is not ideal... probably $600ish on ebay.

4. Zoom MRS1266 - I could snag one of these from music123.com new for $699 without the cd burner... it's on closeout. Looks
great for the money, 6 simultanous, nice built in drum machine. I've heard the learning curve is pretty steep though... is
this true? What's the general overall feel for this unit?

5. Tascam 788 - This is also an older unit but I could snag one for under $450 easily on ebay and upgrade the firmware and

hard drive and have a nice unit. It's about $600 new... It doesn't have phantom power which is a bummer, but oh well.

So would would y'all recommend? I've been leaning towards snagging the Zoom-MRS1266 on closeout... seems like a pretty good unit. Or would it be better to get the Korg or Akai used?

Are there any other units in this "class" that would be worth checking out? Thanks... i appreciate any advice!
 
The Zoom 1266 has been discontinued, a replacement is expected to be on the market soon, or so I have heard. No details on features, etc.

The learning curve for the 1266 is not steep at all, just the opposite from what I've heard, although I have no experience with other units. I certainly had no problem learning to use the Zoom. And I'm very happy with the Zoom.

If you decide on the Zoom, a CD burner can easily be added. The brand that Zoom uses is Lite On. Go here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZoomMRS/ for more information on the CD burners that most people are installing.

The USB board is optional, and costs around $80. Worth it, too. If you get the USB, go to Zoom's website and download the takewave program. It enables you to convert v-takes to wav files and do other useful things.
 
I use the Korg D1200mkII which is basically a 12 track version of the D1600, and I love it. It has everything that you have in your list or better (e.g. a 40 GB hard disk) and it's extremely easy to do basic recording on. Once you're comfortable with that there are a huge number of modeling sounds, effects, editing functions, etc. I'm completely satisfied with it. Anyway, there's no way the D1600 can be worse than that -- it may even have some more features -- but I don't know the specs for it.

Also, Korg makes pretty decent manuals, which are surprisingly rare.
 
hey man, I own an AKAI DPS16 and I love it. I also have 2 friends who own one. I have never had any trouble what so ever and it is extremely easy to navigate, edit, record, mixdown and all that good shit. Dont really have anything to offer on the others. good luck!
 
For the money, I'd look for another DPS16. You would need to get an external SCSI CD/R, but the ebay guy is a reputable vendor. I like my DPS16 very much. The only thing I'm uncertain about is getting individual files into my computer for further mix / master and I may simply end up going analog with eight lines out (4 aux, 2 monitor and 2 main outs) into a big interface card.

The sound of the DPS16 is awesome. The fan is noisy.
 
i have a dps16 and it's awesome. you can pick one up for like 600 bucks at www.shreveaudio.com but that's without an effects card. but youc an pick one of those up too.

but since it seems you have a computer, so at least look at the protools Digi002. Way more possibilities in the box it seems. I wish i had done that rather than getting a dps16, cuz now i want to upgrade. (the akai is still badass though)

T
 
Fooshkee2....

I would definately go with the Akai DPS1600..... here are a few reasons why:

Q-Link Navigationœ provides real-time system access and assignable realtime control knobs

True 24-bit recording — No destructive data compression

Sampling rates up to 96kHz

24-bit/96kHz A/D and D/A converters

56-bit internal processing

Large 6 in. diagonal flip-up graphic display

Equipped with 20GB IDE drive (standard)

Graphic waveform editing

Phantom power

External SCSI port

Compatible with DPS12 and DPS12i projects

High-impedance input select for direct recording of guitars and basses

All of the other digital recorders you listed only have a sampling rate of 24-bit/44.1 kHz.... 96kHz is gonna give you a smoother sound. I am not sure of the internal processing on the other units... but, the DPS 1600 is at 56-bit. I also like the idea of using real knobs to to perform certain functions such as EQ adjustments, etc. I perfer to reach out and tweek a knob rather than scrolling thru menus, looking for the right function. Akai has put a lot of quality into their machines... I'd give the DPS1600 some serious consideration.

Howdy
 
You may also want to consider the Fostex VF160 or the Yamaha aw16g.

The Fostex is built like a tank, records 8 at a time out of the box, or 16 at once with an ADAT mixer. Now ships with a 30gig HD. Phantom, scsi, built-in CDR, graphic editing, 3 band eq, lots of tweakable reverbs/delays. It's a 16bit recorder that converts at 20/24bit and, I believe 32bit internal processing. At $850 it's a phenomenal bargain.
 
If you don't need 24-bit, the AW16Gs are really cheap right now. I got one at Guitar Center for <$800 new. I was mostly shopping Korg, Akai, and Yamaha because (in my completely subjective opinion) the Zooms didn't seem to be of the same build quaility (and for some reason, I couldn't find a Fostex to try out). The Akai's were great, but were out of my price range, as was the D1600. The D1200 didn't have enough simultaneous tracks for me, so I settled on the Yamaha.

Of course I wish I had a 24bit/96kHz system, but I mostly bought it as a mobile multitrack recorder, not for it's mixing and editing functions, and I don't really believe that 24-bit will sound that much better with my relatively crappy mics and pre amps.

I really like it so far, and it sure sounds a lot better than my old Walkman MD recorder.
 
Yo FooshKee:

[That sounds like a Polish cookie!:}

I have the "perfect" solution to your problem of choice. A friend of mine was here yesterday to do a horn track for me and he told me he took a ride to Sweetwater Sound to check out various gear.

They have about everything at Sweetwater and will gladly walk you around and let you touch and HEAR -- so, since you have so many choices and are shopping, why not take a trip there or to, maybe, another large vendor near you?

Will save you lots of reading and searching for a few gallons of gasoline or a plane ticket.

Green Hornet


:cool:
 
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