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EpiSGpl8r
Guest
hey guys i want to record by myself like with drums and bass and not have to buy a huge expensive mixer to do so. so i wanted some reviews. thanks in advance
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Richard Monroe
Well-known member
I happen to own and use a PXR4 as a secondary sort of personal notepad and practice amp, and I almost have to say it is one of the first things I would buy if I had to start from scratch all over. Yeah, it's not a main-line, kickass recorder, but what it can do is impressive. If given a good signal, it can make pretty damn good sound. Some accessories I find very useful with it-A small mixer such as (gasp) Behrenger MXB1002-about $120. It gives me phantom power, XLR ins, and more channels, and runs on batteries. Goes good with 1 or 2 small diaphragm condensers, such as MXL603's or Oktava MC012's. You can do a surpriseingly good version of recording an entire band with good mic placement. A good one point stereo mic is also cool for ultra small, I use a SONY. Has its own battery and records through the line input to 2 tracks, which is all you can record simultaneously. It will sound better, though, with the little mixer and better mics.
You will need one, or better 2, 128mb smart media card(s). The 16mb chip that comes with it is useless. With a good set of headphones, it makes a great travelling practice amp for an electric guitar. A tuner, drum machine, you can jam with yourself and save the best of it to download later. It's also cool on trips where you hear that badass street musician, or whatever. You just turn it on and set it down. It also works pretty well through a set of powered speakers . I tell you this, it will bring smiles to faces, and get you dates.
Others will tell you to spend your $400 + accessories more wisely, but it really is not a bad place to start your learning curve, especially if you play guitar.-Richie
You will need one, or better 2, 128mb smart media card(s). The 16mb chip that comes with it is useless. With a good set of headphones, it makes a great travelling practice amp for an electric guitar. A tuner, drum machine, you can jam with yourself and save the best of it to download later. It's also cool on trips where you hear that badass street musician, or whatever. You just turn it on and set it down. It also works pretty well through a set of powered speakers . I tell you this, it will bring smiles to faces, and get you dates.
Others will tell you to spend your $400 + accessories more wisely, but it really is not a bad place to start your learning curve, especially if you play guitar.-Richie
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EpiSGpl8r
Guest
Oh i agree its a good place to start. I've made up my mind i'm gonna get one you information was very helpfull and convincing.
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Skippo4
New member
Export Tracks Recorded with PXR4
Hi.
I was also contemplating purchasing one of these machines to get started in the digital realm. However, I haven't been able to find much info about how easy/difficult it is to export tracks recorded with the PXR4 to a PC? I use an eMac personal computer that is fairly new, but would still like to make sure it is compatible with this device. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Hi.
I was also contemplating purchasing one of these machines to get started in the digital realm. However, I haven't been able to find much info about how easy/difficult it is to export tracks recorded with the PXR4 to a PC? I use an eMac personal computer that is fairly new, but would still like to make sure it is compatible with this device. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
R
Richard Monroe
Well-known member
Yo Skippo! As much as I love the thing (note this- it's 2 years later, I have $8,000 bucks worth of mics in house, and I still use the Pandora), if my real concern was downloading to PC, I'd probably select the Fostex MR8. The Pandora exports to PC in MP-2 format, which is similar to MP-3, but uncompressed. That means that it exports 2 finished stereo tracks, not 4 tracks independantly, so processing the tracks after export is a pain in the ass. It would be simpler to send the audio to a soundcard in analog format, and then mixdown in the PC.
I'm not as familiar with the Fostex unit, but I believe it exports WAV files, which are easier to process in N-tracks or whatever. Nonetheless, for what I use it for, the Pandora continues to amaze. It punches, bounces tracks, and is actually a pretty good reverb unit. I've learned to use its gate, compressor/limiter, and a bunch of other capabilities.
If you're just exporting 2 tracks, say acoustic guitar and vox, MP-2 works fine. Then you rip it to an MP-3 and burn. The Behringer mixer got replaced along the way by a DMP-3, and I do have some stuff that was done on the Pandora with an Avalon AD2022 and a pair of Neumann KM 184's! Talk about overkill.-Richie
BTW, I got your PM, but felt it would be more generally useful to respond here. Also, GC has gotten to the point where you can talk them out of one of these for $200 new, or even less, if you have a little pull there.
I'm not as familiar with the Fostex unit, but I believe it exports WAV files, which are easier to process in N-tracks or whatever. Nonetheless, for what I use it for, the Pandora continues to amaze. It punches, bounces tracks, and is actually a pretty good reverb unit. I've learned to use its gate, compressor/limiter, and a bunch of other capabilities.
If you're just exporting 2 tracks, say acoustic guitar and vox, MP-2 works fine. Then you rip it to an MP-3 and burn. The Behringer mixer got replaced along the way by a DMP-3, and I do have some stuff that was done on the Pandora with an Avalon AD2022 and a pair of Neumann KM 184's! Talk about overkill.-Richie
BTW, I got your PM, but felt it would be more generally useful to respond here. Also, GC has gotten to the point where you can talk them out of one of these for $200 new, or even less, if you have a little pull there.
slidey
New member
ahhhhhhh the wonders of the search function
I've just been given one of these lil' things & I wondered who had anything to say about them.................nice reverb huh
now I'm off to look for some kind of manual online
any suggestions as to where I should look????
I've just been given one of these lil' things & I wondered who had anything to say about them.................nice reverb huh
now I'm off to look for some kind of manual online
any suggestions as to where I should look????
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Richard Monroe
Well-known member
I'm burning out brain cells here...Got it! Why not email Korg USA? You will probably not be able to figure this thing out without a manual, so buy one, while there is still support for it.
My best advice- If you don't have them, buy at least (2) 128mb Smart Media cards. It's really obsolescent technology, so stocking a few old-style memory cards can't hurt. You'll get 90 track minutes, 45 minutes in stereo in high resolution mode. My best advice- Use the buttons just above the 4 track faders to access digital recording and playback volume, much more accurate and repeatable than the mini faders. It clips easily at anything over +8 decibels.
In my opinion, the amp simulations mostly suck, but the reverb really isn't that bad. I actually ran the reverb for a PA off the thing in an emergency. Korg will probably send you the manual for cheap, if they still have it. The thing is more complex than it needs to be- Jesus- tempo maps. Those same four channel buttons will also enable you to pan the tracks. Good luck-Richie
P.S.- The Pandora post that would not die!...2002. For the record I *still* use the Pandora at times. We have hours of folk tales told by my buddy's 104 year-old grandma. That was recorded with the built-in mic, and cleaned up very well. Mostly, I've ditched the preamp altogether, and just use a SONY ECMMS-957 straight into the Pandora. It's a mid priced stereo mic, about $250. I haven't had good luck with the $100 or so run of one point stereo mics by SONY and Audio-Technica. The 957 just works with the PXR4. Keep plugging. It's a little obsolete (I like the new Zoom mini-recorder), but it's still a pretty good little machine.-Richie
My best advice- If you don't have them, buy at least (2) 128mb Smart Media cards. It's really obsolescent technology, so stocking a few old-style memory cards can't hurt. You'll get 90 track minutes, 45 minutes in stereo in high resolution mode. My best advice- Use the buttons just above the 4 track faders to access digital recording and playback volume, much more accurate and repeatable than the mini faders. It clips easily at anything over +8 decibels.
In my opinion, the amp simulations mostly suck, but the reverb really isn't that bad. I actually ran the reverb for a PA off the thing in an emergency. Korg will probably send you the manual for cheap, if they still have it. The thing is more complex than it needs to be- Jesus- tempo maps. Those same four channel buttons will also enable you to pan the tracks. Good luck-Richie
P.S.- The Pandora post that would not die!...2002. For the record I *still* use the Pandora at times. We have hours of folk tales told by my buddy's 104 year-old grandma. That was recorded with the built-in mic, and cleaned up very well. Mostly, I've ditched the preamp altogether, and just use a SONY ECMMS-957 straight into the Pandora. It's a mid priced stereo mic, about $250. I haven't had good luck with the $100 or so run of one point stereo mics by SONY and Audio-Technica. The 957 just works with the PXR4. Keep plugging. It's a little obsolete (I like the new Zoom mini-recorder), but it's still a pretty good little machine.-Richie
slidey
New member
you shouldn't suck lemons whilst posting..................
the one time I use the search function & it actually brings up something semi useful I get flamed
I don't intend to try & use it to produce amazing results if I use it at all in the face of having a fairly reasonable protools setup.
& it's not to hard to work out without a manual with a bit of common sense, but after having read your reply I feel like throwing it at a passing ship or something
yeesh...........