goodlawd said:
Should i get one of the 16 track workstations and get mics and stuff or should i do it all with my computer. Something halfway portable would be ideal as well. Any thoughts?
If portability is important, a stand-alone digital recorder (like the Fostex VF160) or a laptop are your most convenient options. If your computer is not a laptop, then I guess you choice is pretty straightforward. Go with the Fostex or similar units by Yamaha, Korg, etc. If portability is not crucial, I would use your current computer provided it has enough capability to record. This includes sufficient RAM,storage space, CPU processor speed, a fast drive, and an available PCI card slot or firewire port. Then do some research on soundcards and firewire interfaces.
If your machine doesn't have the minimum system requirements for recording, assess whether or not the computer can be upgraded and how much that would cost.
My personal opinion on computers versus all-in-one digital recorders: Go with a DAW rather than a self-contained digital recorder. I think that in the long run DAW's are easier to upgrade and provide a better base for adding new equipment like preamps and converters.
As far as the MF complete package: I'de skip it. You will probably be happier in the end if you buy one piece at a time. Focus on each component seperately, do some research, and hang out on the various forums on this BBS. In no time you'll be able to figure what best suits your needs.
One last thing. Don't sweat the digital versus analog or warm versus cold issue. Just focus on making the best recording possible.
