My First DAW- is a BR1600cd a Poor Choice Compared to Software based DAW's

  • Thread starter Thread starter Muddy T-Bone
  • Start date Start date
Muddy T-Bone

Muddy T-Bone

New member
Looking to build a home studio. I've been leaning toward a Boss BR1600cd as oppossed to a software based DAW, for several reasons. The S/W DAW's seem to have a steep learning curve, and I don't have the patience to learn it. S/W based stuff is frustrating and almost intimadating to me. I've used Audacity a few times for minor things like tempo change or key change of songs that i was learning, and while I found the Audacity to be relatively powerfull, it was difficult (for me) to use I think I would be more comfortable with something mechanical I can touch and adjust, rather than clicking with a mouse. Just me.

Uses would be- recording my band live, recording demo's of the band, and recording my song ideas. I visualize my songs to be a complete demo with all instrumentation laid down on the tracks.

I do want 16 channels. I like the feature of the boss called "virtual tracks" where each track has 16 tracks behind it. This seems usefull to me relative to being able to get the right "take" on a rhythm or lead track in 16 attempts.

Am I just starting off in the wrong direction, by considering a phyiscal DAW like the Boss 1600 ? is it a Poor Choice ( and waste of money) Compared to Software based DAW's?
 
Maybe since I posted this in the Newbie forum, there are no opinions as to which way I should go......

Really looking for some advice here folks. Perhaps I should move this question?
 
I can't speak for hardware DAWs because I've never used one. However, I can tell you that Audacity is a little off-putting compared to more flexible and intuitive software solutions. When I was eleven and first starting out with home recording, Audacity caught my attention mainly because of its... well, lack of a price. It's a nice little program and I used it for (I believe about) three years. I upgraded to Reaper from there and BOY, what a difference it made! You can't use Audacity and think that every DAW works the same. The truth is, though I will always have a special place in my heart for the little bugger, it simply isn't designed for heavy-hitting.

Reaper is basically free. After the trial period, it displays a nag-screen, quietly suggesting that you buy a license (which I eventually did because I like it) but should you need more time to evaluate it (or don't have any money and can't buy it, as was the case with me for years) you only need to wait five seconds for it to disappear. It's small in file-size, easy to navigate and gave my creativity the tools and room it needed to grow some more. Download it and give it a shot before you sink money into one of those bulky hardware units. What have you got to lose?
 
I wasn't ready for the software learning curve when I started either so I went with a Boss BR600. Now that I have moved up to Reaper, I wish I had gone this way to start. I had tried Audacity, didn't understand latency or d-to-a (I was using a Soundblaster USB box).
I started with Reaper by transferring the tracks I had recorded on the BR600 to my computer, then mixing in the software - what a difference! Automation alone made things so much better and easier.
 
I've always used studio in a box machines. And I've recently moved to DAW software based recording. And I've been saying for years that if I was starting now, instead of all those years ago, I wouldn't travel the studio in a box route. These machines are now very cheap but they haven't pushed the technology as far as they might. Ten years ago these machines had a lot of potential - now they're just built down to a price to appeal to starters.

Bite the bullet and go software. Yes you'll have a tougher learning curve, but hey, you're a musician, and that involves a pretty tough learning curve itself. You won't regret it in the end.
 
You may think now that you only want to do this or that with your music, but I promise it's addicting, and you'll find yourself wanting to do "X" and end up learning about A,J,K, and Z along the way (if you know what i mean). I started by wanting to lay down some gituar riffs to maybe find some people to play music with, but recording and mixing has turned into a massive obsession and passion of mine.

My point is, in my exp with all in one studios, how you can work, and the tools that are at your disposal will only leave you wanting WAY more. For example, wanna cut this track at some point and move it over there? Have fun with that little scroll wheel! Where as on a computer, it's layed out on a screen and you can see what you're doing.
Also, want to try a different compressor or EQ? There are about a million free software plugins that allow you to learn, but you'll have to buy hardware processors with an all in one machine. And hardware on top of that to connect it properly, and cables, and oh my!

Just go software, so many more pros.
 
I have two standalone recorders - a Rolan Disclab & a Zoom R16. they're both great for their time. The Disclab's time is long passed & the R16 is quite limited as a standalone machine BUT it interfaces with a software DAW beautifully (Reaper def) and as such is a great stepping stone or intermediate machine.
I didn't use the disclab much because it was intimidating.
I don't use the R16 much because the DAWs I use (originally Cakewalk proAudio 9.3 and now Reaper) are just so much easier to use and are non destructive unless you want them to be otherwise.
As Adam said Reaper is very creative/intuitive to use & they have a wonderfully altruistic business model. So good I paid up after my 1st project was completed.
 
..............Bite the bullet and go software. Yes you'll have a tougher learning curve, but hey, you're a musician, and that involves a pretty tough learning curve itself. You won't regret it in the end.

Armistice-

Great point you made about the learning curve involved in being a musician. That summed it up nicely.
 
Yeah, I have to echo what everyone's saying. It took me a while to go totally DAW, because I was scared. Now, I wish I had done it years earlier.

My transition was gradual, though, which may have helped. I went from doing everything in my TASCAM 2488, to bringing individual tracks into REAPER to process and then bring back into the 2488 to mix, to using the 2488 to only record my tracks and then mixing in REAPER, to finally getting an interface and doing everything in REAPER.

Having said that, I did really enjoy recording on the TASCAM for the years I did it. I got to know the machine inside out and that provides a sense of security. Now I feel I have that same sense of security doing everything in my DAW.
 
...they have a wonderfully altruistic business model.
Yes, they do! I am totally struck by how amazingly they're tailored toward the home recording artists and enthusiasts.
I'd still be drooling over expensive, unattainable time at local recording studios if not for them.
If only businesses like Avid and Adobe operated with the same level of caring in mind for their demographic.
Then things like Reaper and Gimp (a Photoshop alternative) wouldn't have needed to be born out of the frustration people had
over the programs they needed being dangled over their heads by the bullies at the tops of their towering headquarters.

(Though, I've tried Protools and... well, Reaper is cooler. GIMP still has a bit to go but it's pretty nifty too.)

Thanks propman, I will do that.
Cool! After you have a chance to test the waters, come back and tell us what you think of it!
If you run into any snags, the people here will be quick to help you sort them out!
 
I've been leaning toward a Boss BR1600cd as oppossed to a software based DAW, for several reasons. The S/W DAW's seem to have a steep learning curve, and I don't have the patience to learn it. S/W based stuff is frustrating and almost intimadating to me.
I think I would be more comfortable with something mechanical I can touch and adjust, rather than clicking with a mouse. Just me.


Am I just starting off in the wrong direction, by considering a phyiscal DAW like the Boss 1600 ? is it a Poor Choice ( and waste of money) Compared to Software based DAW's?
I'm going to be a lone voice in standing up for the standalone DAW - but with a qualification.
Without a doubt the computer route is far and away the most flexible and has the most scope. And is potentially the most enduring as standalones aren't made anymore {or at least, none that I know of - at best they combine processes like the one rayc described}.
I don't think the learning curve is necessarilly more difficult either. Whatever I've recorded on or with {4 track, 8 track portastudio, 8,10 and 12 track DAW, Cubase DAW} there's been a difficult learning curve but the desire to get stuff recorded has always won out in the end.
But for all that, I still sing the praises of the standalone DAW. Why ? Because I like them, am comfortable with them and they do for me what I need at this point in time. And so whether or not standalones, computers, portastudios or reel to reels are right for you can only really be determined by you. You know what you're comfortable with. I don't think you need to fear any of them and the reality is that the end result is what matters. Great music is recorded on all current mediums {Armistice, rayc and RAMI between them have put out some great stuff across the mediums, especially standalones}.
If I was starting out now, I don't really know if I'd go the computer route. But I don't know if I'd go the standalone route either.
 
If I was starting out now, I don't really know if I'd go the computer route. But I don't know if I'd go the standalone route either.
Well, the only other option is to stand in the middle of an intersection dressed as a hobo and let out a bloodcurdling screech while people take cellphone videos that they later upload to YouTube with eloquent and well-thought-out titles like "Screaming Lunatic Failing in the Street."
 
I'm happy to report that you guys convinced me to go DAW and I've done so.

I'm now using REAPER, my Presonus 44VSL was delivered yesterday.

I'm on page 96 of the 404 page REAPER manual, and just began laying down some test tracks to gain a working familarity with the DAW and the 44VSL.

I'm glad I did this. Having a good time so far. It will be even better when I produce some great recordings/perfromances!

Thanks all!
 
Well, the only other option is to stand in the middle of an intersection dressed as a hobo and let out a bloodcurdling screech while people take cellphone videos that they later upload to YouTube with eloquent and well-thought-out titles like "Screaming Lunatic Failing in the Street."
That reminds me of where I lived as a teenager. The hobos with mental health problems used to roam naked and they looked pretty wild and often seemed to have hugely swollen scrotums and wild dreadlocks. And there was one that used to direct the traffic at this intersection. The funny thing was that drivers would follow this naked man's directions. There were crashes and chaos. My Dad always thought it was hilarious !
Hey and Muddy, I'm glad you're having fun with Reaper and recording. You are an inspiration to us all. :thumbs up:
 
Maybe since I posted this in the Newbie forum, there are no opinions as to which way I should go......

Really looking for some advice here folks. Perhaps I should move this question?

I use the BR1600CD. I'm new to home recording but used PRO TOOLS in school. I like the
BR1600CD because it's simple although I'm still a long ways from mastering it.

I would like some info on some less expensive software.
 
Back
Top