Need an easy to use studio-in-a-box

[Chris Shaeffer]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for suggestions on an all-in-one recording setup.

My boss wants an easy to use recording system so he can record he and his 96 year old dad singing and playng piano. They're both great musicians so its not cheapo deal that he's after BUT he has Zero (0) technical ability or patience. Since I'm going to be the engineer when (not "if", WHEN) he decides the scratch recordings MUST be flown into Pro Tools for editing and whatnot, I'm looking for a few key features:

1) Recording is set up and go. Has to be idiot simple or he won't use it.

2) Has as many direct outs as possible. Does anyone make digital portastudios with 4 or 8 direct outs?

3) How about a portastudio with ADAT I/O? That would be even easier.

4) Digital- 24/44.1 at least. Don't need 88.2 or 96k.

5) Doesn't need tons of built in effects as most mixing will be done elsewhere- but if there are some- and they are easy to use- that's good.

6) 4 pres is a minimum. 8 is better. Mic and line sources.

7) He has money, but I'm not trying to spend all of it at once. Lets say under $1500 or thereabouts. BUT if you know of something that matches my needs that costs more, let me know about it.

Thanks for your suggestions. I've been a DAW guy so long I haven't been keeping up to date on the portastudios for a while.

Take care,
Chris

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Chris:

Call Sweetwater Sound and tell a rep what you want and it will be designed and sent to you.

There are other places to do this, of course, but Sweetwater has become very customer conscious and you would have a return option on any system you buy.

Green Hornet

 

[jfrog]

Look at Fostex - a VF160 or something. I've got a VF08 (the little brother) and it's pretty straightforward. It's as easy as recording with a tape deck with all the capability of recording digital.

I'd talk to a knowlegable saleperson about it to make sure the ins and outs meet your requirements.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Thanks, folks.

Believe it or not, after talking with the sales people I ended up getting a Digi 002 rack for him. Since he wants the final product edited in pro tools we decided to just start there. With session templates I can put an alias on his desktop- one click and he's got a ready-to-go session for he and his dad. Since I'm the one who has to learn it and teach him this will probably be the easiest way to go. I was surpirsed, though, when the sales guy recommended going with Pro Tools.

Take care,
Chris