Newbie Needs A Multi-Tracker

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PJ2003

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I'd appreciate some advice. I'm not new to playing and writing music. I've done some basic multi-tracking and understand the basics. But now that I'm a little older I'm retreating back to my basement to record my own projects. I currently have no recording gear, just guitar, bass, and keyboard gear. My plan is to record in stages. I'll have a drummer come out and record those tracks, adding the other instruments, then vocals, then mix, and finally burn a CD. I need something user friendly that has a lot of versatility. I really need at least some internal effects, preferably a drum machine. I'm open to buying used, possibly through eBay. I've looked at the TASCAM 788, Korg D1200, and the Fostex VF. If anyone can give me some direction, advice, feedback on these products, and/or any other suggestions that'd be wonderful. Thanks.
 
If your gonna go hardware, I recommend a digital unit perhaps with the CD writer built in.
 
I would look at all of the Yamaha DAW's the AW4416, 2816, 16G. I have a 4416 and love the machine to death, the sound quality is really really good. One point of note is there is a learning curve to use them but the learning curve is worth your investment in time.
 
I've owned a Fostex VF80CDR and now own the VF160CDR. These are great machines, VERY stable (rarely if ver crash/freeze), not too hard to learn. I think every company you mention makes a fine product. BOSS machines use data compression, so that's something to keep in mind...

Fostex's seem built like tanks, and their styling is a bit "industrial". Korgs can record in 24bit sound, Yamahas have 4band eq (and a fairly involved learning curve). The VF80's can record 2 tracks at once, the VF160's can do 8, or a full 16 with an ADAT interface. The VF80 and Korg D1200 have guitar effects.

Opinions vary on the plusses and minuses of each companies offerings. You'll notice that people tend to love the brand they own! I would say I think that of the bunch now out, Tascam's is the oldest continuous model (though it's been upgraded to 24bit recording, I believe).

Bottom line is, you can make some beautiful music almost regardless of the direction you choose. I went with a self-contained unit, as opposed to a PC, for portability and less "crashability". I'm very glad I did.
 
iwanarock said:
I would look at all of the Yamaha DAW's the AW4416, 2816, 16G. I have a 4416 and love the machine to death, the sound quality is really really good. One point of note is there is a learning curve to use them but the learning curve is worth your investment in time.
Click to expand...

I use an aw4416 too and it is a great machine.The only thing
negative that I can say about it is that the editing suqs when
compared to a computer based DAW.But that problem can be
taken care of by downloading a nifty(and free)progam called
aw extract,which will convert the back up disk you make on the
aw to wave files.The wave files can then be opened using master-
ing software of your choice.This allows you the portability of an
all in one unit with the powerful editing features of a computer
based DAW.
The aw will make you scratch your head for a while if you dont know anything about digital recording,but in time it becomes very easy to use.
The effects,whilst not world class,are high quality.But that does'nt
matter because with the aw extract software,your effects possibil
ities are endless.
One thing I should also say is that the aw4416 has been discon-
tinued.You should see a sharp drop in the price of new units be-
cause of this.
 
I have a Yamaha 16G and also love it to death--for 900 USD, I just can't believe the quality of sound and relative ease of use for a former Tascam-analog guy.

Just wondering if anyone knows why the 4416 is being discontinued: a new model perhaps? I hadn't heard this before, and I've read such great things about the machine.

Best,
J.
 
New multitracker

If you purchase any machine in the under $1,000 group, you will probably encounter some pro's and con's. Just about every manufacturer has had to make compromises to pack its recorder with multiple features that cover the average user's needs. I have a Fostex Vf16 and, after several years of use, I can list the unit's shortcomings: the evil manual, cumbersome low EQ, 16 versus 24 bit recording, average preamps, and a limited aux send/return set-up that makes it difficult to record dry and mix with effects. Don't get me wrong, I like the VF16 and for the money you get all kinds of features. But, if I were to design the ideal stand-alone unit to meet my current and future needs, I would look for a different perhaps more modular set-up. I think you can find better preamps, better effects, better A/D converters, and a better set-up for mixing by selecting individual recording components. Of course, you will end up spending more hard-earned money and you are left with a much smaller group of recorders by Fostex, Mackie, Alesis, and Tascam. Just a thought and a hopeless pitch for long-term planning!
 
I sold my AW4416 last summer and with that money I bought a brand new desktop PC with AMD XP 2600+, 512MB, DVD burner, 120GB HD, Nuendo 96/52 soundcard and 2 Behringer ADA8000s and now I have a rig that has 16 balanced mic or line level inputs and can record 16 tracks simultaneously and play back dozens of tracks. After I've replaced the current 17" CRT with a TFT monitor this rig will be as portable as the AW4416 ever was with about 300 per cent more bang for the buck.

One of the major drawbacks of the AW4416 as far as I'm concerned was it's weight and size. Compared to the VF160 it's huge and hardly portable and compared to desktop computer and TFT monitor combo it weights about the same.

dwillis45, I've had the VF16 and thanks to it's ADAT i/o it's the most modular of those low end multitrackers and compared to the AW16g it's like open universe. If you need better pres and ADCs get a Behringer ADA8000. For $200 you'll get 8 mic preamps with balanced XLR inputs, phantom power and 24 bit ADCs. You'll also get 8 analog outputs but they are not freely routable to use as effects sends as they are fixed to output the signal from tracks 9 to 16.
 
Yes Yamaha discontinued the the AW4416 a month or two ago. As far as I new no new model has been planned as of yet but who knows? They did announce to 16G earlier this year and for the price and the features it is porbably hard to beat. But they are also some great deals on AW4416 now because of it. And yes most people wil tell you they like their DAW the best, but I work with lots of bands and other recordist who marvel at what i can do with the AW4416. Someone mentioned that the effects were high quality but not world class, but I added the Waves Y56K card to my 4416 and it is really took the machine to the next level.
I would agree the editing is not what I would like it to be by you can fly the track with extract to a PC for that, but the sound quality is as i said before really good. They are also add on cards to expand up to 24 line level inputs.
 
SHEPPARDB. said:
a nifty(and free)progam called
aw extract,which will convert the back up disk you make on the
aw to wave files.
Click to expand...

Hi SheppardB,

Just where did you find that program "AW EXTRACT"? I have searched for it, and can't find it anywhere.
 
Thanks SheppardB,

I don't have your Yam model (mine is the AW16g), but I thought that I might see if that program would work with my unit. I have had my "G" since December, but just haven't had the time by which to get to know it, as I would have liked to by this time. That program may not be something that is needed with my box, but I thought that I would give it a look-see.

Thanx much, and Blessings to you.

Nathan
 
Check out a used Akai DPS16 You can pick one up on ebay for 6 to 8 hundred dollars or so. It records 8 tracks at a time and has 250 virtual tracks. It also has an effects card. Very user friendly as well. If you want to hear some of what it does go to the link below. Good luck with your search.
http://www.artistlaunch.com/artist4.asp?artistid=4418
 
Looks into some zooms as well. The MSR 802 is only 550 and the MSR 1266 is about a grand.
 
Guitargauntlet said:
Looks into some zooms as well. The MSR 802 is only 550 and the MSR 1266 is about a grand.
Click to expand...
I usually save the trash-mouthing for Peavey gear,but in this case
I will make an exception:Zoom products are garbage!
 
Gee thats funny, I've been playing guitar for 37 years, had Zoom equipment for the past nine years, cut four albums using zoom processors, haven't had ONE PIECE of zoom gear EVER break down on me. As far as Peavey goes, they've been around longer than you've been alive. Our band uses Carvin and Peavey equipment (for the past seven years) without any problems. Don't be a person who puts down equipment. Usually it's the operator who doesn't know how to set up the equipment. Or a person who has a $150.00 amplifier and a $99.00 guitar who complains about other equipment.

nuff said
 
SHEPPARDB. said:
I usually save the trash-mouthing for Peavey gear,but in this case
I will make an exception:Zoom products are garbage!
Click to expand...

You're one ignorant MF....


:rolleyes:
 
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