Newbie Needs A Multi-Tracker

[PJ2003]

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.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo PJ:

You might consider one of the Yam SIAB units. You get it all, effects [Yamaha FX are the best I've found] and CD CDRW burning.

I use, of course, the 2816 and it took a bit to get around on it. But, experience with several other multi-trackers helped. It does the whole shot in the digital zone and that equates to a very decent sound considering the medium cost of the 2816 or its relative the AW16 [good site out there for help on that unit] and the 4416 which is a bit harder to learn.

Monitors: Get Yorkville passives to start -- they'll do a good job and are very reasonable -- check them out on this site and you can get Yorkville on the net and find out your nearest dealer.

Korg seems to have a pretty good offering out there that mimmicks the 2816 and its relatives.

Drum machine: Get the Boss 770 -- it will give some of the best latin patterns to play with. Also, you can program the box if you want to take the time.

Cans: Beyer 250s -- closed and very clear.

Well, I've run on long enough. I'm sure some folks out there can fill you in on Fostex or Roland or the Boss 8 track digital recorder.

Jump in -- the recording water is great.

Green Hornet

 

[Howdy]

Right now, I am using a Boss BR8... works pretty well for me now, but I know I am gonna be upgrading in about a year... I am thinking of picking up the Korg D16XD.... from what I have read so far, it seems to be fairly "user friendly".... at my age, that is a real selling point. <g>

 

[billisa]

I've used both the Fostex VF80/160's. Love 'em. They're built like tanks. Sound great. Rarely, if ever, crash/freeze. The manuals aren't the best written, though these machines turn out to be simple to use.

The Korgs (D1200/D1600mk's will do 24bit (though CD's are 16bit). Supposedly easy to learn.

Yamahas are well liked. Their learning curve is said to be significant, but that may not be an issue. Nice effects, 4-band eq.

Boss' use compressed sound. All of the above are uncompressed, full 16bit recording (or better).

 

[Howdy]

Yeah, when I bought the BR8 I didn't know much of anything about digital recorders.... I still know very little. I am thinking of picking up the Tascam CDRW700 for burning cd's for now. It will take the fiber-optical cable which is what the BR8 uses.

My main reason for buying the BR8 was that it was supposedly designed by guitar players for guitar players... being a guitar player, it seemed the way to go at the time. I do like the various patches it has and have used many of them in my recording.

I also understand the BR8 uses Roland's "proprietary format" and the tracks are not in WAV form. Someone said something about Roland/Boss's website offering software for conversion to WAV, but I have yet to find it.

 

[Paj]

with drum machine . . .

PJ:

It was not my choice but, if you need the internal drum machine, effects, and two tracks at a time will do ya', check out the Zoom MRS802CD or MRS1266CD.

I have a VF160CD---I need the as-many-live-tracks-as-possible feature, and the VF can give me 10 right out of the box if I use the S/PDIF inputs. Even a trio can quickly eat up more than 8 inputs live.

Your situation presents you with more options to choose from.


Good luck,
Paj
8^)