Newbie with $600-900 to spend.

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My pleasure, Funk.

By choosing the Fostex you can have the best of both worlds. There's obviously things that are easier done with the VF, like the on location tracking, and there's things best done on pc, like final mixdown using plugin effects for that professional touch. Overdubbing additional guitar tracks with the POD or vocals or cut and paste editing is much easier on PC than with any multitracker, the cut and past thing especially.

As I understand it mastering means the final polishing of the songs before sending them to the press to make CD's. Something like that.

One thing, before buying the VF make sure that it's OS is of version 3.0 or newer because I'm not sure if the earlier versions support the Adat mixer mode that I've been referring to. The upgrade of OS is not a big thing but you need an external ZIP drive or scsi HD to perform it and a way to download the needed file from web to the zip drive or hd.
 
The only observation I have as a shopper is that the Fostex is limited to 16 bit resolution and its EQs have been criticized. The Akai records at either 16 or 24 bit resolution,as well as 44, 48 & 96 mHz sampling rates. In this area, "more is better." Think of photo or computer monitor resolution and you get the idea.

On the other hand, the Fostex just dropped in price radically and packs a hell of a punch for the money, and anything going on a CDR disc will have to be converted to 16 bits and 44.1 mHz rates anyhow, due to the limitations of the disc. If you're contemplating using DVD media in the forseeable future, you will want to have the higher resolution. Otherwise, the Fostex is looking pretty strong here, particularly if you intend to do your eq'ing of the tracks on a computer.


One other thing - Check out the Korg D1200 as a compromise.


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Damn - Now I have to rethink everything...:D
 
Consider the fact that the brand new Akai , is 500.00 and with whats left over you can get that pre ( which is the real secret to getting a professional sound). The pros way outweigh the cons, face it you will need the pre. (the fostex has very questionable quality) .

You can buy what you like, but do you notice that this is the first time I remeber anyone reccomending Fostex here.
 
FYI the Akai discussed here is the ancient DPS12 model that records only 16bit audio @32kHz, 44,1kHz or 48kHz.

The D1200 looks impressive and the USB connection especially but it costs about $1200 and I didn't see that it would include the Adat interface. There's all kinds of whistles and bells but how necessary is t.ex. the guitar amp simulator really if you already have the POD. To me the Adat interface is the thing that sets VF apat from all the competitors in this price range and enables it to be used with external equipment for maximum flexibility. It's just like having a digital mixer that had only the s/pdif output to connect to other gear in your studio. Reminds me of Yamaha Promix1 compared to 01V /w adat expansion. Which of these would you build you home studio around?FYI the Akai discussed here is the ancient DPS12 model that records only 16bit audio @32kHz, 44,1kHz or 48kHz.

The D1200 looks impressive and the USB connection especially but it costs about $1200 and I didn't see that it would include the Adat interface. There's all kinds of whistles and bells but how necessary is t.ex. the guitar amp simulator really if you already have the POD. To me the Adat interface is the thing that sets VF apat from all the competitors in this price range and enables it to be used with external equipment for maximum flexibility. It's just like having a digital mixer that had only the s/pdif output to connect to other gear in your studio. Reminds me of Yamaha Promix1 compared to 01V /w adat expansion. Which of these would you build you home studio around?
 
The adat out isnt a good idea because the adat interface card that alesis put out didnt work and they have discontiued it.

I would venture to guess that he would like the pre because the HDRs arent shit without one, and now he could have a good one.

The diference in mic pres will more than make up the difference in sound quality.

Are you running straight into yours without a mic pre? If you are it doesnt sound near as good.
 
There's plenty of newer and higher quality of soundcards with adat interface on the market than the old Alesis card. And there's a growing number of 8 channel micpres that can be connected to VF thru adat IF if the ones on Fostex fail to meet one's standards. I think the question of mic pres is not the main issue here because you can use external mic pres with Fostex just like you can with the Akai but the Akai lacks big time in so many ways where the Fostex shines. The Adat IF being one of them.
 
Back to the original question

Budget maxes out at $1,000.

The Tascam 788 is available for $800. Connection with computer is S/PDIF digital, two channels at a time. Records and transports 24 bit resolution. Preamps are a question. Add on drives or burners are expensive because they use SCSI interface. But you do have four channels of simultaneous recording, 8 actual tracks, lots of virtual tracks, and very high quality sound. It's extremely portable.

MF has the M-Audio Audio Buddy preamp available for $ 80. It has nearly uniformly rave reviews, considering its price point. Two of them will give you four channels of clean preamp.

Total = $ 960.
 
Treeline has it nailed. Low priced recorder, four xlr ins to a machine that can track four at once. I just like my Korg.:D

The Tascam unit sure gets rave reviews though, as does the korg.

D12 $700, 2 AB's, $160.

Total $860.

Pete
 
Now you guys have me looking at the Korg D12 again. $950 w/onboard CD/R. Jeezum.:D
 
What is the point of an ADAT out?
what does it do?
i understand it is some sort of a digital light pipe
like an optical out.
but what can it be plugged into/used for?
 
Treeline said:
Now you guys have me looking at the Korg D12 again. $950 w/onboard CD/R. Jeezum.:D
Click to expand...

And it is $699 on close out at Sam Ash, $199 for the CDR. That's $898!!:eek:

Pete:cool:
 
Musiciansfriend has the Tascam 788 for $899 for the recorder and the burner with no tax and free shipping.
 
That audiobuddy isnt much of an improvement over the pres in that HDR. But the RNP is a significant improvement. The tascam is only 8 tracks and a whole lot more than the akai.

The idea is to hive him more bang for the buck, thats why Im harping on the akai RNP combo. Ill guarantee the best sound from that.
 
Darrin I didnt follow your first couple of sentances in regard to the audio buddy comment.

Darrin do you have any examples recordings of the Akai?? I guess the Fostex just scares me alittle. Im a newbie and it sounds like the Fostex is hard to work with. But the Tascam 788 is supposed to be easy to use and it has 250 virtual tracks to bounce on.

What does the Akai have that the Tascam doesnt?? Other than price?
 
Keep this thread going guys ! Very informative indeed !!! I, for one, REALLY appreciate your input !

Daniel
 
darrin_h2000 said:
Reality is the mic pres in most all of the multitracks are shit. Thats why I suggested the dps12, at 400.00 its the best value out. For a mic preamp the RNP by FMR, is supposed to be the badboy.
Click to expand...

Are you saying that mic pres on EVEN the more expensive units (ie: some of the high end yamaha digital multitrackers) are shit too ? So, is it pretty much an established fact or recommendation to ALWAYS use a seperate mic pre amp for these units ? Would any mid level mic pre (ie: ART TUBE MP) be better than the onboard ones for example ? Thanks.

Daniel
 
Fostex hard to use? Compared to what? You should take a look at what the yamaha boys are saying about their toys. Naturally you have to consult the manual once in a while in the beginning when there's so much power and options wrapped into such a limited space. And options there are with the Fostex and compared to it the other machines mentioned here look like a one trick pony. Beyond basic tracking there's plenty of ways to utilize the VF in music production or even reproduction. Maybe in the beginning it's nice and comfortabe to have the equipmet say what and how you must do things so you don't have to use your head but at some point you start to get really frustrated when every time you get an creative idea of your own you find out that you can't do it because there's only the stereo output or some other limitation like that. I think its wise to look ahead and not settle for a solution that just barely meets your needs or what you think they are today. Now this brings up the 16bit vs. 24bit issue. If you do the tracking on multitracker and mixdown on computer I belive you can always convert the 16bit recording to 24bit before mixing if you feel the need. In a home studio environment I don't really understand where you would need the 100+ dB s/n ratio 24bit gives you. I very much doubt it that there's many people here that can say off the bat that a recording is done in 24bits when he/she hears it played back from CD.
 
PeteHalo said:
Fostex hard to use? Compared to what? You should take a look at what the yamaha boys are saying about their toys. Naturally you have to consult the manual once in a while in the beginning when there's so much power and options wrapped into such a limited space. And options there are with the Fostex and compared to it the other machines mentioned here look like a one trick pony. Beyond basic tracking there's plenty of ways to utilize the VF in music production or even reproduction. Maybe in the beginning it's nice and comfortabe to have the equipmet say what and how you must do things so you don't have to use your head but at some point you start to get really frustrated when every time you get an creative idea of your own you find out that you can't do it because there's only the stereo output or some other limitation like that. I think its wise to look ahead and not settle for a solution that just barely meets your needs or what you think they are today. Now this brings up the 16bit vs. 24bit issue. If you do the tracking on multitracker and mixdown on computer I belive you can always convert the 16bit recording to 24bit before mixing if you feel the need. In a home studio environment I don't really understand where you would need the 100+ dB s/n ratio 24bit gives you. I very much doubt it that there's many people here that can say off the bat that a recording is done in 24bits when he/she hears it played back from CD.
Click to expand...

There's one thing I'm puzzled by .. Why would someone want to record at 24 bit on a digital multitracker and then burn a cd which is, last I heard, ONLY 16 bit ??? :confused: :confused: Am I missing something here ? What are the benefits ? Me thinks none.

Daniel
 
24 bit dithered down to 16 bit sounds more detailed than plain 16 to 16 bit.

The pres in the yamaha,are decent at best. not really what it takes to make that recording sound like the ones playing on the radio, but more of a demo at best.

Yes I do have samples of use of an akai, but not of the model in question, and I dont use the internal mic pres at all, but have allways opted for external pres that add charictar or are reasonably quiet.

But the result is a far cry from what you will get from a recorder alone.

I use a DPS16 model Akai. and a Yamaha 8 channel pre. with a hotrodded bluetube for color. I will purchase the RNP as soon as they hit the market.
 
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