Opinions/ suggestions please

[kesterdevine]

OK, I'm a real newbie to digital recording and have been recently experimenting with the Fostex MR-8. It is a very cool little machine and it's really got a lot of great features.

However, I am quickly discovering that my ultimate recording goals (which include tracking acoustic drums) will be very difficult to achieve in this fashion and I am considering other recording options.

After considerable research, it apears that the Yamaha AW16-G might very well be the answer to my prayers, and a way to by-pass the PC as well. I'm wondering if any of you have any experience with this unit.

Can anyone offer any personal experience, feedback or suggestions?

Your help is very much appreciated.

Happy New Year!

~Kester

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Kester:

There is an AW-16 site that you can punch up on the net. That's all they do is discuss that unit and you should find much info there.

I use the Yam 2816 and it is a nice SIAB. [it's really a computer without the mouse]

You will find all kinds of information here via the search button. But, your best bet if you're interested in the 16 is to punch up the site. I think if you just type in: AW-16 on SEARCH, it will pop up somewhere.

Green Hornet

 

[dwillis45]

What are your "ultimate recording goals" and what is about the Fostex MR8 that fails to get you there? Or, the other way around, what is it about the Yamaha that makes so much sense? Do you need more inputs to record your drum kit? More storage space than offered by the MR8's card set-up? Better A/D conversion and 24 versus 16 bit recording? More tracks?

 

[manning1]

an alternative

a powerfull computer , a few decent mics and soundcard
and a little yamaha mixer , or use your mr8 pre's to send to the computer plus a nice multitrack software like powertracks ,
or n track or magix will be under 2k in cost and give you a better solution imho. more flexibility. plus about 48 digital audio
tracks if the computer is set up correctly.
some people are getting 100 tracks on a amd pc these days.
this is the route ive chosen as a songwriter and i'm happy i did.

 

[kesterdevine]

thanks

Thanks for the responses! I appreciate the help.

Really, I think the MR-8 has been a great catalyst for getting me thinking in the digital direction. But I do find it too limiting in terms of actual tracks ( 5/6 and 7/8 not having separate panning controls), storage space is a bitch and kind of costly to upgrade, and number of tracks I can simultaneously record is limited to two. (I need more inputs to mic the drumkit properly.) I knew that in advance but opted for the MR-8 because it was so darn affordable.

I hadn't considered using the MR-8 pre's to send
to the computer. (I'm not at all sure how to set that up...???...pointers???) So far, I've only transfered wav files from the MR-8 to the computer for backup. I've been mixing straight from MR-8 to a stand alone CD burner, which is what I'd been doing with my 4 track cassette previously.

Right now it's really a decision whether to invest in a dedicated computer for recording or a DAW like the AW-16G. Currently I use my roommate's computer (don't have my own) for mp3 encoding etc... but have NO experiencing mixing with software programs. The actual hands-on capablities of the stand alone unit appeal to me, because all my recording experience thus far has been with real faders/mixers.

It just seems like the AW-16G for about $1000, might be more in keeping with my needs, but I want to consider all possibilities.

One thing is certain, I need a lot of storage space, because I am fairly prolific, and tend to have a lot of projects going on simultaneously. Ease of use is one of the biggest factors for me, because I am VERY right-brained by nature.

Thanks again for the help!!