PC recording versus multitrack digital HD recorders

[plygtar]

Thoughts on PC recording versus using one of those multitrack digital hard disk recorders such as a Fostex VF160EX? Not had good luck with PC recording. Are these hard disk recorders a better way to go?

 

[travelin travis]

Both ways have their advantages depending on your needs. What are your needs?

 

[plygtar]

Bascially recording solo lead electric guitar playing to another track of pre-recorded music

 

[Cult_Status02]

Well, I'm a PC-based user, so I'm a bit biased...but I like PC-based stuff more, it allows for a lot of flexibility when upgrading. If I'm not mistaken, with things like that fostex you are pretty much stuck with what you buy in the box. You can change mics, obviously, and send in some external pres, but I think it lacks much flexibility with plugins. I have not used one, so please don't flame me if I'm way off . I think if you just want to record you and your buddies and are not too interested in making it a serious hobby, you'll be fine with that unit, though.

 

[plygtar]

What sort of desktop PC config would be best? Any suggests on the best sound card to use? I am currently using a laptop where recordings suffer from way too much latency that I believe is due to the sound card.

 

[travelin travis]

Get a stereo in/out interface, the best monitors you can afford, and a good book or two on recording. You might as well start out on the right foot. You're gonna be around here awhile.

Here's you some greenies.

 

[Dogman]

I use a PC because that's what I have....and I use some pretty cheap shit. Get's my ideas out for me. Anything that gets you playing and making music is cool.

 

[beezelbubba]

I'm glad you brought this up,'cause we've been needing to have this conversation here!
Go with a PC.
Anyone who tells you different blows dogs!

 

[iqi616]

...unless you work on PCs all bloody day and you want to give your eyes and mouse wrist a rest. Also if you want to be up and recording in less than a minute. It really depends on what you want. If you like sticking microphones in front of instruments or you use external hardware in preference to plugins, there's every reason to consider a hardware DAW.

I've had my Korg D1600 for several years now and I haven't once regretted the choice of that over a PC system. The choice is harder these day though because 3-4 years ago you'd be lucky to get 8 tracks out of a low-end PC system but these days a basic PC has a lot more grunt.

Another factor to consider - will you be mobile? Will you want to be able to go to nice sounding places to record?

 

[Robert D]

I had 24 tracks of HD MDM and a digital mixer before I finally moved to the computer based DAW. The computer DAW is so much more flexible and re-configurable on a project by project, or even song by song basis. Then there's VSTI's, multiple instances of plugins, etc...
I still use MDMs for remote stuff, though a good laptop may be better, but for studio based recording I would never go back.

 

[XLR]

Thoughts on PC recording versus using one of those multitrack digital hard disk recorders such as a Fostex VF160EX? Not had good luck with PC recording. Are these hard disk recorders a better way to go?

I have seven computers here. Only three of them are reliable enough for tracking. They're systems I set up for ONLY audio. Nothin else is on them, and they're tweaked to hell and back to make them reliable. The other systems have occasional glitches, clicks, stuttering and pops in the files when tracking. For me it makes a recorder worthless if it's not near-100% reliable.

Some have computers that work fine for them for recording, and they've done nothing special to them and use them for all their other stuff too. They're just lucky IMO.

For most, I'd say unless you want to set up a dedicated audio computer sytem, use a stand alone unit of some kind to track on. Them move the files to the compute to do your mixing.

 

[danny.guitar]

I've been using this same computer for about 6 or 7 years. I upgraded the hard drive and added more RAM.

I use it for everything...programming, surfing the web, recording, and web design.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones as I've never had any sort of problems.

 

[VomitHatSteve]

Some have computers that work fine for them for recording, and they've done nothing special to them and use them for all their other stuff too. They're just lucky IMO.

That'd be me! I've got a single multi-use computer (about $1000 in it total), and I've never had problems with artifacts, pops, or glitches except for those that are generated by my weak recording technique. (Although Unreal Tournament crashes about 50% of the time).

There are definite advantages to each form of recording. In my experience, computers are pretty easy to pick up and allow you to jump around/overwrite/edit your tracks with ease. They also generally allow you to hang onto a lot more takes and tracks.

Digital HD recorders tend to have more analog capability. There's nothing remotely analog on my PC, but any recording hardware is going to have some pan and EQ knobs.

 

[XLR]

And of course it depends on how much recording, and what type, one will be doing. The more hrs/day spent tracking, and the more critical the nature of the tracking, the more demanding one should be re what kinds of sytems (primary and redundant systems, even) you use and how reliable they are.

If you do a quick surf of a dozen audio recording forums (especially hardware and software maker sponsored forums) you'll find countless complaints of system reliability problems.