Questions about hard disk recorders

[357mag]

I need to find about a few things about how you work with a hard disk recorder, like say the Tascam DP-01FX. Can you plug it into some active monitors by way of say 1/4 inch balanced cables? And once you're done recording, how do you transfer your recording to your PC's hard drive? By way of a USB cable? And after you get it to your computer's hard drive, can you work with the recording in your sequencing program, like Sonar Home Studio?

I had the TonePort, but pops and clicks galore. Looking to learn about other options for recording my guitar amp.

 

[ssscientist]

Can you plug it into some active monitors by way of say 1/4 inch balanced cables?

Yes. That's the way to do it.

And once you're done recording, how do you transfer your recording to your PC's hard drive? By way of a USB cable? And after you get it to your computer's hard drive, can you work with the recording in your sequencing program, like Sonar Home Studio?

Yes. All of the Tascam DP series are equipped with USB ports for just such a purpose.


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[ssscientist]

And you did a cut and paste with this same question into the Tascam forum which is called 'crossposting'. Do not do this as it pisses off the Dragon.


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[357mag]

Sorry for the duplicate post. I thought my original post would not go through, as it was not showing up after I posted it.

I'm kind of wondering though if I would really need to use active monitors. I'm using some Klipsch desktop speakers with a subwoofer, and they sound great plus they're loud. If all I need to do is just hear and work with what I recorded, I don't see why those wouldn't work just fine.

And also if I wanted to add say some overdrive or distortion to my guitar sound, I'm not sure if I could. On tweakheadz.com he said you can't use VST plug-ins if you record with a multi-track recorder. I don't see why, but that's what he said.

 

[ssscientist]

If all I need to do is just hear and work with what I recorded, I don't see why those wouldn't work just fine.

They will work 'just fine'. But they'll give you a false idea of your mixes and the way they translate to other playback systems. Once you get beyond just hearing 'what (you) recorded' and take your mixes to the next level that's when you'll need to invest in some real monitors, not just Klipsch home speakers.

On tweakheadz.com he said you can't use VST plug-ins if you record with a multi-track recorder. I don't see why, but that's what he said.

Tweakheadz is not the most reliable nor the most well written source for information on home recording. It's just great for some things, just plain wrong for others and sometimes quite unclear.

The straight facts are these --- once you get a .wav file into your computer whether it was recorded on a multitrack recorder or the computer itself you can do whatever you want to it. You CAN use VST plugins, just not inside a multitrack recorder. Some of the upper line Rolands are the exceptions to this rule, but .wav files are .wav files are .wav files.


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