recorder

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gb9

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ok im not a computer guy, and i dont really plan on becoming one (no offense, im just not going that route at least for now)

my setup is built around the MPC 2000XL
i got a bunch of other stuff......and what i need now, i believe is a RECORDER, so that i can record all the madness im trying to make happen over here
i need a DIGITAL recorder (i have an old Tascam 8 track reel to reel thing that i wanna experiment with later but for now i definitely need a digital recorder)
NOW.......my dad has lyin around here a Tascam Digital Portastudio 564, it uses MiniDisc......would this do the trick for me??? are there disadvantages to using this?
i dont think i want to do this whole minidisc thing, sounds wierd to me, i want something digital (please dont tell me to get a computer lol), what should i look for??? whats the word out there

and yea im not rich
ill do what i have to but lets not aim at the top of the line super expensive stuff, i dont want to have to start robbing people
 
Look at digital recorders with CD burners built in. Although, the Tascam your referring to may have an output to tie to a external writer...dont know. But all digital recorders write there medium to an internal hard disc.
 
Or even check out the Mackie and Alesis HD 24-track dig recorders.
Both can now be had for less than a G.
 
The HD24 can be had for less than a G? REALLY???!!! If that's the case, how much can I get for an ADAT-XT with 0229 hours on it? Another HD24 could be useful!
 
HD24 less than a grand? I think you mean 2 grand right?



Don
 
Yeah, two grand for an HD24. Mackie has a unit out now for around $1200.
 
whats the difference??

Im looking at the mackie SDR 24 96 AND the MDR 24 96
i fail to see the difference between the two (except the price)
while im at it, whats different about the HDR 24 96??? im not gonna get it cuz its too expensive but i would still like to know why its so expensive

i really need to know
cuz im about to buy an SDR but i can get the MDR for a little bit more and i will if its worth it

thanks
 
The minidisc recorder will use data compression (ie it decides what portions of the sound signal will not be noticed and throws them away, much like MP3). My recorder (roland VS840) uses data compression. It does not sound as good as uncompressed audio, such as you'd get with the Mackie/Alesis models mentioned. But, audio quality also depends on the quality of the other gear in the signal path. What other gear are you running? What are you hoping to do? What's your budget?

For instance, if you want to record vocals a lot, you'd be well advised to invest some of that budget into at least one decent condensor mic, preamp and probably compressor. Also, if you are buying a 24track standalone HD recorder, you're gonna need a big-ol' mixing desk to mix down on, plus some outboard compressors/reverbs/other fx... The road goes ever on and on...

So give us a bit more info if you can

Good luck,
Steve
 
my stuff

i got the MPC2000XL, i do actually have a big ol mixing board, i have an effects processor a compressor and a joemeek thingy (VC1), im gonna have a keyboard soon (midi controller with sound module(s)), im gonna play the bass guitar (and i have a preamp)

i will actually be recording a lot of vocals, mostly hiphop although i intend to experiment with singing, background vocals, layering, wierd effects, etc

i think ive decided on the Mackie MDR
whatayathink
 
Sounds good. I'm sure the MDR is a quality piece of gear. Sounds like you may need a main vocal mic (tons of choices) and a decent stereo compressor (eg FMR-audio RNC), and a decent outboard effects unit - lexicon/tc electronic etc.

Steve
 
you know

this is funny
i actually have the FMR RNC (its should be in the mail soon)
and i have a T.C. Electronic M300
my microphone (my dad passed on to me): AKG C 414 B-TL II

hows that?
do i need anything else?
 
Nice!!!

The 414 is a studio staple, lots of use for vocals. I haven't used one, so can't comment except to say that it's definitely quality, though futher down the road you may want some alternatives for vocal mics, as 1 mic will not suit all voices.

The RNC has a great rep, and should do you well, and the TC, well it's a TC, so it should do you well too. Sounds like you've got a good setup there! What's your board out of interest?

You didn't say what your preamp was, but if it's any good, you should have a nice signal chain
414 > Pre > RNC > MDR

The more tracks you're playing back at mixdown, the more outboard gear you're gonna want, and the more vocals and other instruments you track the more mics you're gonna want, but other than that, you seem to have a great setup if you get the MDR.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is monitors and headphones - Mackie HR824's/624's or Yorkville YSM1p's get my vote, depending on budget, and you need a decent pair of closed cans for tracking vocals (I have Beyer DT250's, but there are loads of choices).

Sounds sweet! I wish I could say my setup was anything like that good!!!

Steve
 
Or if U wanna be cheap..........

Alesis ADAT's!!!
 
ha

thanks man, im glad my setup is workin out
my amp and monitors: Hafler TA1600 & Yorkvilles (YSM1i) <--your callin out all my stuff man, i guess thats good

My Board: Mackie 24*8 mixing console

i dont have headphones, or at least not studio ones (i wont count my discman headphones)

as for a mic preamp, im not sure what this thing is: JoeMeek VC1, it looks like a compressor or something, i know its for vocals but im not sure if its exactly a preamp, so would i still need a preamp for vocals??
 
The VC1 does have a preamp if I'm not wrong, and the meek stuff does sound great, but it has kind of a "character" sound - it's not accurate, and tends to flatter the sound. This will probably work fantastically for some things, and less well for others. The preamps in your console are not the VLZ pro models (from what I can tell on the mackie site), but are still good to use, and pretty accurate.

In the way of preamps then, you've got a good "colour" pre, and a bunch of reasonalble "clean" pre's. With the calibre of gear that you've got, I would suggest that you want 2 channels of great clean preamp, which gives you the option of great clean/great colour and other preamps which are OK for general purpose less critical stuff. I guess an FMR-audio RNP would suit you (2 channels, ?around $400?). For less $ there's the M-audio Audio Buddy ($79) or DMP3 ($200) though these may not be a huge improvement on your mackie's pre's - I think my mackie has the same pre's as yours, but I havent' used the M-audio ones, so I can't state comparisons from personal experience. If you search this board for mic pre's, you'll discover that there are literally hundreds of options, and the prices range from $50 to the thousands! A good clean 2-channel pre like the RNP will give you a great pristine signal chain for tracking in stereo straight to the recorder (ie. you should bypass the board).

Headphones - you need some! CLosed-back for tracking vocals, 'cause usually if you use open-backed phones with a sensitive mic like the 414, you'll hear HEAPS of spill from the phones on the vocal track. Go down to your local large music store and try out a bunch of different phones, see what you like. Remember you might be wearing them for hours on end, so make sure they're comfortable! Beyer, sony, AKG, Sennheiser - they all make good enclosed phones. Behringer have just released some phones that are pretty cheap, but I don't know how good they sound!

The phones you need as soon as you want to track vocals, but the clean pre you can do without for a while if funds are tight. I have a much lesser setup than you, but I'm gradually building it up, and as I get a piece of gear, I learn to use it, so that when I get another piece, I already know how to use what I've got.
 
cool

thanks a lot man
i appreciate it all
youve been a great help
good luck building up your setup!
 
I don't know about the MDR, but I know with the HDR we had to purchase several I/O cards which were pricey. Look into it.

Scott

SteveMcB said:
Nice!!!

The 414 is a studio staple, lots of use for vocals. I haven't used one, so can't comment except to say that it's definitely quality, though futher down the road you may want some alternatives for vocal mics, as 1 mic will not suit all voices.

The RNC has a great rep, and should do you well, and the TC, well it's a TC, so it should do you well too. Sounds like you've got a good setup there! What's your board out of interest?

You didn't say what your preamp was, but if it's any good, you should have a nice signal chain
414 > Pre > RNC > MDR

The more tracks you're playing back at mixdown, the more outboard gear you're gonna want, and the more vocals and other instruments you track the more mics you're gonna want, but other than that, you seem to have a great setup if you get the MDR.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is monitors and headphones - Mackie HR824's/624's or Yorkville YSM1p's get my vote, depending on budget, and you need a decent pair of closed cans for tracking vocals (I have Beyer DT250's, but there are loads of choices).

Sounds sweet! I wish I could say my setup was anything like that good!!!

Steve
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