recording gear advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter Neil G
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Neil G

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i want to know the best route to go for a home studio. i want pro sounding quality gear with the ability to record at least 8 tracks at once and i want to mix master and burn it all at home can a hardisk system sound as good as adats or 2 inch tape?

if i go hardisk what's the best and most user friendly softwear ,what sound card is good, roughly what will everything cost. i want the best bang for the buck gear without sound quality sacrifice and something upgradable no 2 year obsolete stuff. or what about those all in ones like the alesis or yamaha 24 track deals. i should also mention i also want easy editing and lots of experimental freedom with whatever i choose, like sampling, moving stuff around, effects what have you.

i would really appreciate any good info including web sites, very recent books or anything with reviews, and what i really would like to know is if you can tell a difference in sound beetween digital or tape recording besides the low hiss of the tape. alot of people swear tape sounds best why?

P.S. can someone explain to me in verysimple english about 16 or 24 bit recording, is their higher, can you really notice a diff and is digital really recording the live sounds accuaratly.
hope to hear some replies soon.
 
There's a lot of folks here that know a lot more than I do, but for the time being help them out with a little more information.

What type and source of music are you going to be recording?
What's the budget?
What equipment do you already have? Mics, pres, etc.?

Can you hear the difference between 16 and 24 bit? I doubt it.
However, when you add effects to your track there is some degradation of the origional signal. If you start at 16bit and apply effects, you reduce the bit rate or quality of the signal to below 16bit. If you start at 24bit you wind up with a signal/bit rate still higher than CD's 16bit max. Burning a CD is giong to reduce the bit rate to 16bit, so the point is to start higher allowing for the reduction caused by FX.

Gidge, Tubedude and Slackmaster2000 will be along to fill in the rest. You might do a search for reading material and check out the digital expaination from the home page.

Good luck and welcome to the site.
 
The new M-audio Delta 1010lt soundcard looks pretty good. It has 8 analog input and 8 analog ouputs + two digital ins and outs Its going to be pretty cheep too. My Canadian dealer gave me a price of $659 Canadian, thats like $350 USD.

Get a good computer and your all set.

Computer based recording is much better than any of the hardware solutions out their. They are fully upgradeable. So if your doing a project and you need more inputs its a simple as adding another card. Also with most software you aren't limited to 24 tracks. Right now I'm using Cool edit pro and it can do upto 64 tracks, I don't think my computer can handel it though. Also with a computer you can do more than just record audio so even if it cost more than one of the hardware Harddrive recorders, you also get the ablity to play games, browse the web, do your books, shop for more studio stuff, etc...

24 bit will record more dynamic range. Your more likey to hear everything going on. Then you can compress that dynamic range down to the dynamic range of 16 bit. That way you get a fuller sound. This also means you don't have to have the levels at 99% when recording. The other thing about 24 bit is if something is designed to sound good at 24 bit it can do great at 16 bit. 24 bit cards are built to much higher specs than normal soundcards. I can hear the diffrence. With 24 bit it sounds like its live coming from the mic. With 16 bit you loose the low level detial.
 
pro quality sound, as good as 2" tape?.....at home?....you arein for a long list of gear and room treatment, so its best if you state a $$$ budget before i waste my time......

anyway, im not the pro gear expert here...im the home recording on a budget to get decent results guy.....im just trying to prepare you...

Dirge
 
I have a setup that uses both the Computer and a Roland VS-1680. My PC is pretty current and I use Cubase VST/32 and Acid Pro 3.0 on it. However I still love the 1680 best. I find the Roland unit to consistently deliver the sounds I'm after. Especially in the mastering department.

My PC uses a MAudio Delta DIO 2496 for a sound card. It sounds great as well. I can move data back and forth from the 2 units using the digital connections. I love that and find it extremely valuable. Also my preamp uses a SPDIF digital out. That goes right to the computer with the XLR's going to the Roland. The Delta card is a performer.

Theres something about the Roland though. Maybe because I've had it longer, but I feel its the greatest thing since sliced bread. The sound quality is amazing. Is it 2-inch tape quality? I have no idea but it sounds damn good!!

You can get them pretty cheap too. Theres always one for sale on EBAY for around $1,000 - $1,200. For just a little more you can get the 1880. Both record 8-tracks at once. Maybe because it has that tape recorder feel to it. That said, editing on the computer is far better and precise than doing it within the Roland.

Granted the 1680 is only 16 tracks and you will never be able to upgrade anything except maybe the operating system, but it has not slowed me down. You can use pretty good sized hard-drives if you do update the operating system. I have never crashed using the 1680 in 2 years. I wish I could say the same about the PC. The PC is unlimited tracks and is always upgrading so it is a tough choice.

It sounds like I'm flaming the PC and I'm not. I use both all the time, but for how cheap the VS-1680's are today, and what they can do, it seems like everyone should own one. Go get one today!!

Dave C
www.mp3.com/carusodavid
 
DaveC said:
However I still love the 1680 best. I find the Roland unit to consistently deliver the sounds I'm after. Especially in the mastering department.
Click to expand...
*choke* :eek: Must fight urge to post sarcastic retort.........

Yikes....

Bruce
 
neil is basically asking the questions i have. one question about the delta 1010 is it a pretty high quality sound card? what other sound cards would be considered equal or better, and could you drop a link please it seems to be a good price. also what is a good recording program to start with for someone who needs to get familiar with computer recording. someone recommended sound forge, i need something that is going to be easy to learn on you guys give some great advise and i can't wait to hear back from ya, and as far a budget goes i'm looking to spend 500-1000 on both cheaper if possible

thanks jason
 
Hey Bear, I gotta like what you like whatever that is? Take a hike.

I've seen your cyber-police work before. You post responses good but wheres your music? In the works right?

Dave C
www.mp3.com/carusodavid
 
DaveC said:
You post responses good but wheres your music?
Click to expand...
Er, I run a commercial project studio and I engineer.... duh!

:rolleyes:

Bruce
 
Thats suppose to impress me? Snobby little thing aren't you. I didn't see engineers only on the sign. Don't you have someone to scold for posting under the wrong category? Like I said, take a hike.

Whatever,,,, I'll regard you as God from now on. Leave me alone.

Dave C
www.mp3.com/carusodavid
 
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