Roland VS 880 or 840?

[Dire Wolf]

I am looking at the Roland VS machines. Please comment on the sound quality difference between the 880's hard disc and the 840's Zip disc. I'm a beginner and don't have a trained ear...yet! I can afford either machine, but can always find something to spend the extra $700 on if I can live with the 840. Thanks! DW

 

[Jim Marquard]

The 880 is a 20 bit machine while the 840 is a 16 bit machine (CD quality sound). Now that 16 bit shouldn't be too discouraging even though 20 bit give you sixteen times more accuracy. I have also pondered the two machines, but more so because $600 dollars is a big difference to me. So why ponder about it too long. Because 250 MB zip disks only hold about 12 minutes of eight track music (not including virtual tracks) for about $17 a pop. Thats $17 for two songs at best. And it has no capability to hook up to the Roland CD burner. Now if you have a computer that is nice and fast, great, buy an CD burner for the computer and mix on the computer. But I have a 486 at home and that means I have nothing for today's music programs. So you can buy the 840 and save money--money which you might need in the future.

Peace, Jim

 

[Dire Wolf]

Thanks, Jim! Good points. I have also heard that the VS machines have mic preamps but no phantom power! I'm sure there is a good reason for this, but I use lots 'o mics and I'm tired of changing batteries.

So you say 'Hey buddy, get a decent phantom-powered mixer like everybody else.' Okay, I will, but then the Roland VS doesn't look so attractive compared to the modular approach.

Any advice?

DW