Sony vs. Tascam

[Tulago]

I am building a rack recording system based around the Roland VSR-880.

I plan to mix and archive through a Mackie 1604 to a DAT deck and then record to a CD-R.

I would appreciate any comments or recommendations regarding Sony vs. Tascam DAT and CD-R decks. Both are similar in price.

Specifically:
Sony CDRW 33 vs. Tascam CD-RW 700
Sony PCMR 300 vs. Tascam DA-20mkII

Thanks for any input or experience you may have.

Regards.....

 

[virtual.ray]

I have the Tascam CDRW700 and am happy with it.It sounds very good and has been reliable. I don't really see why you want both a DAT and a CDR.If you want to use the DAT for data storage,there are faster (Roland's own CD burner) and cheaper (Castlewood ORB drive) alternatives.I've heard from a few people that backing up to DAT takes forever and isn't always reliable.BTW,I also have a VSR880 but I use mine with a Roland VM3100 Pro digital mixer. Nice machine,huh?

 

[Tulago]

Virtual.Ray...

Thanks for the reply. I have not purchased the VSR-880 yet. Still researching for the best way to go, but I think I like it's new reduced price ($700 at my local dealer).

I have been pleased with Sony quality in the past with high end home stereo gear (ES line). Both Sony and Tascam are in the catalogs or available thru the internet. I suspect both are manufactured at the same plant in Japan.

I have been using an old Teac A3340-S (4 track 1/4 inch tape with 10 inch reels) that is starting to fail. I also have the VS-840EX (100 mb) that just isn't enough at this point. I want to upgrade my home project studio.

The reason I want both DAT and CD-R is to have both formats available. I plan to use the DAT like I used the Teac. I can run my signals from the Mackie board direct to the DAT. Just let it run when we're playing (up to 4 hours). Never know when we might get into something good and then it is captured in the digital domain. I can then record back to the 880 if we want to expand on that inspiration. The CD-R will be for data backup as well as for mixdown to CD.

I don't plan on buying the effects boards for the 880, but instead use some outboard processors I already own; either as aux sends or as inserts with the Mackie. I have a Dbx Compressor/limiter, Alesis midi-verb, POD Pro, Digitech 2101, and the BBE. I suppose I could route the signal thru the 840 if I wanted to use the Roland effects, but I'm not wild about those sounds.

Anyway, thanks for your comments.....

 

[Buck62]

I own a Tascam CDR-700 and I love it!
It's a great machine and the converters are superb.
I can't comment on the Sony CDR, although I own other Sony products... and I'm satisfied with all of them.

I highly recommend the Tascam CDR-700.