tradeoffs

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CajunJ

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Hello, I'd like to buy either a DAW or an outboard recorder for around 2-3k dollars. It seems that in this price range, there are trade offs (ie) you get 24 bit processing with smpte sync's, but a sampling rate of 44.1Khz. "OR" you get 96khz sampling, but no light pipes (s/pdif) etc... depending on which brand you buy. I'm worried about latency with overdubs, but I'm also worried about lower sampling rates. Is 44.1khz an acceptable compromise for the sound quality of the final product???? Please Help Me
 
In the 16 bit/44.1KHz stereo recording arena the TASCAM CDRW-5000 is the bomb. Add a dbx 386 stereo tube mic pre/digital converter and two $200 mics and you're still under $2K! The whole setup including carrying the stuff from my truck takes 15 minutes. The sound quality is amazing. Then you can fly the tracks into a PC with a S/PDIF connector, edit and burn to CDR. Oh- and the 386 is ready for 24/96 when you are. It has AES/EBU digital out as well as balanced and unbalanced analog outs and the TASCAM has AES/EBU input and both coax and optical S/PDIF outs.
Where would the latency come into play?
And what are you trying to sync to what?
 
Have to agree with Drstawl about the CDRW 5000. I just got one and although I'm probably not as adept at using it as Drstawl is, I can tell it sounds goooooood and is easy to use. I've heard through the grapevine here though, that Tascam is going to discontinue it, if it hasn't already. I got mine for $895 here in Honolulu, but have seen it as low as $699 in a Musician's Friend catalog. Good luck.
 
Thanx ds,

By syncing I meant either slaving to a sequencer or dat, or coordinating with a video editor. but I guess both of those are further down the road. One question though would I need to buy a special soundcard to with s/pdifs or adats (+software) to send it to my PC?

john
 
I agree CDRW5000 is good.
But, sounds to me like you're wondering about multitrack recorders.
I have 2 ADAT LX20s and they do either 16 or 20 bit and either 44.1 or 48khz. I think is more than adequate for a quality digital recording. 96khz may be great, but it's far above what I think is necessary for a pro recording. More is always better, of course ... but I probably couldn't tell the difference and really wouldn't care to worry about it either. :D

On the other hand, there are some sound cards out now that accept lightpipe I/O. Recording with a DAW shouldn't make you experience any delay in overdubbing, either.
While I don't plan on using my PC for multitracking, I will eventually use it when mixing down and burning CDs. I'm looking at the following sound cards ... but leaning toward the LynxOne even though it doesn't support lightpipe ... the AES/EBU on the Lynx is what I think I need most with my set up.
http://www.frontierdesign.com/pr_WCPCI.htm
http://www.lynxstudio.com/

As I said, I'm not looking to multitrack on PC, so if you're planning to do that .. these may not be good suggestions for you. There's TONS more soundcards that are worthy of serious recording. Maybe check out that forum here on homerec.com ... there's lots of people in there who know way more than me.

As far as sync, smpte, wordclock, MMC and all that ... I'm also stumbling in that area. I do know that ADATs will sync to eachother with one simple cable, but to get smpte or wordclock sync you need to get a BRC or other device.

Good Luck!
 
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