VF-08 Questions

[alloway]

I'm a bass player and I'm considering the VF-08 as a low budget digital recorder to do SOME recording with, but mostly as a scratchpad for new songs.

Questions:

1. What are the effects capabilities? Does it have amp sims or general guitar effects? Or is it JUST dynamics effects for recording (compressor, eq, limiter, reverb, etc.)?

2. Do the XLR inputs have preamps?

Those are really my only questions... otherwise I'm sold on it. Does anyone else have any experience with it? Let me know. Thanks.

Dave

 

[bbbmusic]

alloway,

I use the VF-16, the big brother to the VF-08. Yes, it only has dynamic effects. And there are no, pre-amps per say except for the built in gain controls. I love the machine. It can crank out great sounds and I wouldn't part with mine. I do use an external compressor that I use on the dual inserts. The other built in effects are not that bad. But, I am primarily a guitar player so I use a POD 6. The only other thing that helps with vocals is I have phantom powered mics that help get a higher gain on the pre-amps. I had also started with the VF-4 and that was not bad either but, I soon ran out of channels and had to bounce too many tracks. Now I can record 8 channels directly to a Philips 700 CD burner and mix while burning.
Good luck and have a blast.
Later
Bruce

 

[alloway]

I really appreciate the help. Couple more things...

So what are the MAIN differences between the 08 and the 16 (other that tracks)? I think I read somewhere that the EQ was 3 band on the 16 and only 2 band on the 08. And what MIDI capabilities do they have? Sequencing, right? Anything else? And how are you connecting the burner?

I really don't need the effects I asked about earlier, since I am a bassist, but just wanted to compare apples to apples (looking at the new Korg D12 also).

Thanks again.

 

[micmac]

alloway,

if you're thinking about the D-12, forget the VF08. i just checked out the Korg site - VF08 doesn't make me jump even half as high. i've got the VF and it works fine to throw down stuff on, do some demo tracks etc. i couldn't find one single thing where it falls short of the D-12, though.

one of the main differences (except the ones you mention) are for example on the 08 the scsi (where you'd hook up your burner etc) is optional. other I/O are also scarce on the 08, a coaxial s/pdif and the list is finished... of course there are the regular monitor outs etc...

if you have any other specific questions about the VF08 (except midi stuff - i don't know midi from maxi.... ) just go ahead and post.

micmac

 

[alloway]

I hear ya... I'm weighing the extra $300. BUT I know the Korg has the amp sims, internal effects, PLUS an internal drum machine, and preamps on the inputs.

It's definitely the machine I would want if it wasn't $300 more. But unfortunately I just need something to work out song ideas on, that has GOOD quality that I can import (via the SPIF) into my bands main recorder (Akai DPS12i). Since I wouldn't be recording the whole band on this thing, the effects would just basically be a nice to have.

So what effects ARE on VF-08? EQ, Compressor, Limiter, Reverb.... anything else? Gate? What kind of EQ? Exciter?

Thanks.

 

[micmac]

- 2 band EQ
- Reverb
- Delay
- Chorus
- Flanger

The EQ is kind of a pain in the rear entry, you got 36 "presets" where the two freqencies and the Q's are set and what you get to play around with is HI Gain and LO Gain. i only use it to fatten up the bass a tiny little bit, though. also, EQ and effects only apply to track 1-6. track 7-8 are "tailored" to act as bounce/mixdown tracks.

When you mixdown from 7-8 you can apply what Fostex calls Mastering Effects. If your recordings not already are, these effects will instantly turn them into Mega Hits . Nah, seriously, for mixdown you get:

- 3 band EQ (same handicaps as the one i described above).
- Compressor (threshold, ratio, gain are tweekable)
- Ambience (you can adjust rev level only).

These master effects come in ten different presets. if you don't need one of the three you'll have to zero that one out.

Getting back to track 1-6, Rev/del/cho/flang also got a buncha "limitations", but what they do they do ok - considering this price bracket and that you already got a recorder for your money...

It's a great sketch pad and it works well for it's purpose. The only thing i've had a problem with is the harddrive. One day it simply couldn't find the HD... That only lasted a few moments and it was ok after about ten restarts, but it scared the shit out me because of all the stuff i had on it. It's a dirt cheap noisy Quantum Fireball drive. Luckily you can upgrade it yourself - takes less than 5 min.

Tryin' to think of other things... buttons - not good, jog dial could be much better, screen is small... it FEELS "cheap". But what the heck - i paid almost the same money for my portable MD...

hope this helps,

post if you need more,

micmac

 

[alloway]

So there IS other effects on tracks 1-6 (dly/chor/rev/fl)? That's good. I'm sure you can probably only change like ONE param on each, but as a scratchpad, it might do. Can you only apply the effect(s) DURING recording, or on a bounce to 7-8 also? Or what about on mixdown?

And do you have the compressor and other dynamic effects during recording? Or ONLY on mixdown? Like, say I wanted to record my vocal track with a certain compression, but then mixdown everything later with a different one.

Thanks again... this is REALLY helping.

 

[micmac]

So there IS other effects on tracks 1-6 (dly/chor/rev/fl)? That's good.
Yup.

I'm sure you can probably only change like ONE param on each, but as a scratchpad, it might do.
You can actually do a little more than one. They're all presets, 38 to be exact. Every preset has 4-5 parameters. About 34 of the presets are rev or del or a combination of the two.

Can you only apply the effect(s) DURING recording,
Yes, but only one preset at a time.

or on a bounce to 7-8 also?
Yes.

Or what about on mixdown?
No. Here the Master Effects are the only available. It's like two separate things. Effects are for tracking, while Master Effects are for mixdown. It's compromises like this that makes it cheap i guess.

And do you have the compressor and other dynamic effects during recording? Or ONLY on mixdown? Like, say I wanted to record my vocal track with a certain compression, but then mixdown everything later with a different one.
See above.

i gotta get some sleep. but i'll be happy to get back to you if you wanna know more. i know i was pretty confused when i first looked in to this one. it's like: "you can do this and this but not if this is on and that is off and its the first tuesday after fullmoon".

micmac