VM200 / VR800 first few experiences

[Mike Nielsen]

Well, the VM200 from Sam Ash finally arrived today after a very long time on UPS trucks. I got it all wired up to the VR800 had it playing back stuff that I had previously recorded with no hassle. But figuring out how to route the 8 analog channels to the ADAT output on the VM200 was more than a little challenging. Has Fostex thought about actually putting out some kind of information about how to do a simple hookup of these two puppies? The information split between the two manuals is pretty sketchy. Why put the business about how to route signals from the VM200 to the VR800 on page 162 of the VM200 manual? Pretty lame but at least it gives you the satisfaction of having solved a really tough puzzle. (Although maybe a manual should be helpful rather than a hindrance, don't you think?)

 

[ALLY]

mike, I know, that manual sucks. it took me forever to figure out how to hook the two together. try pressing the routing phase key on the vm200. then hit the eq edit buttons to enable the tracks labeled DIRECT. this should get the sound to the recorder, if you haven't already. I was wondering, when you plan to hook up cakewalk to this system. are you going to have to use a MIDI interface or something? how do you hook the two up?

 

[Mike Nielsen]

Thanks, Ally. I did figure out the routing thing. Why did they not leave that turned on as default? Inscrutable engineeers in Japan!

I have not actually hooked it up to the computer yet, but when I do, it will be through my dual port midi interface. Midi out of computer to midi in of the mixer and midi through to the VR800. Midi out of VM200 to midi in of the computer.

I would imagine that if I do any sync midi track recording (not likely since my whole thang these days is acoustic), I will need to make the computer the master and the VR800 the slave in the MTC chase lock sync setup.

Right now, I am trying to get through my thick skull how to route channels 9-16 through the efx. Every once in a while, through dumb luck, I get it working but then I forget what I did. I am beginning to think that maybe, at the age of 50, I am over the hill as far as figuring these things out. Next thing you know, I will no longer be able to program my VCR to record a program when I am not there!

Suddenly, after really having the system in hand, and finally finding myself overwhelmed by the complexity of the system and its "cypher-manual," I have kind of back pedaled on the idea of having flying faders during mixdown as a high priority. I would be happy at this point just to know how to set it up and then recall the settings for a tune.

I did post a message to Fostex USA tech support asking them if there was any way to get a Studioware panel for the VM200 and got no response. Ditto on the Cakewalk newsgroup on the Cakewalk web site.

Your partner in confusion,
Mike

 

[ALLY]

Well Well, Its good to know that I'm not the only one figuring out that this whole digital thing will take lots of time to learn. I was so siked up to start recording and mixdowns and stuff, but right know I haven't even come close to a mixdown yet. Ive been just been recording my guitar parts and light percussion, which is a pure task. I'm having quite a bit of problems with my volume levels. I can't get them to have any consistency. And what really is confusing me is the PAD switch, what is that. I thought it was to add some Db's but when I hit the swicth I don't get any sound.

As far as the effects I can get them through channels 1-8, Its under "Finally Lets Get Started" in the manual, but as far as recording a dry signal and playing it back with some effects like during a mixdown or something, I'm lost. ( if you find out be sure to let me know). I've had the system for about three months and I've learned mainly by many late nights and alot trial and error and there is definetly more to come thanks to our wonderful manuals and fostex's great tech service, HAH! But I guess thats kind of the fun of it and also the pain of it. The good and the bad. Keep me posted on anything you learn as It will more than likely be better to have two brains on it then one. GOOD LUCK!