VS2400 vs. Akai DPS 24

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PHILANDDON

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Please help. These are the models I'm interested. I'm coming from the BR 1180, which I love, but I want a 24 bit machine with no data compression. I record very simple acoustic guitar/voice or piano/voice demos. So, I don't need a lot of tracks, but want great sound. I called Roland and the guy there made a good case for the VS-2400 over the 2000. I don't care too much about the video monitor but since its free right now, I need to strike before mar31 if I want the 2400.

The problem is I've heard great things about the Akai DPS 24. But dealers are steering me away from the machine and the guy at Roland echoed their sentiment i.e. that Akai is kind of a mess right now business-wise. Also, I figure the learning curve on the 2400 won't be too high since I'm coming from the BR 1180 (am I right about that)

I want pristine sound and I'm willing to pay. But I would like to know that there will be support for the product I'm buying for some years to come. I've also read some great things about the Yamaha 4416.

What do you think?
 
I went through this a while ago when 16 track players were the norm. I got the Akai DPS16 and I have never looked back. Even now that I do alot of recording thru a MOTU interface connected to a mac I still use it about three times a week. When I bought the Akai I did it because it had excellent mixing functions recorded at 96k and the menuing system was really simple.

Now after using it for four years, I still like it because the convertors sound good and it is so easy to use. The efx on my box suck a bit I think. I only use the multichannel compressor and that came with the third software upgrade. However, it is just a workhorse for me. There is a pc program that you can use to extract individual tracks from the archive CDs and that is how I ferry stuff back and forth between the that and the computer. I sometimes slave it to an MPC and a computer and do really midi things with it.

I also liked how I did not have to buy a grossly overpriced roland cd burner to go with it. They were selling for $600 at the time.

I love the DPS series for its ease of use and smart design. Knowing what I know now I would go for either the Akai or the Yamaha. Roland rocks the synths and what not but I think that it blows a little for recorders.
 
My vote for the Akai DPS 24. I have one and love it. No data compression. The reason you keep running into the "bad rap" from dealers is because no one can get them in stock and would rather Have Your Money Now, Thank You than have you going elsewhere to find one. This is a great great unit. Wonderful converters. Beautiful interface, not many menus to wade through.

Akai has somewhat recently changed hands, but they have NO plans to discontinue the line. And it is hard right now to find a new one in stock. I thought I heard it was because of some problem with distributors? Not sure on that though.

The major hangup that I have run into on the boards is concerning the hard drive. Most (of course, not all) of the problems I hear people running into is caused by the HD. I understand it as - Akai was shipping with a Seagate drive for a while until Seagate changed their firmware, making it "less" compatible with the new DPS24 OS. Most people toss in a Maxtor DiamondMax 9 40, 60, 80 gig and never see a HD prob again.

I will be honest and say that mine was bought as a dent & scratch (tiny tiny tiny ding, barely noticeable) and saved me $500 at the time. Great until I noticed noise problems a week later. So I get pissed and curse myself, Akai and the online retailer. Bring it in for repair - bad fx chip, had to replace the whole processor board - had it back in less than 3 weeks. Perfect ever since (maybe a year now).

I would reccommend you check out the DPS forum as well as the Roland and make up your own mind:

http://dpsworld.vibestudio.net/

thanks and good luck,
Bryon
 
Dps 24

Thanks Byon,

It's a tough call for me, cause I know Roland machines a little bit (I have a Boss 1600), so I thought there might be short learning curve with a VS machine. Also, customer support at Roland is pretty reliable.

But I've been hearing such great things about the Akai unit. Nice pres, Nice converters. Terrific sound. All the dealers I've called pretend that they've never heard of the DPS 24 or that its out of production. Thanks for the links.
 
Phil, I checked into a few things for ya about the Akai unit. Akai was bought out by Numark. They're planning on a major OS update for the DPS24, so I doubt that you'd have to worry about them going out of business anytime soon. There's also a new cosmetic look coming (blue instead of grey) and I haven't heard of those even being released just yet. So they are out there, probably just working out the bugs with the transfer and new OS I would gather.

On the learning curve: It really isn't difficult to figure out how things work, if you aren't comfortable using group busses to route the signal path you can always set it up to go direct from input to track. Eqing is dead on simple - hit it EQ button and select your channel - the knobs above the faders become your pan, eqs and auxs all in a horizontal line. Hit another channel button and they all switch over to that one. Want to adjust reverb on multiple channels? Hit the appropiate FX channel and the rotary knobs become the send for each track over their fader.

Don't let anyone tell you its out of production. At the very least, see if you can't find one to demo. You could even try to post a request over at the forum to see if there's anyone in your area who might let you check it out. Most of the folks over there are very supportive in new/potential Deepsters. Even better if you find someplace with both units right there to compare.

Best of luck,
Bryon
 
vs880ex

umm k im pretty much a newbie to digital workstations ive done most my recordings on my analog yamaha mg12/4 mixer and in a day or 2 im buying the vs880ex buh i jus wanan no if u guys could please hlp me up cuz i heard that it is realli hard to use buh i jus wanan no if its hard to record a track and play back and record eg rythm track over it in a new track if u can record with effects on well thanx plz help me out as soon as possible

andrew \m/
 
you should compare the akai with the 2480 not the 2400.But with the akai you will need a computer to pull up screens on a big monitor.With the roland you dont need a computer just the monitor
 
HH recordings said:
umm k im pretty much a newbie to digital workstations ive done most my recordings on my analog yamaha mg12/4 mixer and in a day or 2 im buying the vs880ex buh i jus wanan no if u guys could please hlp me up cuz i heard that it is realli hard to use buh i jus wanan no if its hard to record a track and play back and record eg rythm track over it in a new track if u can record with effects on well thanx plz help me out as soon as possible

andrew \m/
Click to expand...
Hardly understand what you write, but...

I found the vs880ex quite easy to use, but you might have a look at www.vsplanet.com

A lot of people there complain, that the beast is very hard to understand... IMHO, it depends how experience you have with recording/mxing in general...

aXel
 
Vs2400cd

I own a VS2400CD Workstation, so my opinion leans more towards the Roland. This machine has a lot of tools to use while recording, mixing and mastering, and I find that this eliminates a lot of other studio equipment - more equipment can be too much! I myself have nothing but great things to say about the Roland, but your question is to broad.
 
I've owned my DPS 24 for almost 3 years. No problems. It's a very solid machine. Intuitive as well. Once ya get going on it, it just seems natural. The on-board pres are good (clean) as well. And it's MBCX is awesome. It's worth takin a good look at.
I've never had any dealings with Roland or anyone else, so I can't help ya there.
Good luck to you in your quest. It can get a little nerve-racking....
Peace.....................Kel
 
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