Want to upgrade

[ohmeohmy]

Hey guys,

I am not sure if this is the right area to put this question but here it goes...
I've been recording on an old 4 track cassette deck for a while and want to go into the digital world, however I don't want to do it via a daw. I haven't worked much with keyboards much, but would like to start. I want to get some e-drums, because I live in an apartment. Here is what I was thinking.

I have:
behringer ub120fx-pro mixer
Behringer v-amp
Boss DR880
and a few mics (nothing spectacular)


I want to get:
Yamaha aw1600 recorder
Roland td9-sx drums (tired of playing with my fingers)
Yamaha Motif Rack ES
a hardware sequencer
a keyboard controller

all of this piece by piece

First and foremost, should I just skip the last 3 and just buy a Motif workstation? What are the benefits of having individual pieces?

I am not to sure how hardware sequencers work (from what is seems they are similar to the dr808 I have). Will I be able to record midi data to the machine and have it play while I record other audio parts to the multitrack? Will I be able to store various parts (Drums and keyboards) on the sequencer? Does the sequencer have to be equipped with aftertouch to utilize it on the keyboard controller, or is that just a midi code?

What is a good hardware sequencer to get? Should I look for just a straight sequencer or should I get one with some sampled audio on it?

As for the keyboard controller... are all those knobs really that useful, if I am not using it in a DAW environment? Would they work with the rack unit and tweak various aspects of the sound?

 

[jdier]

I know you said you do not want a DAW, but I have to just throw in one suggestion that you take a look at something like the Firestudio audio interface and Reaper software.

I feel like you would be miles ahead immediately and able to get to recording right quick instead of messing about with all the cables and connections.

You will be successful either way I am sure, but the DAW just seems obvious.

Good luck which ever way you choose to go.

Jim

 

[ohmeohmy]

Thanks for the reply Jim.

If I wanted to buy a whole new computer for this project would it be about the same price as buying a multitrack recorder? Right now the aw1600's are about 1000. Reaper is $50, firestudio is $700, that doesn't leave much for a computer.

 

[Ripthorn]

You could probably find a used firepod (earlier version of firestudio, almost) for maybe 300. That would leave you with enough to get a new desktop from an electronics store that would be quite nice.