Whats good and bad about the Akai dps24?

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Mongoo

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In my search for what to do about recording I've focused in on 3 possible units if I do go the Harddisc route. That being the: Korg D16XD, Roland VS2400CD, & Akai DPS24. The one I'm getting the most excited about is the Akai. Man, the more I read about it the more giddy I get. Granted It would take me a little time to save the money but It could be worth it, I think. Not sure though.

If you can, please burst my bubble and tell me all of the reasons I don't want to buy the akai. Whats wrong with it? What can't it do that others can for less?

One thing about it I'm not sure about. How many tracks can it record simultaneously? I think I read it can record 12 at 24bit/96hz but am not sure if its 12/16/or 24 tracks for 16bit/44hz.


Anything else you feel like saying please do. I'm just fiending for more info.

Thanks

Mongoo
 
The only negative thing I've ever heard about Akai units is the fan noise, which may not apply to the unit you're looking at. By and large people seem to think very highly of Akai, and I've heard they're not too hard to learn (unlike what I've heard about Roland).

There's also a new TASCAM 24 tracker...
 
The 16XD reportedly has a stinkin' noisy fan too. All these looked really good to me too but I'm tired of fighting the noise. (I have a Korg D8 with a clicky hard drive.) I'm getting a PC that I'm going to stick in a closet or in another room if necessary and do my recording on it. If you're recording in one room, the new recorders that require lots of air aren't too practical, IMO. You just can't get away from the noise. I hate noise.
 
I think the Akai dps24 doesn't have a fan. So I would just have to deal with the hard drive noise. Or I could get an external drive for it. Then there wouldn't be any noise.

How bad is this noise that your talking about though? Does it get picked up by the microphones or is it just annoying to have to work with?
 
Yep, it's got a fan. If you're using condenser mics in one room, any of the noise is picked up. You can use cardioid pattern condenser mics and point them as far away as you can get them from the recorder. Thats helps some. Good hyper-cardiod dynamics work best in a noisy place. When the hard drive clicks there ain't much you can do with that but get away from it but it's still there if you're using a lot of gain. I hate that sound.... a good mix and then the fade out with the HD clacking like a train in the background.
 
hey man, I have the DPS16 and it DOES have a fan and it IS noisy at times. Here and there, not always though???? If you are recording right next to the machine, a good condensor mic WILL pick it up, you have to move away from the machine. I checked out the DPS24 a little and it looks great, just too much $$$ right now. I can record 8 tracks simu. so I would think you could do 12 with the DPS24. The DPS16 is VERY easy to operate and is quite user friendly. Of course, I am talking it up cause I own it but I have NEVER had ANY trouble with it in about 2 years. Take a chance, you will be MORE than satisfied! later the dude.
 
I found this on a product discription page at akaipro.com:

-----------------------------------

EXTERNAL DRIVE SUPPORT

Worried that noise from the DPS24 is going to affect your acoustic recording or mixing sessions? Don't! For a start, the DPS24 runs cool and doesn't have a fan but, yes, it's true, the internal disk can make noises which, however minimal, may concern you.

Don't worry - it is possible to connect external drives to the DPS24 via the (optional) SCSI board and record to and playback from them allowing you to mount your 'project drive' away from the recording / mixing / monitoring area for silent operation.

-------------------------------------

I don't remember the accesories being more than a $100 or 2, so If I got an scsi board and an extra drive (a big one hopefully) that should eliminate the whole noise possibility. I would think so anyways.

How long do they make extensions for that kind of stuff?
 
Fostex VF160

I'm using a Fostex VF160 (16 full tracks, 1stereo master). Very stable, easy to learn, great sound. This machine has no fan and a very quiet hard drive. I can record an acoustic guitar 4 feet away from the machine, no worries.
 
You shouldnt be tracking in the same room with the recorder running...but if you do get a longer ribbon cable and locate that hard drive somewheres else...hell get a bigger one with a higher cashe...mine has a 120G with 8mb cashe and is quieter. I even went for a sweet 8 channel external preamp for my DPS16. My stuff is way different now.
 
Well that's really the point of having the standalone recorders for bedroom recordists, being able to track right next to the machine. Unless you want to run from room to room, take after take, punch after punch...the rest of your sordid life. The separate hard drive with a long cable in another room or closet - now that's a great idea if your recorder has that capability. But then, you still have to deal with the fan in the recorder if you have one and most of the new high powered recorders have one and from most accounts I've heard, most of them are screamers.
 
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