x2 BR1600 questions nobody can answer

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mattkw80

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I have been struggling with these 2 question since I got the BR1600 in early December. I have even emailed Roland, but they have not returned my email.


#1. Can you route any input you want to any track you want, or do you have to always move cables around ?

ie: I want input#7 to record to track #3, while input#1 records to track #11 etc. etc.


#2. How can I not listen to what I am recording, while I am recording. I only want to listen to what I am playing to.

ie: I am recording drums over a guitar track. I don't want the drums to come through the headphones, I just want to hear the guitar.



These seem like simple operation that other consoles all offer. I have asked several music store sales guys and techs, and they cannot beleive that you can't do this stuff on a machine this expensive.

Can anybody shine some light on this subject ?
 
Matt, I will take a shot at this.

First question...I don't believe you can 'generallly' route the inputs to ANY track you want. If you are recording say 'guitar' through input 1, you CAN select ANY track for that to be recorded to, as long as there are no other insturments etc plugged INTO the jack corresponding to the track you want to record to. So there is 'some' abilty to route signals, but not much....at least not that I have found.

2nd question. Probably a little hoaky, but if you set up two scenes, that are identical to eachother execept for the muted tracks, you should be able to at a specific point in the song, MUTE the tracks you DON'T want to hear while you are recording. I am not sure I completely understand your question. When I am recording the first TAKE, of course there IS no 'sound' yet for the instrument being played, but I can still HEAR what I'm playing as I record (seems like a MUST). Now, if I am 'fixing' already recorded stuff, I use punch in/out, and that MUTES the already played part inbetween the punch marks, and of course I can then also HEAR what I am playing. If there are 'other' tracks that you don't want to hear, mute them in a scene, and then apply that scene at the places you want them muted. A little cumbersome, but I think that would work. I just re-read your question. If I am reading it right, I don't see HOW you could record something that you can't HEAR! Am I missing something?

steve
 
I'm not a Br user (just lookin for info) when I stumbled over this. I'd be amazed if you can't do both of these moves.

All decent mixers will let you Route an input signal into a mic pre and bus it to one or more of the recording tracks. I know from experince Rolandense manuals can be a bit confusing and misleading sometimes.

The second NON monitoring the track should be accomplishes in the cue .Turning off tthe drums into the cue won't effect the input into the track. I think I understand what you are doing.You can hear and know what you are playing so there's no need to monitor it from the recorder.

Butch
 
Nobody can answer this for me, and I've read the manual 3 times.

The guys at the music store I bought it from cannot figure it out.

I think that it cannot be done.

(Which sucks because I paid $2000 Cdn for this thing).

Matt
 
Also,

I have emailed Boss support, and they didn't bother to email me back.

(Thats the first time an audio company has never emailed me back).
 
mattkw80 said:
Nobody can answer this for me, and I've read the manual 3 times.

The guys at the music store I bought it from cannot figure it out.

I think that it cannot be done.

(Which sucks because I paid $2000 Cdn for this thing).

Matt
Click to expand...

OMG!!!......I feel your pain......they must be stopped!!.....You could get a killer 32 track korg with auto faders and a million times more flexibilty for the same price here.

Can you return it.It seems it's not that old and the place you got it from knows your disatisaction....DAMN!!

If you can't take this back I'd raise a huge fuss in an even keeled way (to a manager) and say you'd love to continue supporting them but if this is how they operate you won't be buying any of their products anymore.

Butch "rasing a fuss" Price
 
Ok, nobody take this wrong. I am a NEWBIE, have been using the BR1600 now for about a year. I understand the problem you guys are talking about, but I honestly don't understand why it is such a big deal. While I also think it should allow you to route inputs to any track, why does the fact that it does not create such a fuss? What is so important about a specific input going to a specific track? If I get into a sitch where I need say the input from 3 to ultimately end up on 7, I just record it to an empty virtual track on 3, then move it to 7 at the appropriate time. True, an extra step, but takes seconds. this is an HONEST question, not a critism of those of you who've done this a heckuva lot more than me. I just don't understand the fuss. I am MUCH more frustrated with the way tracks are named automatcially upon input, or how track names dont move to a new track when moved there etc. Cleaning up all THAT stuff is a PAIN with the jog dial....Anyway...really interested in finding out why the input routing is so important. I must be missing something.

steve
 
sp_clark said:
Ok, nobody take this wrong. I am a NEWBIE, have been using the BR1600 now for about a year. I understand the problem you guys are talking about, but I honestly don't understand why it is such a big deal. While I also think it should allow you to route inputs to any track, why does the fact that it does not create such a fuss? What is so important about a specific input going to a specific track? If I get into a sitch where I need say the input from 3 to ultimately end up on 7, I just record it to an empty virtual track on 3, then move it to 7 at the appropriate time. True, an extra step, but takes seconds. this is an HONEST question, not a critism of those of you who've done this a heckuva lot more than me. I just don't understand the fuss. I am MUCH more frustrated with the way tracks are named automatcially upon input, or how track names dont move to a new track when moved there etc. Cleaning up all THAT stuff is a PAIN with the jog dial....Anyway...really interested in finding out why the input routing is so important. I must be missing something.

steve
Click to expand...


I don’t have a BR 1600 but I’ll tell you how I use the ins out.

Your example would be a good one .The reason you ‘d most likely want/need to record to track 7 instead of 3 is because there’s something already on 3.typicaly I probably want to monitor that track while I record(sometime not) but I can’t if I have to record on a virtual 3 track. By being able to buss the signal to whatever track I want I can use the same input settings for dedicated inputs to any track instead of not having a choice.

I have a very methodical way I record so I can just do its so I don’t have to fiddle about so much. That’s just one aspect of it. To me the more intuitive and less button pushing shuttling around tracks the better. The little things add up. That’s why the Killer boards have so many functions. After you learn them the can make the whole process efficient and intuitive.

Roland has a propensity to hoop jumping. Give you a cool function like track naming (I don’t have that!!) then essentially make you jump through 3 hoops to make it worthwhile sometimes. I’d sooner not have it!.

To their defense. I have a Roland VG-8 .Not so crazy about the V-amp sounds anymore (eventually it will be only guitars) but it is laid out pretty good. Technology is great. I just like when I don’t have to tweak so much and have good solid options.

I’m curious how much do those things go street..

BP
 
My big deal with routing inputs is the following :

I cannot easily tell if Phantom power is off or on, so I
have to REMEMBER to shut it off and turn it on all the time
which is about 3 button presses, where as it should only
be x1 button press, and also should have an indicator light.

What does this mean ?

Because I cannot route tracks, I am constantly having to
move my input cables (xlr's from condensor mic) to other inputs.

It freaks me out because I don't want to forget to shut off phantom power
and possibly fry something.

Besides, other consoles that don't cost near what this one costs can EASILY route inputs to any track. IT pisses me off that I spend $600 extra, to find out that it doesn't have these basic features. Maybe Boss can do a software upgrade that will alow these features in the future.

Matt
 
Matt, BP,

Yes, I too have run into ALL those things, and also find them 'annoying'. I have learned to just live with it, but I totally agree that these capabilities should be available on this unit. Having said that, it is not something that would make me give up my BR at this point. But I totally get the 'frustration facter'. BP you hit on a good one...the Phantom Powere on/off. With something SO important, it does seem a little indicator of some sort would at LEAST let you know if it's on or off.

Thanks for the replies.

steve
 
mattkw80 said:
My big deal with routing inputs is the following :

I cannot easily tell if Phantom power is off or on, so I
have to REMEMBER to shut it off and turn it on all the time
which is about 3 button presses, where as it should only
be x1 button press, and also should have an indicator light.

What does this mean ?

Because I cannot route tracks, I am constantly having to
move my input cables (xlr's from condensor mic) to other inputs.

It freaks me out because I don't want to forget to shut off phantom power
and possibly fry something.

Besides, other consoles that don't cost near what this one costs can EASILY route inputs to any track. IT pisses me off that I spend $600 extra, to find out that it doesn't have these basic features. Maybe Boss can do a software upgrade that will alow these features in the future.

Matt
Click to expand...

I read in my manual that the phantom power autimatically shuts off every time you shut the machine down. You actually have to turn it on each time you start the machine up. unless your talking about while your in a recording session using multiple mic set ups where you do need it for a track, thenyou dont for another.

I also do not think you can assign inputs to individual tracks while your in multitrack mode. you can in the others though i think.

cheers
 
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