It really depends on what you are after in a modular multi-track system. The Roland is going to give you as many 'virtual' tracks as the hard drive will hold for any track that you can monitor. It also give you access to these tracks for on board editing and what not. But, that doesn't mean that it is the better choice on that merit alone. A $600 sound card with ADAT optical I/0 will give you the same thing. Plus, ADAT SVHS tape is getting to be pretty damn cheap.
ADAT will offer you expandability down the road. You can just add another 8 tracks when you can afford it. That is when the fun begins. You can now back up tapes, bounce tracks around. Combine tracks (of course they would need to be mixed on some kind of mixer, preferably a hard drive system). With the BRC you expand into Pro capabilities that few other stand alones offer. ADAT is also supported by almost all professional studios. If you have tracks that you think are killer, and just need a big studios mixing capabilities, you can with ADAT. With the Roland unit, you can, but, as I recall, the in's and out's are all -10 unbalanced. This will not work to well with professional studios for a number of reasons.
Anyway, you should be aware that to get the most out of your ADAT's, you will need to do a few things that may not be included with the Studio Pack thing they sell. First and foremost, YOU HAVE TO RUN THE ADAT'S ON THE +4 ELCO CONNECTIONS TO GET THE BEST SOUND!!! I can't stress this enough! If you are going to run an ADAT with the -10 RCA connections, you should just get a 4-track cassette and be regulated to doing cheap demo work.....
The +4 input obviously gives you another 14 db of record level, and that will bring your recordings up to snuff with the big boys (at least in the record level stand point). This will mean more dynamic range, and much better fidelity. But it comes at a price. You have to by the Elco to XLR or 1/4" TRS cable. Also, the console you are using must support input and outputs for those balanced in's and out's that the Elco will use. I believe that the Alesis console does support plus +4 I/O via 1/4" TRS connections.
Now about that studio pack. I am not so sure I would throw my money that way. What a neat idea though. All in one package recording! Basically, their console is kind of lame, and their monitors are not worth the money. Let's not even get into the compressors and their low end effects. They are just not that good.
Let me propose something that you will pay a bit more for, but will serve you a whole lot better.
An XT-20 (about $2000 if you shop around), Event 20/20 passive monitors (aobut $350 a pair), a Behringer Composer (about $250),
an Alesis Quadraverb 2 (around $800), and the new Allen and Heath Mix Wizard console (around the price of a similar mackie, but smoother sounding). You will need the Elco connection (about $150), a monitor power amp (the QSC USA stuff works well), some odd cables here and there for running to the power amp, mic lines, and insert cables for the compressor.
A system like this will deliver very nice sound. Augment it with
an ART Dual MP, and you can really start to slam some stuff to tape. Add the BRC and an extra XT-20, now you are talking some nice capabilities.
Anyway, I would look at the XT-20's seriously. Forget about that silly old LX-20. -10 recording is just not where it is at for a number of reasons. I always use the saying that an owner of a sound company I used to work at used when talking about audio gear, or anything for that matter, "If you buy cheap, you buy twice". Words to live by.
Good luck.
Ed Rei
Echo Star Studio
www.echostarstudio.com
