Digital multi-tracks


joshldoherty
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Joined: 10/20/01
Posts: 48
joshldoherty
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Joined: 10/20/01
Posts: 48
11/07/2003 3:12 pm
I'm planning on upgrading from my 2-input, 4-track cassete recorder to something a little more advanced, such as a digital multi-track. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for relatively inexpensive ones, but that can record 6 to 8 tracks simultaneously. I've been looking around and know that Yamaha and Fostex both have one. Does anyone have any feedback about anything that fits into this category?
Thanks
# 1
Dr_simon
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Dr_simon
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Posts: 5,021
11/07/2003 6:00 pm
Check out
Korg D1200: 4 tracks sim. rec, 12 track playback @ 16 bit
Korg D1600: 8 tracks sim. rec, 16 track playback @ 16 bit
Korg D16XD: 16 teacks sim. rec, 16 track playback @ 16 bit

http://www.korgstudios.com

The D1200 & D1600 are avalable as MK I and Mk IIs, the mark IIs have just been relieced.
For the D1200 get a second hand one on eBay they are identical to the MK IIs.

The D1600 mk II has a USB port instead of a SCSI port. Very handy if you want to use PC editing.
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
# 2
joshldoherty
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joshldoherty
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11/08/2003 2:47 am
thanks for the reply- just wondering why the huge preference towards korg? are they much better than any other brand?
# 3
Dr_simon
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Dr_simon
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11/08/2003 4:04 am
I like em and I have owned both the D1600 and The D1200 which are excellent. I don't know much about the Roland VS series or the high end Fostex / Yamaha.

I do know about the Boss ones and I'd not touch them, just like the Zoom ones !
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
# 4
JSV
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Joined: 11/05/03
Posts: 63
JSV
Member
Joined: 11/05/03
Posts: 63
11/08/2003 6:00 am
My 2-cents... :rolleyes: !

I agree w/Dr_Simon. The Korg's are great machines for the $$$. This depends, of course, on HOW MUCH you can afford? It would help to know what your 'spending limit is' - and what you plan on doing w/these recordings.

-Pick out a few that you've heard good things about.
-Check out ALL the feauteres of these few machines (like, make a LIST to compare)
-Decide which features are most important to your recording plans, and you'll likely make a good choice.

Make sure they have HARD-DRIVES and not any other 'media-card' storage, etc. Hard drives supply more memory (uncompressed audio file take a LOT of memory), you can replace them, upgrade, back them up. They're the same drives as in a laptop.

If you want to perform any 'waveform' editing right from the machine (which is a GREAT feature to have), you'll want to know how many tacks will "playback" at 24-bit. Most under the $1000 price-range will playback 8-tracks at 24-bit.

Everything ends-up at 44.1/16-bit once it gets to CD, but there's the editng factor, D/A A/D converters, dithering, and other things that effect the quality when recording at 16-bit.

Figure out what you'll need for simultaneous mic inputs. Check out the EQ's on all the machines. How much more($$) it is to get a CD-burner that will perform Data/backup/storage (you WILL need that!)

It sounds like a lot of work to figure out if you're new at this, but you'll LEARN a lot from the experience, and a couple weeks of 'looking around' & comparing features is worth avoiding a couple of years owning something you'll wish you took more time choosing. ;)

CHECK OUT:
KORG D1200mkII (about $1000 includes a CD burner) *6-track playback @24bit
TASCAM 788 (about $800 w/external CD burner) *8-track playback @24bit
YAMAHA AW16G (about $1000 includes burner, GREAT machine!)
Fostex VF-160 (under $1000, maybe $800 or $900, includes burner, but check to see 24-bit features)

HOPE THAT HELPED Ya', GOOD LUCK BRO'! Let ud know what you get!


~JSV
[email]jsv@jsvcolorfast.com[/email]
# 5
Dr_simon
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Dr_simon
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11/08/2003 1:28 pm
One word of warning about the D1200 Mk II, it is exactly the same as the MK I with the exception of a little blue paint. If you hang back for a couple of months I bet the price of both the new and second hand MK Is will drop.

I picked up a D1200 Mk I from eBay recently and it is top notch !
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
# 6
Dr_simon
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Dr_simon
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Posts: 5,021
11/08/2003 1:34 pm
Also remember that CD quality is 16 bit, although 24 bit sounds better, the signal will be burnt to a CD after either truncation and dithering down to 16 bit. Relative to 16 bit 24 bit also takes up twice as much disk space.

However, if you really want to get into audiophile land hi end machines will do 24 bit recording at a 96 KHz sampling rate. This is the direction I will move in once I am rich and famous!

[Edited by Dr_simon on 11-08-2003 at 07:37 AM]
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
# 7
Dr_simon
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Posts: 5,021
Dr_simon
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Posts: 5,021
11/15/2003 3:36 am
Hey Pony, sounds like the D1200 is your man. Editing on the PC is a blast and much more fun that doing it on the Korg (though it is possible). If you end up going this rout don't bother getting the CD drive for the D1200 mki I as it will do USB transfer of .wav files. This will save you about 200 USD.

I got my D1200 on ebay and payed ~600 USD for it. That was before the release of the D1200 MK II which is identical to the mk I (minus some blue paint). This will probably force the price of the D1200 down further so in a month or so you should be able to get a MKI for about 4-500.

Best of luck dude !
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
# 8

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