Hard Disk Recorders

Bruce Hamilton · Post by **Bruce Hamilton** » 11 Jul 2003 4:25 pm

I have recently got the bug to get a hard disk recorder and accordingly am being bombarded with sales pitches from every music store in town. What I have narrowed my search down to(mainly by price)is the Yamaha AW16G,Roland VS1680 and the Boss BR1180cd. The Boss seems limited with having only 2inputs. The Roland appears to be good but uses proprietary files. The Yamaha seems to be popular but around here they are scarce. These are my first impressions. Has anyone got suggestions either way?

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 11 Jul 2003 8:56 pm

One thing that may come in handy is if you can burn CDs of your individual recorded tracks from within the DAW (digital audio workstation).
That way you will be compatable with most software based recording systems. Like Pro Tools and Digital Performer. It can make a big difference if you will be working in different formats with different people.

Bob

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 11 Jul 2003 9:27 pm

This topic has been previously discussed at: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/003855.html

I ended up with a Yamaha AW2816, which I am very happy with.[This message was edited by Alan Kirk on 11 July 2003 at 10:28 PM.]

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 12 Jul 2003 7:17 am

I've been using the KORG D1600 for
quite awhile now. It's excellent &
easy to use. I can import & export
.wav audio files so there's no
problem exchanging stuff with others.
They can stick those right into their
computer & do whatever they want with 'em.

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Bruce Hamilton · Post by **Bruce Hamilton** » 12 Jul 2003 8:27 am

I got a brochure on the Korg and it seems to have all the goods. It actually has 16 tracks. The only downside is the price is about another $700.00Cdn although this is still less than half the price these units were going for about a year ago.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 12 Jul 2003 8:59 am

Also read http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/002495.html

I've had a Tascam 788 for over a year and really like it.

They have a great User Forum too.
It made learning a lot easier.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 12 Jul 2003 3:09 pm

probably the most important thing to know before you purchase is what your exact intentions are.

The Boss units are not intended for recording live bands or multiple tracks at one time. They are intended for the 1 man musician, buiding a song on his or her own.
They are very good for that and very easy to use. Very easy....

I personally use an older Boss BR8, 8 track which uses ZIP disks. I can record 2 songs per disk and I master direct to my PC or I can master direct to a stand alone CD burner as well, but I dont have one and don't plan on getting one anytime soon either.

I paid $400 for this machine used about a year ago and it has been flawless , easy to use and very fine quality as well

The Boss 1180 CD is the next generation..nice little machine but they should have made it more flexible with more inputs to be competitive in the price range.

I have written direct input patches for the Steel, Tele' and Bass in just a few minutes which I use all the time now instead of live recording from an amp. The quality and tone is really quite good. this would be the same for most any machine out there now.

On the other hand if you plan on recording live sessions with 6 or 8 multiple mics , you will need a machine that can record 6 ,8 or even 16 tracks at a time.

Burning CD's, this is not quite as staight forward as the manufacturers want you to believe, there are specific steps which must be taken with many of the machines right from the beginning of the recording process in order to facilitate a two track mix down then burn to CD. If you don't follow the exact procedure from the very start you may not not be able to burn your song to a CD.

I pesonally like many of the new machines out there and they all pretty much will give an exceptional recorded song.

If I do step up I am looking at both the Yamaha AW16 and the Fostex 16 something or other. Both under $1000 and offer 16 tracks
with multiple imputs. the fostex allows 16 tracks record on the fly.

there sure is a lot out there but do buy based on what it is you want to do with it, ask for an in store recording demo as well..lets see how easy they really are to use.

The one common thread that all the machines have is that we actually have to play good before the final recording will sound good.

Imagine that...
good luck

tp[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 12 July 2003 at 04:13 PM.][This message was edited by Tony Prior on 12 July 2003 at 04:14 PM.]

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 12 Jul 2003 6:24 pm

I use a Fostex VF-16 and i'm very pleased with it. I have actually made rehersal recordings with it that sounds better than some studio recordings. The new model is called VF-160 and has an internal CD-burner.
The one thing i don't like with it is the 3-band equalizer. It does the job but it could have been better.
If you don't need the option of multiple track recording you might settle for an eight tracker, wich is very affordable.
I think all brands sound good. The main differences is price and ease to use.
Basicly they are all quite good. Try one. If you like it, buy it.
I'd go for one with a CD-burner though.

Uffe

Bruce Hamilton · Post by **Bruce Hamilton** » 13 Jul 2003 12:46 am

This is really great getting insights from you guys who have already jumped in. I got my first experience with recording back in 1967 at RCA in Montreal and have been in countless sessions ever since. When Tascam came out with their reel to reel simul sync decks back in the 70's it seemed that a lot of my friends jumped in and it always appeared to me they were constantly dumping money into their systems upgrading. I decided back then to stay on the earning side of the equation and be the guy that got hired and payed. In any event the price of entry has come down.
Tony your points are well taken. Although I plan to record as a one man band there are two scenarios where I will need several inputs. For years I was and am still a serious drummer. If I record I will want to be able to be mike an acoustic set of drums to the hilt. In addition I have two daughters who play in several different band configurations that I would like to be able to record on the fly.
Joey and Ulf-both the Fostex and Korg units look interesting. I hadn't registered them in my thinking as yet.
In any event the learning curve appears to be daunting yet fun!!!

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 13 Jul 2003 6:16 am

The KORG has the touch screen which makes
it a heckuva lot easier to "manuever" your
way around without scrolling thru menus
all the time. It's also got 4 XLR mic
inputs, not just 2 and can record up to
8 tracks at once. It's much better suited
to recording live band situations.

Billy Woo · Post by **Billy Woo** » 17 Jul 2003 5:43 am

I just bought the Roland VS2480HD and this machine (to me) is the total package with Auto-Mix, built in effects and Cd burning capability in a very nice compact package, takes a little bit to get past the learning curve but it has tons of options and features

Bronco Billy

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 17 Jul 2003 9:37 am

I have a VS1680 and have been very happy with my purchase. The only thing I dislike is the lack of an export to .wav format. The VS user forum at www.vsplanet.com has provided assistance when needed. There are lots of VS users so finding someone to help is a huge plus over the others.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 17 Jul 2003 10:15 am

I have the original Roland VS-880. It's a good recording machine, but it doesn't write CDs.

One feature I like in the new Yamaha: it will write your tracks as separate WAV files on the CD. This should be really handy if you prefer doing your edits and mixes on a computer. My biggest problem with the VS-880 is getting the tracks into the computer.

Lately I've been looking at the Boss BR-864. For only $500, it nearly matches my VS-880 in functionality and has the added advantage of using Flash memory. I can read Flash cards on my computer, so the export problem would go away. Plus, the BR-864 is much smaller (more portable - I like that).

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Shaan Shirazi · Post by **Shaan Shirazi** » 17 Jul 2003 11:26 am

The more research I do the more I think the Tascam 788 is the way I'm going to go. Why?
6 inputs, 250 virtual tracks, the ability to link 2 788's together for 16 tracks, and the new version 2.02 can support a 64 gig hard drive plus some other very useful features. Also, the user's forum is an unbelievably helpful resource for recording on all levels.

Do some searches on their messageboard and you'll find some fiercely rabid devotees and I've never seen one in a pawn shop but I've seen all the others. Plus, it's the only one I've used before when I rented one for a Christmas recording. Anyway, you get it all for $599 brand new plus about $180 for the approved CD burner.

Shaan

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The Pickin' Paniolo

Shaan Shirazi · Post by **Shaan Shirazi** » 17 Jul 2003 11:28 am

I forgot, the new version has the .wav import and export feature too.

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The Pickin' Paniolo

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 18 Jul 2003 2:56 pm

Akai DPS24....From soup to nuts...Jim