Use with Ext. Multi Track W/CD Burner

[ricok987]

I have a Fantom, Korg & a Motif that I want to use in recordings. I see Boss/Roland, Korg, Yamaha, Tascam and Zoom all have models that do about the same functions-multi tracks, CDRW. effects, sounds, hard drive, etc. So, what brand would be considered easiest to operate without trading off quality of recording. What I am not looking to do is spending a lot of time learning how to operate the equipment, or having super easy to operate equipment that produces crappy sounding masters. Any input will be appreciated. Thanks

[tcplugin]

I owned a Korg D1200 en D1600, you can create high quality multi track recordings, master it and burn it to CD very easily. Boss has similar models (BR-series), Roland has several high end models (VS-Series), Yamaha offers the AW-series. Boss, Korg and Yamaha offer similar quality, specs might change a bit from model to model.

I don't have experience with Tascam HD-recorders, but normally Tascam products can be considered as excellent. Zoom is not as good as the others, but the price is lower as well.

Sjaak - Fantom X7,SRX-679

[Lj]

if you want ease of use and good sound quality i would check out the boss br series maybe the br1600. the yamaha aw series have great sound quality but i found them hard to use. i went with the roland vs1880 off ebay for $650 and the sound quality is excellent especially when recording at 24bits and adding the effects cards. it did have a bit of a learning curve but all questions can be answered at vsplanet.com. the korg d1200 and 1600 are also very good and very easy to use as well.

[ocomain]

I've owned many types of recorders, including models by Boss, Roland, Fostex, Akai and Zoom...and they all have their pluses and minuses. Recently I purchased a Roland Disclab (the second one I've owned) on eBay for 350.00 (you can even pick them up for less). It has digital input\output (coaxial & optical), onboard audio CD player and CDR burner, phrase sampler & sequencer with room for 64 banks of 8 samples each, decent fx...including mastering fx used in all the newer Boss & Roland units. The primary disadvantages are that the 8 audio tracks (there are no virtual tracks) must share polyphony with the phrase sampler\sequencer, and audio tracks cannot be edited unless they are ported over to the sampler\sequencer. Disc access is a bit slower than using a hard drive but it has never bothered me. Importing samples from CDs is very fast and efficient and the latest operating system (1.51) offers even more great features. For the money, it's one of the best deals out there and it integrates nicely with the Fantom X. Both units can be synced together (as long as the Disclab is the master), or Disclab tracks can be ported directly over to the Fantom via digital connections.
Hell of a deal for a cheap and cheerful system!

Michael

[ricok987]

After checking the specs of all the different machines under $1000 US-I think this Korg specs out the best. I didn't like how Korg emphasizes this "for guitarists" but, since I also play guitar I don't mind too much. I also liked the Boss BR-900CD because it uses 1 gb removable media, but I saw some negative comments on the BR1180CD durability-people's cd drives and hard drives flaking out, and made me question the reliability of the BR-900CD. I couldn't find much negative comments on the D1200MKII, except that it lacked the touch screen of the D1600MKII. If anyone has any negative experiences with the Korg recorders feel free to let me know.
Thanks,
Rich

[ricok987]

Other than Inputs, and touch screen of the D1600, is there any benefits of having the D1600 over the D1200 if all you were going to record is from A Roland Fantom, Guitar, and single Microphone?

[ricok987]

I got it with the recording bundle from MF- Marshall Mic, Fostex Monitors, Mic Stand, XLR Cables, Instr Cables, CD-R Spindle, and Headphones. I hope this stuff will be good enough for me to make a halfway decent CD.

Rich

[Chance]

i produce and wanted to bypass pro tools or software, could I use a multi-track and track out and/or sequence my beats?

like could I record my 4 or 8 bars loops then copy and paste them or could i track the loops out? if i can do this im definitely going after that Korg!

[ricok987]

Via the CD drive you can import .wav files into the D1600mkii, and change the bpm to match the data you recorded on other tracks. I got the unit yesterday, and recorded my first song-allbeit only 40 measures, and only on track 1 & 2, but I wanted to make sure the unit was working correctly because the box it came in looked like it went through hell. I also burned the song to the CD-be advised the D1600 can only write to CD up to 4X, but when you're doing just 1 song at a time that is no big deal-I just wouldn't want to make multiple copies of the same CD with it.