Need help finding a good multi-track recorder

[MrScary]

I had a Boss BR1200CD that i bought becasue I thought it had everything I needed. It didn't. I unfortunatly do not have a degree in astro-physics so I could not program the drums. I then bought a drum machine...again not a astro physicist. I sold it all and went to computer based. It was harder still (even though I was told it was MUCH easier). I sold all of it, now I am left with nothing but a hole in my wallet.

So...my question to you is, what could I get that has built in drums easy enough for a real estate agent to program, as many stereo tracks that I can get, with a cd burner, inexpensive? Is this too much to ask? Thanks guys. Any help would be great!

Eric

[Louie Music]

Normally I'd suggest the BR-1200 w/ c.d. burner :D

Actually, I really dont know of any that would be more user friendly than the Boss stuff. I have a BR-900 that I love, but from the way you're talking I dont think that's for you either.

I'll talk to a friend of mine tomorrow and see what he suggests... he's got all sorts of recording stuff, including software. He might know of something.

[bkeen]

Take a look at the Tascam 2488 (http://www.tascam.com/Products/2488.html). It is what I use and meets all your requirements. I highly recommend them.

I find it very easy to use!

New between 900 and 1100
ebay between 500 and 900.

:thumbsup

[MrScary]

DUDE!!!!!!!!!

That might be the winner!!

Are the drums realy THAT easy to program? It shot out a list of drums including intro...verse1 etc...and at beginning it looks like it has the measure number. Does that mean that I can just change the measure number and have verse 1 go for 12 measures instead of 8 if I desire? That looks easy as CRAP!!!!!!!!!

If I were to get one of these, are you able to help me if I get stuck? Thanks for showing this to me!!!

Eric

[bkeen]

DUDE!!!!!!!!!

That might be the winner!!

Are the drums realy THAT easy to program? It shot out a list of drums including intro...verse1 etc...and at beginning it looks like it has the measure number. Does that mean that I can just change the measure number and have verse 1 go for 12 measures instead of 8 if I desire? That looks easy as CRAP!!!!!!!!!

If I were to get one of these, are you able to help me if I get stuck? Thanks for showing this to me!!!

Eric

Yes to the drum question. Plus everything on the deck can be cut and paste/insert/delete so you can do a lot of editing like you would to a word document only not with a mouse ;)

If you get one I highly recommend the instructional DVD. It walks you through everything.

And sure, I will help if I can. The manuals are great too.


:thumbsup

[MrScary]

They are new at Musicians Friend for $999...ebay (believe it or not) are $1200...WTF!

I will find one cheap...that is too good to pass up!

Any of those audio inputs stereo? Or would I have to just say 12 stereo tracks instead of 24 mono tracks? Thanks again!

Eric

[bkeen]

They are new at Musicians Friend for $999...ebay (believe it or not) are $1200...WTF!

I will find one cheap...that is too good to pass up!

Any of those audio inputs stereo? Or would I have to just say 12 stereo tracks instead of 24 mono tracks? Thanks again!

Eric

You have 24 mono tracks. But dude, you really don't want everything stereo. That would be really thick and messy to mix. I do a lot of stereo tracks and have never run out of tracks.

:thumbsup

[RockStringBender]

You can mix to stereo after you track and most of those compress and eq builtin effects will let you choose to convert to stereo when you apply the effect.

Actually on your string tracks you may want to double track the piece or bounce your track to another and then pan them and play with the volumes to get it to 'set' down or 'pop' proud of the mix. Get's it feeling deeper too.

If yer really wanting to experiment when you bounce the new clone track have it start 3-5 milliseconds after the original and it gets a real sweet roundness to it. Go 4-7 millies and it thickens like a chorus. Go more and it will chorus, but not the kind in a stomp box or digital effect.

I run 2 tracks into my setup with a split stereo signal and then I have both sides of the effect (contary to myth many don't actually sweep from side to side) and then they are there to pan as needed.

[bkeen]

You can mix to stereo after you track and most of those compress and eq builtin effects will let you choose to convert to stereo when you apply the effect.

Actually on your string tracks you may want to double track the piece or bounce your track to another and then pan them and play with the volumes to get it to 'set' down or 'pop' proud of the mix. Get's it feeling deeper too.

If yer really wanting to experiment when you bounce the new clone track have it start 3-5 milliseconds after the original and it gets a real sweet roundness to it. Go 4-7 millies and it thickens like a chorus. Go more and it will chorus, but not the kind in a stomp box or digital effect.

I run 2 tracks into my setup with a split stereo signal and then I have both sides of the effect (contary to myth many don't actually sweep from side to side) and then they are there to pan as needed.

Yup, that is one way to do it. And I do that occasionally.

I only record stereo tracks when I have an external stereo effect that will sweep or ping pong from side to side. Otherwise you just have to of the same tracks.

The 2488 has the abillity to chorus/flange etc. both pre and post.

Hell it even has your guitar amp emulation and effects built in and they aren't bad. I don't use them but I did try them out....

It's all good!

:thumbsup

[MrScary]

I have the Boss GT-Pro rack mount with XLR outs for mixing to a board or a recorder. I would be going direct and may not need those effects...although good to have if needed!

Eric

[bkeen]

I have the Boss GT-Pro rack mount with XLR outs for mixing to a board or a recorder. I would be going direct and may not need those effects...although good to have if needed!

Eric

Eric, haha you do have those types of effects in the GT- Pro. Nice unit btw. I had a GT-6

If you use the stereo echo or stereo chorus In the GT then you are using the effects mentioned.

:thumbsup

[Axe]

Personally I have DAW,, and normally I would say "friends don't let friends play Zoom ;) ,,,,,, but take a look at the Zoom MRS series.. I have had a chance to use one somewhat and the learning curve on them is extremely short.. Good luck in your search.. Recording is a large reason we ALL do this guitar thing;)

[MrScary]

So the Left and Right from the GT-Pro would, say, go into track 1 and 2 or just track 1 and be stereo. It would have to go mono and then use the built in, say, stereo reverb effect to make it stereo? This is REAL interesting! I think this may be my BOY!!!!

Eric

[RockStringBender]

Yeah, I can't think of a thing to add to an input processed guitar track that wouldn't f it up. I've tried, but it's already a produced signal and track and every attempt I've made was not an improvement. I haven't touched my tracks from the SGX 2000 with any mixdown effects for many moons.

If you go that way, at the end of your mix, after everythings laying just right and panned where you want it, convert to stereo when you bounce to stereo track to creat your pre-master. If not then, when you master EQ or compress chose convert to stereo then. I think that you can even wait until you go wave or mp3 file and still be able to stereo it out then. It's best to do it at the bounce from the multi-tracks though as you keep your pans and such separated.

When ya get your setup play around with it and let the soldering iron cool off. Recording and figuring midi drums out is a journey, not a destination. I gave up on figuring midi out a long time ago. I'm smart in an entirely different way than the kind you need for midi programing :D I tried all of these in my attempt, all to no avail... :scratchhe :help :phone :treadmill :evil :bong :flipa :toast :phone :help :bong :evil :evil

[bkeen]

I would run your L and R to track 1 and 2. Any effects you use will record appear on the channels as they are using headphones directly out of your GT. Does that answer your question?

Now when I record a miked cab I don't use any effects other than those used between the guitar and the amp. I record a mono track from the mic. I then bounce that track to another track. From there with the 2488 you can edit the track to add time or remove time to give it a doubled effect. Or you can apply chorus to 1 track or the other or both. But by recording dry you can play around with the effects after you have recorded the piece. Cool!

I use a Pod XT Pro for a lot of work and it allows you to monitor with effects while sending a dry channel to the recorder. Then you can send the dry recorded signal back to the pod and add the effects and record to a different channel or channels for stereo. Way cool!

Cool stuff.

:thumbsup

[lefthandedshredder]

For me computer recording is the way to go, but yes it can get complex...and there's something about actually having buttons and all you can touch.

I record all my instruments live instead of using a drum machine or something else..I can play all rock instruments (or at least sufficient to myself anyway haha)..that way I can record a complete song by myself and also it cuts out the crap you get when you have your friends/band over (musical feuds :nono )

[lefthandedshredder]

Oh and not to mention you need to get a decent soundcard and usually a computer mini-mixer that can convert all of your tracks into one for the computer to record if you're playing live and have more than one track (duh :D )

[MrScary]

DEFINATLY not going back to a computer. This thing may work for me (Tascam 2488). I have a guy that wants to sell me one in a box for $750 with the instructional dvd and free shipping. Is that a good deal?

Eric

[bkeen]

That is a great deal.


I am a computer systems engineer. So I have no problems using a computer based system. I have used tape recorders for years. Tascam mld 38 1/2" 8 track. I have used computer based systems etc.

I use the 2488 because it mimicks the tape transport functionalitly with the typical tape type transport buttons. In a word simplicity. I like to concentrat on the music and not the method. The 2488 does that.

Also, I don't want to be concerned with software upgrades, os upgrades, patches, viruses, hacks, etc on my recorder.

Oh yeah Eric, if 24 tracks isn't enough, you can buy another one and link them via midi for 48 tracks! You can do this up to 256 machines I believe.

But, it's all good!

:thumbsup

[Axe]

Man,, I dunno Eric... I know you are anti PC but for $750 you can aquire one heck of a DAW and load yourself up with tons of killer software.. Drum software is getting easier and easier to use/apply.. Choose your own direction but don't close off any options ;)

[MrScary]

I had over $1200 into computer based recording and had it for 5 weeks. Worked on it for 2 hours a day. Never got it to record one note of anything. I took it to the store and they said I needed 2 hard drives for it to cash correctly and that the latency problem is just something that I'd have to deal with.

Good Computer: $700
Audio interface: $300
Software: $200 (roughly)


Tascam 2488 with an instructional DVD: $750

Piece of mind...Priceless

Some things money can't buy...for everything else there's paypal!


I bought it. It is on the way. I could not pass up a new in hte box 24 track digital recorder with a burner for $750!

Eric

[bkeen]

Hey Eric, you will be recording by the end of the week! ;)

[MrScary]

SWEET!!!!!!! :headbang

Can't wait for it to get here! :thumbsup

Eric

[Axe]

Doesn't Tascam have an interface that allows you to hook up with a PC so you can edit on large screen rather than the small LCD onboard display? I know the Zoom units had this option..

Congrats on the purchase :) Hope it's everything you need and more :headbang

[bkeen]

Doesn't Tascam have an interface that allows you to hook up with a PC so you can edit on large screen rather than the small LCD onboard display? I know the Zoom units had this option..

Congrats on the purchase :) Hope it's everything you need and more :headbang

Unfortunatly no. But the little screen is well laid out.

:thumbsup

[bkeen]

Eric, did you get it yet man?

;)

[bkeen]

So what's the good word man?

;)

[bkeen]

Damn that sure is taking a long time to get!


:scratchhe

[MrScary]

Yeah Bro. I got it. Your recomendation has been a 100% improvement in my recording. I will never forget it, my friend. It is a MUCH warmer sound over my BR-1200CD. The internal drums are cool but hard/impossible to tweak. I still need a good drum machine. I have had a Boss DR670 and an Alesis SR-16. Both have failed the test. The Alesis was the easiest to use, but the drums sounded older and kinds fake. Anyone with a recomendation?

Eric

[Axe]

http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-ZOO-MRT3B--m-04_41_238.html#

Doesn't come any cheaper or easier to navigate/program.. ;)

[MrScary]

AXE,

You've used this thing? It looks pretty simple I must say. I just go from the 1/4 stereo out into 2 cables (l and r) and into a stereo track on my 2488? Seems pretty simple...any sound bites I can check out? They sound pretty real? Thanks man!!

Eric

[Axe]

Yes, I have an MRT-3B.. I just use it for practice because I use "Drums on Demand",,"Pro Drum Works" and "Beta Monkey" for my recording in Cakewalk.. You can use the factory loops and fills or build your own.. You simply build the track by assigning a preset and a number of measures and then the next element or preset.. Simple really..

http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/mrt3/index.php

http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/download/demosound/demo_rhythmtrak.php

[MrScary]

Excellent my friend! I'll take your advice as well! Thanks very much!

Eric

[MrScary]

Just bought it. I'll let you know when it gets here. Thanks again!

Eric

[Axe]

Cool.. hope it fits yer needs.. :headbang