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Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive: 2009 » Archive through July 16, 2009 » Opinion on purchasing recording equipment « Previous Next »

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chalie_holmes
Member
Username: chalie_holmes

Post Number: 87
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 12:22 pm:   Edit Post

Hey all,
I really want to lay some of my ideas down.
I want to go direct with the bass though. In addition use the piano and probably a drum machine since I will not buy a set to record on.
Anybody have ideas on what I should get? Something reasonable that has very good tonal qualites and rather uncomplicated to use. ( I don't want to have to read 5,000 pages just to use the start button. What do you use? Help!
Thanks !!!!
sonicus
Intermediate Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 121
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 12:54 pm:   Edit Post

PROTOOLS ! Is pretty much a current industry standard. If you get an
affordable LE system your sessions will be compatible with even a high end and very expensive HD system in a major studio. I was trained in the 1970's on HUGE analog multi track gear such as AMPEX, STUDER, MCI, and ETC... and can tell you that we have really come a long way since then technically and in particular the size of the equipment has really become much more portable! GO PROTOOLS ! It is easy to use .

(Message edited by sonicus on June 19, 2009)
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 2510
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 1:08 pm:   Edit Post

I personally like Cubase over Protools. I've used both and found Cubase to be more user friendly and Cubase includes some VST instruments Like Halion, Prologue.....
Both are good though and fairly inexpensive.

OO
chalie_holmes
Member
Username: chalie_holmes

Post Number: 88
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 1:23 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks guys! I'm so out of touch with recording anymore.
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 2511
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 1:34 pm:   Edit Post

If you want to go portable there are some great digital multitrack recorders out there. I have a Fostex MR16-HD/CD. It's real easy to use and fairly inexpensive.

OO

(Message edited by olieoliver on June 18, 2009)
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 2517
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 8:10 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Chalie, email sent brother!

OO
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 904
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 12:57 am:   Edit Post

olie..going back to your 70's thread..I still have a working Akai 4000DS reel to reel recorder which I have used to record the band's I have been in when we played live.
Tape saturation sounds so retro.....
cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 498
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 6:25 am:   Edit Post

"I was trained in the 1970's on HUGE analog multi track gear..... and can tell you that we have really come a long way since then technically"

Yeah - nobody will ever convince me that analog doesn't sound better, but when I remember editing with a razor blade & tape..........:-(

Peter
sonicus
Intermediate Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 122
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 6:47 am:   Edit Post

That's it EDITING! and" punching in is far less challenging then with an analog machine, and to my ears a good running 2 track master 1/2 inch tape machine @30 ips with Dolby SR DOES sound better then most 16-bit 44.1 khz red book standard releases.

(Message edited by sonicus on June 19, 2009)
sonicus
Intermediate Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 123
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 7:03 am:   Edit Post

"16-bit 44.1 khz Red Book Standard"= just means a regular store bought CD
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 604
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 7:27 am:   Edit Post

I think it also depends on how far you want to go. Maybe you should get one of those portable digital recorders? There are threads here about those, like the Zoom - they have built in microphones so you can record rehearsals, acoustic instruments, etc., but you can also plug things in and record direct, and some allow you to multitrack as far as I know. If you just want a sketchpad to catch ideas then that might make more sense than going for a computer-based system. Search for "Zoom" (one of the brands)...
sonicus
Intermediate Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 124
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 9:27 am:   Edit Post

A keyboard player friend of mine has one of those little "ZOOM" units, they use flash memory. I am really impressed at how well it recorded our jam. Hammond B3 two Guitars , Drums and me on Bass and Trumpet. It made a good well defined recording.

(Message edited by sonicus on June 19, 2009)
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3935
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 10:53 am:   Edit Post

As I've stated on this board before, I LOVE my Zoom H2. Don't leave home without it!

Bill, tgo
gare
Senior Member
Username: gare

Post Number: 452
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 11:12 am:   Edit Post

Ditto to the Zoom H2..cant beat em for the price.

Sometimes I pull out my Tascam 4 track cassett..oppps..might be in the wrong thread again.
sonicus
Intermediate Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 125
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 11:13 am:   Edit Post

I just might have to buy me a little" ZOOM H2"
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2374
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 2:12 pm:   Edit Post

cubase is good, reasonably simple, and included free with all sorts of USB recording interfaces. Stand-alone units are great for super simple capture, but not so great if you want to get something demo-quality or better for a whole band unless you step up to 8 tracks like the yamaha 1600. The yamaha is great for getting a better quality and mixable live gig recording as well.

The zoom, edirol, and other stereo units will give you a record of what happened, or let you capture ideas just fine though. You can enjoy their output from a live gig if it was in a good spot and had good levels, but you're not as likely to get something you really want to save.

Also, I'd put the current edirol up against the zoom, though it wasn't out when Bill bought that zoom. Not sure if one is better than the other, or a better value, but I think it's a closer call today.

Depending upon my needs, my order would be as follows:

1. edirol or zoom for stereo quick-capture or live recording.

2. Lexicon Omega or equivalent with included cubase for solo into-the-pc work to mix multiple tracks at home (up to 4 tracks at once). Also real good at capturing ideas.

3. Yamaha 1600 for whole band into separate track rehearsals and live gig recording. Great quality, but you have to do a little work to get your tracks to the PC. You can make a pretty solid mix right on the box, though.

4. Presonus FireStudio (or tube version) if you need just a few more tracks, don't need super portability, and want to mix on PC.

Once you get past 16 simultaneous tracks, there aren't too many bad options and they're all really expensive.

Also, if all you're looking for is to capture your guitar/bass lines, the various versions of the line6 POD have USB capability to record direct to PC. You also have a mic input if you have the latest X3 live or pro versions.
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 2530
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 - 2:41 pm:   Edit Post

Bob that's how I got turned on to Cubase. Cubase VST came with my EMU interface. I now have the full blown Cubase 4.5 and will probably update to 5.0. The full cost about $500 but is great software. I have a Presonus Firepod and Presonus Faderport. With 9 gig of ram on my MAc I can pretty much get an unlimited amout of tracks.

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