All the fellas with standalone multi-trackers...

I used to use a fostex FD-8 ( this is going back a few years) Honestly i loved it. It was a huge step up from 4 track tape however once i switched over to a DAW it was way to obvious of a decision, I would never go back to a stand alone recorder, plus dollar for dollar you can get yourself a used G4 or G5 and a decent interface and build up from there. For the most part with stand alones what you buy is what your stuck with until the machine dies or you buy something else. But i know a few cats who still use multitrackers. whatever works for you...

I use the Akai DPS16 synced up with the MPC using MTC/MMC. I send mixes to the computer using S/PDIF. You can create 16 synchronized WAVs if you want to get your work professionally mixed, which I haven't done.

The original hard drive and fan are noisy but replaceable. Then it's quiet.

It does 16 tracks of 24-bit, 44.1 and 10 tracks of 24/96. You can get it for $4-500. It's built like a tank.

I used to use a fostex FD-8 ( this is going back a few years) Honestly i loved it. It was a huge step up from 4 track tape however once i switched over to a DAW it was way to obvious of a decision, I would never go back to a stand alone recorder, plus dollar for dollar you can get yourself a used G4 or G5 and a decent interface and build up from there.

Yeah, fair enough. WHatever works for you.

As someone else said, DAW's are exactly like software instruments: they do everything except keeping you focused on the music. I mean, when you can apply as many compressors as you like, you stop focusing on sampling the right drums and getting a nice balance in your mix and you just lay everything random and apply some comps and bammm: wack ass beat when played louder than 1KW.

DAW's are for people who know exactly the reason why they need them and for those ipod beat makers.

PS I'm soon to get a DPS for me. Sick of continuously getting lost inside Audition.

I read an article in KEYS magazine (most popular music production mag in Germany) and there was a producer who records an acoustic guitar band. He made a concept album where he didn't use EQs! He created the sound solely with choosing the right mics, positioning them correctly and maybe adding a bit of compression on some tracks! Again, absolutely NO EQing! Now that's what I call a skilled engineer!

nguoiduc, whats that in your avi?

I battled with the anti computer issue for years ... but honestly I have never produced anything near as professional sounding on my old Multi Tracks as I have on Pro Tools... It takes you to the next level because it is much more intuitive and very simple to operate once you get the hang of it...

I don't really use plug ins that much either as I route my mixes seperated to a mixer and use hardware compressors ect.. Pro Tools interfaces well with hardware and mixing boards.. It is more expensive to get into but I would never go back.. I even have an AW16G for recording Live Shows but I want to pull my hair out once I start trying to mix on it so I just export out wavs and master in Wavelab..

I first started on a 4 track reel to reel. $h*t was heavy as f*ck and you had to really take care of those reels and the machine. Then got a Fostex 4 track cassette recorder but got tired of the infinite bouncing you had to do. Later went the PC route. It was cool for a few years but it just wasn't for me. Copped a roland 1680 with 2 efx cards and I never looked back. My only beef is the conversion and burning process. But that beef is very minor

LvngDead wrote:nguoiduc, whats that in your avi?

You mean my avatar? It's the Yamaha AW 2400. I think it's a pretty cool machine. 24 tracks, 48 channel mixer, Mini-YDAI card option. EQs and parts of the bigger Yamaha digital consoles etc.

Check http://www.yamahasynth.com/products/aw2400/index.html

I plan to do all my sequencing and arraging in MIDI on my MPC and only use this to track and mix. I have a friend and she sings and plays guitar, so I'm gonna record her on the unit too and do some extra drums on the MPC or S 5000. I'm gonna buy some selected outboard gear, but I wanna keep it simple. In depth editing can still be done on my Mac.

I'd rather get a DPS 24 Mk II, but they are nearly impossible to get anymore and with the famous AKAI support for discontinued products.....

DAW with good interface and converters shits on any multitrack recorder. why do u think cats aint using multitrack in the semi-pro - pro studios? cause u're limited with editing, ad da converters, inputs, outputs, channels, effects (no plugins), etc etc.

apogee rosetta with firewire option shits on every single multitrack.

if yall like faders and knobs why dont just get a control surface like mackie?

on the other hand, if u just need to record a few tracks for your personal use or some kind of demo cd, then yeah, multitrack is fine.

I can't agree with the previous post. If you're recording and you have to do tons of editing after then there's a problem with the way you're recording. Personally, I think recordings should be recorded to a level where minimal editing is required. All of that "we'll just fix it up in the mix" stuff is laziness to me. If I need to apply a plug-in or some kind of effect to every track/instrument to make the total track sound decent then something is wrong with my method of recording. Just my opinion

Blaknif wrote:I use a tascam 2488, I love it. My only complaint is the slow CD burner!

co-sign i love my 2488 i can monitor every sound module in the lab
and make music useing multiple sound sources with ease .. i mixdown internally and export the .wav files into adobe audition for final touces
mastering and such .. i recorded on a PC for a looooong time, there is nothing wrong with it i had no problems ... BUT it is difficult to use multiple sound sources with just one PC unless you have a smokin sound card. i just found it mo'Betta fo me to have the option to use more then one sound source, and be able to seamlessly integrate that into the studio.
with the 2488 i can monitor my MPC2000xl/the triton/the PC/and the mc-808 and still have room for mics (with phantom power) .. hard to do that with a pc

I bought my first digital recorder (VS-880EX) back in 1999. It was like the old 4 track cassette days, but with tons more options. I loved the hands-on feel of it, but I eventually ran into limitations. Editing options were there, but the edits had to be basic, or else you end up with clicks and pops. Many of the effects were useful, but you only could only use 2 at a time. There's even automated mixing, but I never did learn how to use it... Never got the CD burner either, so I was always mixing down to cassettes. But overall, a cool little portable studio.

Then in 2003, I upgraded to Pro Tools LE on a Mac G4, and put the VS in its box, and there it stayed for years, until recently. PT is awesome, but many times I lose my creative flow in all the technical crap. I find that using the VS is still fun in its simplicity. I love being hands on with the faders. For "quick & dirty" recording, it's hard to beat, I say. Now, if I want to take a VS recording to the next level for mixing, I can transfer the tracks into PT LE via SPDIF. That's how I've started to use it lately... Only 8 tracks, but I figure if I can't get a decent track going with 8 then there's a problem... with me. Anyway, who says I can't use both?

DirtyBird wrote:I use a Korg D888 eight track digital recorder--**** is absolutely dope---I would much rather use this than a DAW for recording

so if you wanted you can port yoru tracks to teh computer and edit? this thing seems cool.........