Multitrack Recorder

A few years ago I mentioned a way of using plug-ins in realtime with a multi-track recorder. There is a program called Console, which allowes you to take the outputs of your MTR send them to your PC to use Plug-ins and back out to your MTR via the AUX ins. All in real time!

I helped a friend set this up once about 5 years ago. It worked great.

The company still has their site up. I am not sure if the company is still supporting the product or in business. Worth looking into.

http://www.console.jp

@ Damien...I only use my MPC as a sequencer. I think I have sampled myself maybe 5 times and others once. So I do not track into my MPC to answer your question.

I have never had a sync issue with my MPC or the VS2000. THe only sync issue I have ever had is with my Roland Fantom S when it is used as the master midi source. It has jitter.

The VS8F3 card does not come with any plugins when you buy it new. You have to buy the Plugins separately, unless the plugin has already been uploaded into the card by someone else. Once a card has been matched to a plugin then they stay matched. Also note that you can only use on plugin at a time. The VS2000 has room for two VS8F cards. So you will either have to use it and print a compy of the sound with the plugin effect to use it again or have more than one card and thus more than one plugin (it can get expensive)

Printing the track to two tracks and then sending it to a DAW is one way of doing things. That is the basic idea...you have multiple recorded tracks and you send them to a stereo track. Once you have that stereo track you master it either in the VS or externally. Lately I have been recording the stereo mastered track to my Olympus LS-20m video camera because it has a sd card option in it and it can record uncompressed 24bit/96khz, or 16bit/48khz or 16bit/44.1khz. So I use 1/4" stereo cables to 1/8" stereo input in the camera. Then I send the music to bandmates or to DJ's in dropbox. Once in a blue moon I will burn an audio cd.

The VS2000 definitely can dither down.

Here is a video of the VS2480 go to 6:53 to see explanation of the plugin and mastering.


Peace
Ian

PS buy the Plancton DVD if you are going to purchase a roland VS.

cool ian, i will wtch that video when i get back home, i will def get the dvd first if i am going to seriously consider this.
thats kinda wack about it only being able to use one effect at a time, on the plus side i suppose, that would mean i wouldnt have to buy the T-racks for mastering, because i am not so comfortable writing each step destructively. although that migth just be something i would get used to.

@ adrian, ill check out that website too, that sounds pretty awesome. we used to do something similar at school when we set the protools to the regular mixer, i have no idea how that studio was actually set up though, i just knew how to do stuff.

Um how you going to front on the DPS 16??? The sound is incredible and I personally have recorded many songs with no problems! My one complaint is that It came out too soon for my money..That joint cost me something like 2600 and did'nt have a built in cd (although I am aware of that mod) and that tech was yet to come..Some complain about the efx but thats an easy fix and i have seen where some consider it a better unit in comparison to the DPS 24 Im just saying...

Yep, the DPS 16 is a very clean sounding recorder. I have mine sitting around collecting dust.

yes i just had mine serviced.I only hate that you cant use it as a controller for Reaper thus forcing me to cop a DM3200..My screen went bad ( must be something with akai products) anyway I still want to incorporate it in my music making process so thats why i had it fixed.I guess I could have purchased another one but thats the one i spent money on (a sintimental fool) i guess but whats a fella to do.. it's hard to part with stuff you really spent money on...damn technology wheres my cassette 4 track!! same thing with the 2000 yes its an old piece now but it still has a lot of flavor and I just cant bear to part with it! nevertheless I will like most people continue to collect and use as much gear "old and new" as i can get my hands on!! in hopes of one day getting over myself and releasing that "DREAM PROJECT" that i can never seem to wrap my ears around or make time to finish!! side note/confession: sometimes I find myself trying out and hooking up more equipment than i make time to create the beats...and that includes buying & listening to records ( a necessary evil) as well as figuring what all those damn plugins i have can do... the struggle continues!!!

I used my DPS16 as a midi controller for Ableton a few years back. With Ableton it was a simple set up.

I have always used multitrack recorders for vocals, beats or whatever. Then rip the song to a DAW later.
Boss 1180CD
Zoom R24 is really nice.
Roland VS1880 & VS840

I always perferred recording my beats/rhymes on a standalone multitrack. Always will.

Here is a video of the synchronization of three roland vs machines and the mpc4000. Of course once any machine has midi it can do this also. I agree with you all that the akai dps has a nice sound. I dont think any of these machines sound bad. All I am sure sound good enough. The trick is easye of use, features and actually doing what they are supposed to without bugs.



Cheers

Ian