Moving from cassete 4 track to.....?
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Posted on Apr 17, 2003 07:20 am
mac74
Show me to the beer....
Member Since: Mar 23, 2003
I'll probably have a little money to spend by the end of this year and i'm wondering about finally ditching my 4 track. I must stress that recording music, for me, is purely a hobby thus i don't need to move into a pro home recording territory and the ensuing cost. I'm just looking for that little bit of extra quality that is harder to achieve with cassete.
I know that most people here use computers but i'm a little hesitant because i'm not very comfortable using them and don't have too much time to spend learning how to use a new medium. Then theres the cost.
I have a computer but i don't think theres a whole lot of memory there. From reading up i assume i'll need a sound card and some software.
How much is this gonna cost at entry level?
What i've got my eye on is just the one step up from cassete four track. A basic digital recorder with the CD record function built in so all my stuff can go straight to CD without messing around with computers. How much can i expect to spend on one of these units new or used? Any particular reccomendations.
Any opinions, advice, tips and links most welcome.
Thanks
Mark
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Apr 17, 2003 07:33 am techinally you could get by whith what you have. an old Pentium 166 with an old SB AWE64 soundcard is what i started with. You'll quickly find limitation though.
As for a portable multitracker, you're looking at spending anywhere from a couple hundred to well over $1000, money that could easier go towards hot-rodding your computer into a beast recording machine. A soundcard might set you back $200, and RAM upgrade are getting more and more affordable. My PIII machine takes PC133 DIMM chips and those are going for about $40 for a 256MB at the store, and even cheaper on pricewatch. As for software, that could get expensive, but I know alot of people who get by with nothing but freeware and opensource programs like plogue bidule and buzz. If you get stuck on anything computer related just ask us. There's enough people here that someone will be able to help you.
shop around man, make sure you know what you need before you buy. I'd hate to see you get stcuk with one of those silly Zoom multitracks.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Apr 17, 2003 10:50 am Mac,
Jamie is right on here. All the multitrackers are is a computer in a porta-box. That is not to diminish their use for portable recording but you may be supprised at how little a puter based system can cost.
The learning curve I can't address obvoiusly. However, It is hard in this milimium not to get involved with the things as some point. You must have some degree of puter-ese; your chatting on this forum.
Definately give it some thought. Multitrackers are so limited.
mac74Show me to the beer....Member
Since: Mar 23, 2003
Apr 29, 2003 01:43 pm Theres a number of reasons why i'm not going with a computer mostly because of space and cost. Can anyone suggest a few of the recording units that would fall into the £200-400 bracket if i bought used.
Thanks
Mark
