which multitracker should i get? please help!
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Posted on Sep 28, 2002 09:06 am
SirDrumAlot
Member Since: Sep 28, 2002
I'm looking to get a digital recorder where i can use an output to connect to my computer and transfer songs onto the computer(WAV. or MP3 format), and from there make those songs to CDs with my CD burner. I want a good quality recorder with good effects and built in preamps for $400 or less (preferably less).Please tell me if u have or have heard about one of the following and tell me if they are good and have all the qualities above. thank you
1) Korg PXR4 Pandora 4 Track Digital Recorder
2)New Zoom Digital Recorder MRS-4
3)Boss BR-532 portable Digital Recorder Ext!
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Sep 28, 2002 12:05 pm I can say that I have heard of them all, though I have never used any of them. Let me ask you this, if you want to record the songs, then dump them down to your PC to burn, have you considered the idea of just recording your songs into your PC in the first place? Get a decent sound card and mixer w/preamps and your PC can be your digital multitracker.
That of course depends on the PC you have currently.
Sep 29, 2002 06:11 pm I cant use the computer for recording and the number one reason for that is portability. I need a portable multitracker. Does anyone have any suggestions for which one i should get?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 30, 2002 09:37 pm I guess if your heart is set on a portable like that, I would opt for the Roland. Although you might want to take a look at what Tascam has to offer too. The other two are very portable yes, but not as usefull as the Roland.
On the side dB spoke of, You might want to take a look at USB audio interface's from M-Audio. You can use them with a laptop (if that ain't potable I don't know what is) and your main PC as well. This option will give you way more editing option's and much greater storage capacity. And you will avoid the headache of file conversion program's, which is what you will be looking at if you go the way of teh Roland or any other stand alone unit like them.
Oct 01, 2002 07:08 am Roland always makes great gear, their main problem is that their users manuals suck. I dunno who translated those things, but they are not very clear.
If somebody is looking into getting into their own business, it might be wise to start making "Roland Instructions for Dummies" books...they could be a hit.
If regards to portability, you can also do it on a laptop. I don't mean to keep beating the PC idea to death, cuz if you want the other unit, that's cool, go for it, it's just that in many cases PC's can be more user friendly and less limiting...if you are comfortable on a computer. Some peeps dig knobs and stuff, that's cool too, whatever works.
Oct 01, 2002 02:22 pm So do u guys have any suggestions on which of the 3 four tracks do u reccomend?
Oct 01, 2002 02:26 pm I would go with the Roland (er, Boss, same thing) myself, of those three anyway, but like Noize said, look into Tascam as well, I am not sure what they offer in small digital units like that, but their recording gear is very nice.
Oct 01, 2002 02:30 pm wait, so the "Roland" is the boss? and is the tascam a different 4 track then the otehr 2?
Oct 01, 2002 02:31 pm Ya, last I checked Boss was owned by Roland, that may have changed, but I doubt it. Tascam is a whole different company...they make great stuff. Here is a groovy little 8-track rig from Tascam: service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear
Oct 01, 2002 02:33 pm Yeah i thought so, but i dont really like tascam digital recorders because there usually more than 4 tracks, and 4 is all i need so im only looking for those 3 only.
Oct 01, 2002 02:38 pm Well, then I would go with the Boss, but, before you plop down the cash, think carefully and be sure that is all you need. If I had a nickle for everybody I have heard say thats all they need and then have outgrown it in less than 2 months of using it, I'd have, well, at least a couple dollars :-)
Seriously though, think about it, you know your music better than anyone else, but don't udnerestimate your vision and spend a lot of money on something that you will outgrow quickly...
Oct 01, 2002 02:42 pm I was thinking of the korg pandora pxr4. I heard on Tabcrawler forums that it was good. they said it had good amp modeler, good mic preamps and good effects. and its extremely portable.
Oct 01, 2002 02:50 pm The Korg comes with a Smart card half the size of the Boss, which will need to be upgraded if you want to use it portably, a 16MB smart card won't fit much music unless it is ultracompressed, then you loose quality. The Boss has some Amp modeling too, though I don't know which ones they have, I do know Roland is capable of some good modeling as well.
They claim that the Korg can fit 270 minutes of audio on a 16MB smart card, which maybe they can, but it will not be very good quality, and I am guessing that that is 270 minutes with all tracks combined, so a 4 track 5 minute song actually counts as 20 minutes. And it's list price that I saw is higher than the Boss. The Korg compresses the audio down to 32Khz Mpg (red flag goes up!), I couldn't find the Boss compression rate, a site I was at (bosscorp.com) stated it had a 44.1 samplerate and 24-bit A/D conversion.
I am not really trying to sell you on any of them, just pointing out some fact that I saw. According to korg.com theirs has a sample rate of 32k and the "high-quality" option will record up to 11 minutes of music on that 16MB card (for all tracks combined I think).
They both have similar features and both seem to be pretty cool units, so either would probably be cool, but that sample rate and the smaller Smart Card would sway me the other way.
Oct 01, 2002 03:17 pm how much money would it take to upgrade the card? would using a different card decrease the sound quality?
Oct 01, 2002 03:19 pm I dunno, I don't use them, not too much probably. And having a bigger card will only help, it means you will have more room and be able to fit more audio on it.
Still, if the best recording quality is 32Khz, it will never do a very professional sounding job. And it compresses to Mpeg layer 2 compression. And I just noticed that the line input on the Korg is a stereo mini jack...yuk...I am going to stop digging for info on this, it looks worse and worse...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 01, 2002 11:29 pm The card only give's yo more storage capacity for more minute's of recorded audio. The Boss unit (and yes, they are part of Roland Corp.) does record with higher quality then the other's. And it use's a proprietary compression that work's a little better then most. But it is still not like recording direct to a PC or Laptop. They also have option's for burning directly from the unit itself.
Oct 02, 2002 02:40 pm I just read in my new instrument catalog that the korg and the boss both have 32MB cards.
Oct 02, 2002 02:55 pm oh, really, I read in a couple reviews it came with a 16 and their website doesn't say it directly, but it does give recording time with a 16 MB card, I took that to mean that is what came with it.
You seem to really be looking for a reason to buy the Korg, if that is really what you want, just buy it, but, you did ask our opinion, and from what I saw it just doesn't measure up. The audio quality is what really kills it, I am really surprised a reputable company like Korg would do something so cheesy like that...
Oct 02, 2002 03:03 pm yeah i was leaning on the korg but quality is my main concern. so if the boss has better quality ill get that!
Oct 02, 2002 03:04 pm well, it's a 32k Mpg-2 with the Korg vs. a 44.1 24-bit with the Boss...you do the math...
If you are considering buying online, check out the price at Musician's Friend through this link:
service.bfast.com/bfast/c...ge=mfsmalltrans
It helps support this websites expenses. If not, hey that's cool...
Oct 03, 2002 12:30 am for messing around i use the boss br532. its great to take on the road cause its batt. operated.. plus it gives you more of a natural feel when mixing. the cosm pre is great.. has some really cool stuff on it. plus its really easy to use (ive never even read the manual, and i can do ALOT with this thing). those others are way to compact.. easy to break. and i dont think they have a XLR (which the boss does). i wouldnt lie to you dude... the best 4 track out there right now for under 400$ is the boss. and the quality of your material at the end of all my mini sessions is great. so buy that. get a bigger smart card.. then just press the little red circle button and rock on.
Oct 03, 2002 11:36 am thanks man
Oct 04, 2002 06:49 pm Hey I just found out that I have a pretty good soundcard on my computer and also my friends mixer has 8 inputs (XLR and Hi-Z) it also has good preamps. With all this why would I need a digital recorder!? I'm also getting these great drum mics with good condensers. I could also use the condensers for vocals. Ha i guess i'm set once i get some software and once i get the mics!
Also did'nt you say computer recording was better!? boy now i have changed my mind.
Oct 04, 2002 07:11 pm Well, it can be better, it kinda depends how you like to record, most of us here, if not all, prefer it on PC.
What is your pretty good sound card? That is a very relative statement. What is a pretty good sound card to a gamer is not necessarily to a home recorder...there is a big difference between the two.
Oct 06, 2002 09:30 am Its a Sound Blaste... uh I think no its a Sound Blaster Live with some more numbers. Is this a good card?
Oct 06, 2002 09:34 am No wait its not a soundblaster live. Ilooked on the box and that box was the one to our old computer. The one in now is...Echo, Echo mia.
Is this a card for recording or just sound?
Oct 06, 2002 10:19 am That is a good sound card. As I recall however the Mia has two ins and two outs, which means regardless of the size of your mixer, you will still only be able to record up to two different instruments at a time. That said however, it will work for you. Echo makes great cards.
Oct 06, 2002 10:22 am Could i record on my old computer with the sound blaster?
Oct 06, 2002 10:24 am you would be much better off with the new PC...
Oct 06, 2002 10:24 am My drums are in the same room as my other PC, so could i just record the drums on that computer, then record guitar, bass , and vocals on the other one? I mean would it still be good quality with that soundcard? Because I dont feel like bringing my whole drumset downstairs to the good computer.
Oct 07, 2002 05:30 am Ya, that will work, keep inmind though that the SoundDisaster can record at 16-bit/44.1 sample rate at best, so for consisitancy sake, after you get the drums recorded and go back to your main PC, reocrd the rest of the song like that as well.
Depending on your software package, some can mix bitrate and sample rate from track to track, but some can not.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 07, 2002 10:15 pm I still use my SB card for importing audio for sample's. You just need to take care of the signal you are recording. That mean's do not overdrive the input's, and make sure it is a nice clean and audilbe signal going in.
