Pro Tools Digi 001 vs. Tascam 2488
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Posted on Oct 21, 2005 11:47 am
sevendustweb
Member Since: Oct 21, 2005
Hello...
This will be a long post, so please bear with me. I represent an independent band, and I am trying to get them started with Pro Tools. Basically, they went out and purchased a Tascam 2488 (Digital Portastudio) with a 2 yr. warranty for around $1,500.
After looking through this board for over 6 hours, I have assembled a killer computer setup for about $750 (specs are below). That leaves me around $750 to work with. At this point, I have been looking at e-bay for a Digi 001 unit (they run around $250 - $350). With the remaining money, I was hoping to get an outboard mixer (possibly the Yamaha MG16/4 16-Input 4-Bus Mixer = $279.99).
I have been met with much resistance. First, the band is worried that a huge desktop will not be portable (i.e: recording live shows). Second, they are worried that Pro Tools LE will crash (see my specs below to form your own opinion).
My argument is that learning Pro Tools early on will benefit you throughout your career. This is because it is clear that Pro Tools is at the forefront of digital recording, while the Tascam 2488 (while being an easy uit to run) will not offer the advantages of Pro Tools.
Basically, for those who have ever used a Tascam 2488 (or similar unit), I need to find out exactly what benefits Pro Tools offers over this unit. I personally know that a Pro Tools rig would kill this Tascam unit, but I need independent 3rd parties to back me up.
What type of effects will Pro Tools LE reproduce? The Tascam unit will produce 7 effects (Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Pitch Shift, Flanger, Phase, and Gated Reverb).
Is it going to hurt the band long term by going with the Digi 001 over the Digi 002. Granted, there will be no more software updates for the Digi 001, but does a band that merely wants to make web quality demos in their practice space really need all the bells and whistles of a Digi 002 system???
Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. My proposed specs are below.
-- Harry
SPECS
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(1) Asus K8V SE Deluxe motherboard (Bundled - See CPU price)
(1) AMD Athlon 64 3700+ = $319.99 - $90 rebate = $230.00)
(2) Western Digital Caviar SE 80 GB, 7200 RPM, Serial ATA - WD800JD - $109.00
(2) Kingmax 512 MB SDRAM DDR400 (PC 3200) unbuffered = $91.82
(1) Sapphire Radeon 9550SE 128 MB - AGP 4x/8x video card = $49.00
(1) Lite-On SOHW-16935 - DVD/CD-R Burner = $37.99
(1) Cooler Master CAC-T05-UW ATX mid-tower case = $44.99
(1) Thermaltake Silent Purepower W0014RU 480w power supply = $58.99
(1) Zalman CNPS7000B-cu CPU cooling fan = $43.00
(1) Logitech PS/2 keyboard & Mouse = $16.00
------------------------
TOTAL: $681.00 (before shipping)
With Shipping = $740.00
+ $350 - Pro Tools Digi 001 unit & software
+ $280 - Yamaha MG16/4 - 16-input, 4-bus mixer
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GRAND TOTAL: $1,370
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Oct 21, 2005 11:56 am TASCAM...all the way, hands down
for a working band, they need to be able to capture ideas down quickly and easily.
pro tools will only distract them, and more time gets spent playing on PT than accual song writing.
they don't need to make their debut album yet, they need a decently recorded working demo (which is certianly possible on the tascam)....if YOU wanna take on the responsibility of recording their debut album, then you should get PT and be their producer. i wouldn't try to spend their money on something they arn't intrested in.
my 2 scents
Oct 21, 2005 12:14 pm Even when we could return the Tascam unit and the Pro Tools rig does not cost any more than the Tascam?
Oct 21, 2005 12:19 pm yep, yeppers, it's the right tool for the job, and bands definately don't hafta learn protools to make good music......i used to be a musician before i got into recording, now my instruments hardly ever leave their cases.
yes pro tools is better and a higher quality recording medium, with more flexibility (when mixing and editing) and can deliver...but it's like using a flat head screw driver on a phillips screw....it'll work, but the phillips (tascam) fits the screw (their situation) better.
Oct 21, 2005 12:25 pm The band is now in the process of working on their third album. They will be working with a producer at the end of the day, but for the same price, you still wouldn't go for a Pro Tools rig?
They are past recording demos at this point.
Oct 21, 2005 12:28 pm This is quite the conundrum.
I'd say between the two, given the portability I'd say the Tascam as well. If portability wasn't a concern, that would be enough to sway me toward ProTools.
As far as learning curve and career benefits, most all high end software runs basically the same, obvisouly differences in where things are, but the logic is the same, if you can run one piece of software, you can wrap your head around others pretty quickly, at least the basics.
ProTools is the industry standard, but it won't be forever, so look for quality and effectiveness for your purposes before brand name.
As fra as the computer specs go, well, it's plenty capable of running ProTools LE and I have always heard it's a pretty solid and stable app, but, it si a computer, after all, so is subject to crashing, I still don't think I'd use a computer in a live situation.
Welcome to HRC sevendustweb
Oct 21, 2005 12:34 pm oh I would personally get the PT rig, but there will definately be reliability issues, gettin' everything setup, and not to mention if any of the used gear dosn't work....they need something fast, solid, portable, and reliable...that dosn't require alotta time and effort.
Quote:
but does a band that merely wants to make web quality demos in their practice space really need all the bells and whistles of a Digi 002 system???
there isn't a whole heack of alotta difference between the 001 and the 002, just more ins and outs. so i'm on that same line of thinking when compairing the 001 to the tascam. if they're working with a producer, then HE will be incharge of the recording of the album.....but for THE BAND, all they need is a big sketch book. and that's where the tascam excels.
Oct 21, 2005 12:38 pm I have to agree with WYD completely on that
::gasp:: did I just say that...
Oct 21, 2005 12:45 pm Can the individual tracks from the Tascam be exported to a PC where they can be edited by a sound program such as Acid?
Oct 21, 2005 12:50 pm i would assume so since it's got a built in cd burner...just export .wav files and you can import them into the computer....that's exactly how i recorded all the stuff in my profile...i tracked on a roland 2480 than burned the tracks to cd, and mixed in Sonar.
jesus, it's got USB 2.0......you can hook that mofo right up to the computer and get your tracks....
way cool!
el musicoFreeleance Producer/Engineer/GtrMember
Since: Aug 11, 2002
Oct 21, 2005 08:51 pm Which setup does the band know how to run? It would be pointless to start with PT if they need so much training to get a clue.
Learning Pro Tools has helped my career... but as an engineer not as a musician (of course being a solid engineer helps when making your own record but Aerosmith didn't need to be). So if they don't want to be engineers then that point is mute.
It will probably be a pain to move the desktop in its current form. My live rig (PT TDM) runs off a PC with a rackmount chassis which allows us to keep it intact in a shockmounted rack along with other outboard gear and the rackmounted mixer. Though heavy, it is easier to setup and is safe to move around. You would need a 2nd hard drive for your setup since you only listed 1. Digidesign recommends (read as "requires" for trouble free operation) a 2nd hard drive for audio separate from OS drive. This costs you more.
For what they want the Tascam seems like it would do great.
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Oct 21, 2005 09:18 pm 001 isn't supported by anymore either last I heard so you have to use an out of date Protools or get the 002
Dec 22, 2009 06:37 pm For me, Tascam... Hands down. I've recorded a few songs on Protools b4 I bought my Tascam, and I hated it. There basically isn't a roof as far as what is possible with it, but 'ease of use' isn't one of its traits. Not to mention the problem we had with lag. With the Tascam, you plug in and play, super simple. With the right supporting equipment, you can get some pretty tasty sounds out of it. Now, I realize that Protools has unlimited tracks, but the Tascam gives you 24,,, do you really need more than that? Just my opinion...
