BR 1180 , Is it good ? Is it 24 bits ?
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Posted on Mar 28, 2003 02:15 pm
tony
Member Since: Mar 28, 2003
Hi all,
I am considering to buy BR 1180. I am only one man band, playing on the acoustic guitar and vocal. So number of tracks is not a point here. Its more than enough.
But still have doubts. The main reason is that I have seraches in internet for songs recorded on BR 1180 and those that I've found wre realy bad quality. of sound. Later on I searched for records made with Roland VS 1680. Qulity was like it was made in real professional studio. Can anyone compare quality of sound. Maybe I was not lucky in searching for records made with br 1180
Thanx in advance
Tony
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Mar 28, 2003 03:30 pm tony,
Have you considered using your computer for recording? For the same money that you would spend on the BR 1180, you could get a good sound card and multitracking software for your computer which would give you far greater expadability than the BOSS unit would. I haven't heard anything recorded with the 1180, but I can almost guarantee that you would get better sound quality out of a computer based system as well. Plus, there are ton of great plug-ins out there for DAW systems so you can easily get into all those effects and goodies that you always wanted without breaking the bank. In your position, I would give this some serious consideration. I believe that you would be far better off in the end.
tonyMember
Since: Mar 28, 2003
Mar 28, 2003 04:12 pm Well,
I am using computer for a very long time but not for recording. Thing why I do not trust the computers is that I always heard that software efects are not the same as if you use hardware vetsion. Also one issue that i am aware is that I have no possibility to build studio, my studio is my room, and there is no way i can separate PC from place I am recording. It means (i think so) that all noice that pc makes will affect my recordings (I do record voice via AKG 3000b mic and acoustic guitar via AKG 1000 mic). Another thing I did some, but (must confess) very short research on sound cards and did not find that any would have XLR input which is needes by mics. I know A/D converters are great and thats cool. but still. Why then studios buys hardware instead of using PC with high end sound cards ?
Tony
Mar 28, 2003 04:59 pm Well, you can still use outbaord effects with a computer based system. Many of us here do plenty of that. And in many cases, you're right, the software version of an effect is often of lesser quality. Nevertheless, there are many that are great and I use them all the time.
Next up, dealing with computer noise. There's not much to say here, but I can tell you that I very frequently record from within the same room as my computers and have had minimal issues. However, I do record acoustic guitar and vocals in another room due to the noise. It's no different than any other noise source you will have to contend with. Further, it's pretty easy to throw a blanket over your computer during a take on a track. I've done this a couple of times and it works pretty good. Just don't leave it there for more than a few minutes at a time. You don't want to overheat your computer!
Finally, there are many sound cards out there that include a nifty little "break-out box" which provide you with the needed XLR and 1/4" connections, phantom power and even mic pres. You just have to find the one that's right for you.
There's no one right answer for your question about studios using PCs for recording. The fact is that many pro studios ARE using computers to record. ProTools systems have been widely in use for years at major studios and now that PT is no longer the only game in town and the costs have dropped significantly, more and more studios are setting up DAW systems. Besides, the BOSS unit that you're considering IS a computer. It's just a very small one with a single specific purpose. I'm merely suggesting the idea of using the more powerful computer that you already have to serve that purpose.
tonyMember
Since: Mar 28, 2003
Mar 28, 2003 05:19 pm Thanks for your comments. But i must confess You tottaly messed me up. I was goimg to buy BR 1180 like tommorow or smth. Now i did search for computer based recording and info that came just blew me off. Specs sounds incredible. For example I checked Aardwark Direct pro Q. Its really impressing. I want to spend about 800 Euros (about 850 $) on recording gear. Well . Maybe is there something You can recommend. As I told I am only one man band palying on the acoustic and some songs will include electric guitar.
Is there any choice that are already known as high end and which would fit into 800 euros ?
Again thanks for your comments.
Damned I hate possibility to choose :)
Mar 28, 2003 05:34 pm hey tony, sorry to have thrown you for a loop, but just know I did it out of love! ;) Anyway, you can take a look at the reviews in our Gear Bag section and get some ideas from there, but judging by what you need, I would probably recommend an M-Audio Omni Studio and Sonar XL. Sonar is absolutely power-packed and will provide you with everything you need and more and the Omni Studio has the connections you need from a company that we have all grown to trust.
Omni Studio www.musiciansfriend.com/s...l/base_id/52395
Sonar XL www.musiciansfriend.com/s...l/base_id/60482
Of course you'll need to find a European distributor, but these links will at least give you the priceing info in US$.
Mar 28, 2003 05:47 pm alot of studios are using PCs now. ever heard of pro tools? there's probably more studios running PCs now than crazy expensive dedicated harddisk recorders and DATs and such. The last couple of years have seen computers getting so fast and powerful that even professional quality video recording/editing is possible. And they're only gonna get faster. and cheaper.
As for XLR mic inputs, alot of them do. Check out the Aardvark Q10, or the M-Audio Omni Studio. Or concider getting a small mixer with XLRs and phantom power, and running that into your soundcard (that what i'm doing). The soundcard is the A/D D/A converter, you rarely need anything else. I'm using an M-Audio Delta 44, by the way.
As for effects, there's no rule that says you can't still use outboard effects. In fact most home recordists rely on an outboard compressor to achive a nice signal before it ever hits the soundcard. And don't ever let anyone knock digital effects plugins. A good number of hardware effects processors these days are digital. There's literally hundreds of free VST and DXi effects availbale, and I'm aure the pay-for ones are better.
computer based recording is the most cost effective way to go. it's no arguement. hands down. check out out "gear bag" for some of the soundcards we use.
Mar 28, 2003 05:48 pm geez, i took so long to click "reply" ya'll totally beat me to it
Mar 28, 2003 05:59 pm Sure Jamie. I know you just copied me! Cheater! ;)
tonyMember
Since: Mar 28, 2003
Mar 28, 2003 06:17 pm Well guys, thank You again for your comments. Yeah it seems tommorow instead of shoping I will search for reviews of soundcards.
So far it seems for my 800 euros budget I can get sound card and also cables that will be long enough to make recording in next room to one where my PC is :)
And just wanna also find some guy who had used both approaches: standalone studio and PC based recording to compare.
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Mar 28, 2003 07:54 pm Well I may just be that guy :D (okay, maybe not :)
My setup is based around a PC DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) running Cubase SX. However, I someitmes use my friend's Roland VS880 to do 'field' multitracking (eg: when I record drums round other people's houses and I can't be arsed to lugg my Pc round there.)
The only drawback to a PC is the fact that it is too heavy to move easily - seriously, that is the only one. Noise can be dealt with quite easily (check out QuietPC www.quietpc.com for silencing products) and all you need to gain Mic-Pre's is either a small preamp or, (and possibly more suitably) a small Mixing Desk.
I would personally reccomend the following gear to you:
Soundcard: M-Audio Delta 44 (4 ins, 4 outs) $229.99 :: service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear
Mixer: Behringer UB1832FX-PRO $249.99 :: service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear
There are of course plenty of other options, but these two (combined with some DAW software (of which there is plenty to choose from to fit all type of budget)) will make recording not only easier than on a smaller multi-tracker, but also far more professional sounding - and all for under $500 -- bargin mate.
jues
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 28, 2003 09:46 pm jues speaks the truth. I have come from both worlds also. And I have found other means of recording on the road. So truthfully my switch to PC recording has been without reservation. I have learned to do most everything I did with outboard FX in the PC with DSP. I still have several racks oof outboard gear, but it all works in harmony together. So Pc is really the way to go, unless you absolutely cant live without the portability.
