Multi-Track Recorders??

[PattyMacAttakk]

I'm interested in purchasing a hardware multi-track recorder. I've never recorded anything before so I would prefer something with a user-friendly interface. I want to record hip hop. So far I've looked in to the Roland VS 840, Roland VS 880, Roland VS 1680, Yamaha AW4416, and Fostex MR-8.

Does anyone have any experience with any of these recorders?

Would anyone recommend something else for someone who has never touch a multi-track recorder?

I don't really like the idea of using a computer based recording program because I get overwhelmed easily, and those programs like Abelton and even GarageBand seem like they have nearly endless possibilities and that's too much for me to handle. I get caught up in trying to adjust all the effects to every single increment possible and it gets in the way of me actually making something.

I just want whatever option that's most user-friendly and has simple editing options, but also capable of producing good quality recordings.

[Nothingless1987]

IMO tascam's are the most user friendly. check this guy out..

http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/t ... 008--69206

[springwater]

the roland vs880 is definitely a learning curve, then once you got it, you gotta learn something else. If your looking for fast recording, playing shit live and not too worried about midi, get a tascam, their newer models like the DP 02 and 03 are pretty fast recording and not much routing. That vs 880 has to be routed and a bunch of other shit before recording.

[jetson]

IMO tascam's are the most user friendly. check this guy out..

http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/t ... 008--69206

Wow, not a bad looking little machine.

[ghost ghost ghost]

I wouldn't recommend a VS to somebody who has never recorded anything before. It's not the kind of thing that only an engineer could use and I'm sure a beginner could figure it out with a little help from the manual but it's not really the way you want to go if you just want to get stuck in quickly and easily.

Since computer based DAWs became affordable the smaller hardware multitracks have been more geared towards singer songwriters who just want to be able to plug in a mic and a guitar and record. That includes the Tascam DP series so you'd be pretty safe going with one of those.

If you want real simplicity don't count out cassette recorders, but of course they come with their own obvious drawbacks

[boombapp28]

I've used a Roland VS-840 for the past 7 years to mixed results. I find the learning curve is quite steep for any VS unit. I am also trying to find a successful way to record without using the computer. I sit in front of one for 8 hours a day and the last thing I want to do is look at a monitor when I'm getting creative.

I would love to swap the zip drive for a quiet compact flash drive but I'm not sure which drive is best for it these days. My 840's serial number begins with an "AL" prefix and therefore can also be upgraded to the 840 EX o.s. but I haven't tried it.

The sound quality at 44.1 kHz is just fine for me and there are over 200 preset effect patches and 200 user patches.

I'm aware that the Reaper DAW has a plug in which supports Roland VS formats so you can do all the dirty work on the VS and clean it up/tweak further in Reaper. This should help breathe new life into your VS-840.

Some limitations I've experienced with the unit: The tiny display screen gets pretty annoying to look at after a while, no phantom power, scrolling through the menus is a painstaking process, the more inputs you use and record limits your recording time on the zip disks so it's horrible to use for live recordings, the VS-840 compresses audio, the tracks are saved in a Roland proprietary file format so converting your files to WAVs is such a hassle, four of the tracks (5/6 and 7/8) are arranged as studio pairs which I find quite shitty.

Hope this little write-up helped in some way.

[thx]

IMO tascam's are the most user friendly. check this guy out..

http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/t ... 008--69206

Wow, not a bad looking little machine.

the text says that it can only record 2 tracks at a time
it means you can't record all the 8 tracks simultaneously?
the roland VS can record all the tracks simultaneously?
thanks

[jetson]

IMO tascam's are the most user friendly. check this guy out..

http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/t ... 008--69206

Wow, not a bad looking little machine.

the text says that it can only record 2 tracks at a time
it means you can't record all the 8 tracks simultaneously?
the roland VS can record all the tracks simultaneously?
thanks

Yeah , I saw that, definitely a limitation. I had a VS880 for awhile, but it was just too tedious for me to learn. Some people have it down, and make it look easy.

For songwriters and beat makers, there isn't a high demand for recording 8 at once, is there?

[thx]

^
thanks for the answer
i do use 8 different outs with the sp1200 and with the akai s950
so i would like to have 8 tracks being recorded simultaneously
do you know a piece of gear that can do the task like that?

[springwater]

i just got a tascam neo 2488 and that has 8 ins at once and its a 24 track recorder. Kinda pricey but i got it on sale from guitar center. But once you wanna get 8 ins at once you gotta get a 16 or 24 track recorder cause the less tracks, the less amount of ins. Like an 8 track only gives you 2 to 4 ins. Maybe im wrong or maybe you can get an older machine for cheap on ebay with 8 ins. Im trying to grab a 2000xl just for that reason, sucks to track things out one track at a time.

[ghost ghost ghost]

I can recommend the 2488 neo 100%, it's almost perfect for tracking out from an MPC or a SP1200 thanks to the 8 ins and MIDI out. Like spring said, it's an investment but if you really want 8 tracks at a time it's a very good machine.

There is also the Zoom R24 which is pretty dope from what I've seen but I personally couldn't use one because of the smaller screen and lower fader count than the 2488.

[Vynal Duss]

Like I always say if your new, try to get your hands on the units your interested in if possible. I've rocked the 880 for a long time. I can just suggest a couple of things. If you get the hard drive old school 880, make sure it has the effects board installed. The learning curve was a bit for me at first, and there are MANY menus. But some of the newer units the guys mentioned above are cool, and you may find the newer units are in better shape as the 880's you find have to be aged a bit at this point. One last thing, don't cross out software either until you try it. Since your new to this whatever you choose will have some learning curve. Good luck.

[thx]

thanks

[PattyMacAttakk]

Thanks everybody for the input and advice. I have another question regarding recording into a multi-track..

So when you play something from your sampler, the sound is sent out through the stereo outs: Left & Right, correct?

I've noticed that some multi track recorders, (maybe all?) have inputs that just say input A or input B on the back panel, and I believe the inputs are either 1/4" or XLR. Does this mean you are you supposed to send Left & Right outs from your sampler into a single input?

I have an SP-404sx. Do I need to have a dual RCA to 1/4" cable in order to send proper sound into a recorder?

If someone could clarify I would greatly appreciate it.

[Nothingless1987]

from the 404 outs use twin phono to twin 1/4 jack, to record stereo you will need to use 2 tracks at a time.