What is the best digital multitrack recorder?

rage333
rage333 Posts: 157
edited June 2005 in Musicians and Gearheads
I was going to buy a Fostex 16 track but went with a Yamaha AW16G instead. Still waiting for it to come in the mail though. What are your guys choices for multitrack recorders?
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  • Pacomc79
    Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/s=computer/search/detail/base_pid/240474/


    my personal favorite.
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  • Eddie_Vedder_83
    Eddie_Vedder_83 Posts: 281
    i always thought a 4 track would be enought for now, but i wrote this song yesterday which needs probably at least 12 tracks

    Vocals
    vocals
    vocals
    vocals
    guitar
    drums
    percussion
    tribal percussion
    bass
    viola
    cello
    misc background sounds

    jesus yeah thats 12 :|
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  • Eddie_Vedder_83
    Eddie_Vedder_83 Posts: 281
    Eddie_Vedder_83 wrote:
    i always thought a 4 track would be enought for now, but i wrote this song yesterday which needs probably at least 12 tracks

    Vocals
    vocals
    vocals
    vocals
    guitar
    drums
    percussion
    tribal percussion
    bass
    viola
    cello
    misc background sounds

    jesus yeah thats 12 :|

    oh shit sorry, i didn't mean to hack your thread.....
    ~It is better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not - ?~

    ~You laugh because I am different, I laugh because you are all the fucking same -?~

    ~Education is the most powerfull weapon you can use to change the world - Nelson Mandela~
  • AmesDownstroke
    AmesDownstroke Posts: 57
    For a more budget option, check out the Tascam DP-01, very good recorder and a relativly cheap price. I own the FX version but I would not suggest this because many of the effects are not top quality.
  • FNYNKEZ
    FNYNKEZ Posts: 75
    I've got the Boss BR-864 8-trk digital recorder.

    It's okay and wasn't too expensive.
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  • enharmonic
    enharmonic Posts: 1,917
    The best digital multitrack recorder is an iz Radar V with s-Nyquist converters.

    You have an extra 20 grand laying around?
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  • mccreadyisgod
    mccreadyisgod Bumfuq, MT Posts: 6,395
    I really like the Korg stuff. Their onboard preamps suck, but everything else is pretty good. Then again, I've not met a stand-alone digital recorder with acceptable preamps. I've heard good things about the Yamaha recorders, you'll be fine. How many tracks simultaneous can you do?
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • rage333
    rage333 Posts: 157
    You could record 8 tracks simultaniously with 8 virtual tracks on the yamaha aw16g.
    "when the power of love overcomes the love of power,the world will be at peace"-Jimi Hendrix
  • MissYouAllDay
    MissYouAllDay Posts: 939
    "For a more budget option, check out the Tascam DP-01"

    I had heard this 400$ recorder doesn't even have XLR inputs. How weak is that if true?

    I read some musiciansfriend reviews and pretty much all of em complain about the hard drive crashing. Whats up with that?
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  • mccreadyisgod
    mccreadyisgod Bumfuq, MT Posts: 6,395
    rage333 wrote:
    You could record 8 tracks simultaniously with 8 virtual tracks on the yamaha aw16g.


    That's pretty good, I couldn't work with less than 8 tracks at a time unless I had great mics and great mic pre's and great musicians. That will give you the ability to mic up an entire drum kit for layering, or to record a full live band for demo stuff.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • MissYouAllDay
    MissYouAllDay Posts: 939
    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/241107/

    K this recorder seems to have a decent amount of features. XLR, phantom power, 8 tracks, cd quality.

    My problem is that this thing is 499.99
    The 1820m 499.99
    Mbox 499.99.

    I am confident those computer based recorders have far superior preamps and probably recording quality. Now if we consider my previous choice was the 414 potastudio, that thing is 250$. Can I not find another 250$ US for more than twice the quality? Hmmmmmmmm

    One thing I should consider is the simplicity of the 414, that was a big draw to it. WHo knows how many problems you can run into with the Mbox and more likely the 1820m. Background noise of computer, windows problems etc.

    What do you guys think of my dilemma?
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  • exhausted
    exhausted Posts: 6,638
    computer based recording is only as good as your computer. what are you working with?
  • MissYouAllDay
    MissYouAllDay Posts: 939
    U have a 2000+
    512mb ddr
    80gig 7200 rpm
    windows XP

    My main problem is my computer sounds like a jet taking off when I turn it on. I don't know if this is due to the power supply or the CPU fan. I can fix the CPU fan problem for alot less than a loud PSU. I Am gonna go take a look at fans on the thermaltake website. See if they have a very silent one.
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  • exhausted
    exhausted Posts: 6,638
    which chip is in that?
  • MissYouAllDay
    MissYouAllDay Posts: 939
    Athlon XP.

    wanna see some wild fans? Check these out.

    http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/cl-p0025/cl-p0025silentTower.htm
    55 canadian. 3 month in store warranty.

    And this my leader for new fan. Talk about silent!
    http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/4in1heatpipe/cl-p0071SonicTower/cl-p0071.htm
    58 Canadian. With 3 month warranty.
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  • HailHailVitalogy
    HailHailVitalogy Posts: 6,033
    well i wouldnt see why you would need that many tracks

    Lead Vocals
    Backup Vocals
    Vocals (if you need to add something)
    Guitar
    Guitar
    Drums
    Bass
    Other

    so thats 8 and thats a full band, if its just you, i doubt you would need more than 8 tracks
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  • exhausted
    exhausted Posts: 6,638
    it appears you're ok then. reason i was asking was that digidesign has pretty specific requirements for processors etc. it appears you're ok if you decided to go that route.

    i know very little about computer hardware. only learned enough to make sure the computer i spec'ed out would be ok.

    http://digidesign.com/compato/xp/mbox/
  • exhausted
    exhausted Posts: 6,638
    HailHailVitalogy wrote:
    well i wouldnt see why you would need that many tracks

    Lead Vocals
    Backup Vocals
    Vocals (if you need to add something)
    Guitar
    Guitar
    Drums
    Bass
    Other

    so thats 8 and thats a full band, if its just you, i doubt you would need more than 8 tracks

    tracks get burnt up fast. even with 8 tracks, you still end up bouncing and using virtual tracks etc. which is why virtual tracks are so nice to have on these machines these days.
  • MissYouAllDay
    MissYouAllDay Posts: 939
    Hey Ex,

    How easy is Mbox + pro tools to use? I like the idea that it is portable where as the E-MU units are stuck in your computer.
    I miss you already, I miss you always
    I miss you already, I miss you all day
  • exhausted
    exhausted Posts: 6,638
    MissYouAllDay wrote:
    Hey Ex,

    How easy is Mbox + pro tools to use? I like the idea that it is portable where as the E-MU units are stuck in your computer.

    i found it very simple to learn. to set up and start recording wouldn't take long at all.

    the interfaces of the program itself and the plug-ins are pretty straightforward as long as you have an idea of the theory behind each effect etc.

    again, as long as your computer has the poop. sounds like you've got the minimum covered.

    i've got a pentium4 running at 2.8GHz, 2meg of RAM, and a SATA harddrive dedicated for recording to. i think i've crashed once and i believe that had more to do with the USB interface to my PODs than anything else. i have to do some creative routing of tracks once i'm up into the 30 track area with lots of time-based effects but i get along fine.

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