JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Recording Studio and Gear Forum What About Portable Digital Recorders??

Use to my Fostex X30 Muilti but it has gone bye bye. Considering the Korg D4 or something along that line. Any suggestions or should I consider a program like Sonar. (The only problem is I find them rather confusing.)

Doug

The modern way to go is to record digitally direct into a PC using music production software like Sonar, Protools or Cubase etc they are all pretty good.....prob is the learning curve is pretty steep. You might spend hours figuring out how to do something rather than just doing it.
Might be better sticking with what you know how to use...

If you just want quality recordings of a simple mix, the standalone device works fine. But if you want lots of layers like harmonies, bass, drums, guitar parts, etc., the computer workstation is the way to go. You can edit each track and add compression, reverb, EQ, delay and countless other effects as needed. Depends what you want to do.

I find the Boss BR1200 is pretty good as a device, then I take the final recording into Sonar for fine tuning.
Vic

Thanks all. Recently purchased on ebay the Korg D4. For all intent and purpose I see it as a simple 4 track (even though from what I have begun reading about it it can be more.)

Once I receive it I will probably be back with more questions.

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.

Doug

Congrats Doug......Now might I suggest a compromise.....get something like Reaper and you can learn to mix and edit your material on a PC.

Hello Big Jim. How is Reaper in the field of user friendlyness and are you around if I need ya? HA!

Doug

And BJ. How does Reaper work with Vista HP?

Doug

I use Cubase but Reaper is similar and much less expensive....it works OK with Vista.....(when Vista actually works)

It would be another way of doing things and you would have better control over the finished product. Mixing editing and mastering would be easier.

Doug,

You can download Reaper and the manual for free and try it for 30 days or so and then pony up the small fee (even less now than when I bought it). It is outstanding, but it does require some study to use it. You can start out simple and then learn more as you go. There are Reaper forums on the net to get questions answered at all levels.

Colin

Thank you both for the input. I will get her up and going shortly.

Doug

Hi Doug:

I use a Boss BR-864 Digital Recorder connected directly to an Arranger Keyboard. I don't do "tracks" like most folks. I simply set up my Arranger by selecting the supporting "instruments" and special features, then sing and play the song while recording.

If the first cut is not to my liking, I go back and do it all over again... or re-arrange the instruments and associated volumes, etc. and sing it again. Once I'm satisfied, I send the WAV file of the song to the PC and edit using a "free" software package. The learning curve to do tracks seems very daunting on the 864 and the manual is written for a more experienced user.
Then there are the other steps of mixing-down and then "mastering" which opens up another can of worms. I've read articles on the art or craft of Mastering and have concluded that much of it is done according to the personal taste of the one performing the mastering.

My recordings are intended to be "worktape demos" in the event someone shows an interest in a song I've written. The "artist" or producer is going to record the song the way they want it anyway. Sure, if I write one that creates a "buzz" in circles larger than those I hang out in, I'll spring for a demo.

It's a tough call. Meanwhile, I'll just keep on trucking.

Regards,

Dave

Dave you about sum things up...the best way is the best way and everyone has their own best way. Whilst I cound never go for your setup...seems cumbersome and lacks control.....If it works well for you and your needs then it is the way to go.
Most of the top end software is not user friendly it has a very steep learning curve and would leave lots of folk wasting time struggling to solve problems or figure out how to do things rather than actually recording songs.

I've been using a portable recorder called Zoom H2 which I borrow from Uni and I'm really impressed with it, simple and easy to use with the added bonus of having twin stereo mics for recording surround sound, back and front. USB connection to upload the recordings to a computer but you still need a program to mix them in, Audacity is free and with a pair of headphones you can playback and layer.

Hi Doug

This was the question I was getting ready to post. I was thinking of buying the Tascom DR-08. My guitar instructor has the zoom H2 and does not like the fact that he cannot hear what he records immediately. I looked them both up on YouTube. They had some good comparisons.

I still am trying to decide what to buy. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Redlady