| Christy L Manoppo (okky) wrote on Mon, 14 September 2009 05:01 |
Hi guys, are there anyone already use this multi-track recorder?
The music team are planning to make a "humble" recording this year, and I'm in charge to make the decision,
- either go to a recording studio,
- or purchase a multi-track digital recorder..
budget is a big issue, and I want to try to cut as much as I can. Also, with this, I can explore new things.
Also, this unit can be handy to make future recordings as well, maybe like a live recording.
I know I can't compare the quality studio recording facility. But for this price tag with its features... It seems it might the solution.
|
For $399 you can get the R16 which seems like a real 8 simultaneous track recorder with 8 mic pres, recording to modern SD card memory of up to 32 GB. It is also a real-time audio interface for a PC with 8 mic preamps and some potentially nice trimmings.
I don't obsess over mic preamp quality like some, I'd rather obsess over mic choice and placement. 32 GB will give you some serious milage for recording 8 tracks - maybe 12 hours or more and of course even longer for fewer tracks. I don't see it as being that much less, capacity or sound quality wise than the studio equipment you'd buy for any reasonable price.
But, I've never had one hands-on so what do I know about that? I do know that inexpensive mic preamps and digital gear aren't the horrors that they used to be.
On balance, you can get a M-Audio Delta 1010LT, and turn an existing console with direct outs or inserts and a 1-5 year old computer worth less than $500 into a similar thing, only not so portable.
Furthermore, if do your recording from direct outs or inserts you don't have to worry about how to use the same mics and other inputs for both live sound and recording.
Frankly, if you hook an 8 input line level input audio interface or the R16 to a console, just the 8 cables will cost you as much or more than the computer interface, and could even be a good fraction of the cost of the R16. So don't forget to budget for them in your letter of recommendation to the board.
If I had to do remote jobs around the church and elsewhere, and not be stuck in just one place, I'd prefer the Zoom as I perceive it to be. I look at it like it is a wide, capacious, plug-in Microtrack.
However, setting up a full 8 track recording session right is never a 5 minute job. Setting up a computer may seem like a hassle, but its probably a far smaller part of the total job, even if it is a desktop with a monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Either way I would do all my serious mixing and editing on a computer with a disc burner. The computer minus the interface and would be part of the cost of good audio production (more stuff to put into that recommendation letter unless you have one kicking around), either way. So, don't count its cost to just one approach count, it to both, since you will need it regardless.
