Digital Multi-Recorder Advice ?

[LowDown Hal]

I'm investigating taking the plunge....

Anyone familiar with the Korg D888
http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?A_PROD_NO=D888

My local shop seems to favor the Fostex
http://www.fostexusa.com/index.php?f...igital/mr8hdcd

Any other suggestions?

I like the idea on on board storage. I like the idea of 8 track recording, but is it necessary?

I'm a bit of a noob at all this and want to make an educated decision of equipment I won't outgrow real fast.

THANKS,

[bassbrad]

8 tracks are fine for a start (much better than where I started), live recording or for demos but if you are serious about doing a finished quality band recording 16 or 24 tracks makes it much more possible and realistic.
Working alone I recorded my 1st cd on an 8 track Tascam DP-01FX but when it came time to get the band recorded it just was not up to the task, so I now have a Tascam 2488mk2, for about the same money are the Korg.

[BurningSkies]

I used to think I could get away with four tracks...then It was eight tracks. On the last band demo I used over 30 tracks to get what I wanted.

[makaky]

-Computer ( laptop?)
- Mbox factory with Protools LE

[LowDown Hal]

Originally Posted by bassbrad

8 tracks are fine for a start (much better than where I started), live recording or for demos but if you are serious about doing a finished quality band recording 16 or 24 tracks makes it much more possible and realistic.
Working alone I recorded my 1st cd on an 8 track Tascam DP-01FX but when it came time to get the band recorded it just was not up to the task, so I now have a Tascam 2488mk2, for about the same money are the Korg.

With the Tascam 2488mk2 can you transfer all 8 recordable tracks to a computer via the USB? Or do you have to do your mastering on the unit and only transfer two tracks as a wav file?

THANKS, I'm slowly figuring it all out :-)

[hunta]

Originally Posted by LowDown Hal

With the Tascam 2488mk2 can you transfer all 8 recordable tracks to a computer via the USB? Or do you have to do your mastering on the unit and only transfer two tracks as a wav file?

THANKS, I'm slowly figuring it all out :-)

I don't have one but I'm sure you can just download the individual tracks as wavs.

I would ask though, why get a stand-alone multitracker? If you're worried about outgrowing equipment, I would worry about outgrowing a multitracker. I think I would outgrow one in about 5 minutes. They're a pain in the butt if you want to do anything serious. I'd rather stab myself than try to edit on one.

Newbies to the recording world often look at multitrackers first. I would advise against it, unless you have a very specific need for a stand-alone unit like that. The main reason is that multitrackers are ok to start out with, but when you inevitably realize you need something more, you have to start from scratch and buy an entirely new setup. Another reason is that you may get so frustrated from trying to make a glorified relic from 1995 to work properly that you give up on recording entirely There are better investments, like an H2/H4/R-09 or get started on a computer setup.

[bassbrad]

Originally Posted by LowDown Hal

With the Tascam 2488mk2 can you transfer all 8 recordable tracks to a computer via the USB? Or do you have to do your mastering on the unit and only transfer two tracks as a wav file?

THANKS, I'm slowly figuring it all out :-)

You can transfer all tracks to a computer for mixing or editing. If that is your plan the the D888 of a firewire might be the direction for you to work in.
Despite Hunta's disparaging remarks stand alone DAW recorders are viable recording platforms especially for those of us not totally geeked out in the computer realm or for those of us on limited budgets.