Multitrack Recorder or Computer?

[Ernieballer]

I'm looking at getting the Tascam dp-01($300) to record my guitarist and I. I live with my guitarist/singer, Nathan, who writes the lyrics and rhythm guitar parts. I want to find a way we can record our ideas and work on parts. I will only need two simultaneous inputs (3 wouldn't hurt guitar/bass/vocals, but 2 is all that is needed). He has his own mic which doesn't need phantom power, and the only computer I have is a IBM Thinkpad T43 (60 gig HD, 1 gig of ram, 1.73 pentium M).

My Question:
For about $400 what would you buy to just do simple recordings?
We use a recording studio so we dont need to use this for demos or anything of that nature, but Nathan would probably like to add effects to his vocals(not a big deal if it doesn't do that)
Also, if I bought the Tascam dp-01, could I just use this to send the tracks to the computer as we played(just using as mixer)?

The computer option is my favorite, but as for ease of use, the multi tracker might be better.

What do you guys think?

 

[spindizzy]

Well I have asked the same question in the past and decided on computer over stand alone multi-track unit. I would recommend looking into the E-MU 1616 or if you want to spend a little more the 1616M.

The interface will do everything you have described and more, it gives you some upgrade room should you want to expand how you use it. Is within your price range sort of (1616 is available on evilbay for under $400 and the 1616M is about $100 more) and you wouldn't need to acquire anything else as the lite versions of several software based sound and editing programs are shipped with the unit.

I would recommend a fast external harddrive with lots of capacity (I use a Maxtor 300Gb firewire drive in my setup) as it will dramatically improve performance. The 1616M comes with professional level audio codecs but even the lower level ones produce really fine results that stop just short of studio quality. The internal DSP processing engine gives you both effects and takes a lot of the computing pressure off of your CPU.

That's the long and short of it but I decided to go this way because a stand alone recorder would leave me with no room to grow my recording capability. With the E-Mu I can upgrade to a better editor, or other support and effect devices with a software upgrade rather than having to buy all new equipment. My two cents, good luck on your decision, and I feel your pain.

 

[Ernieballer]

With the emu1616 could I run my bass into my laptop, add effects, and have it sent to my amp without latency?

Also, what is the difference between the 1616 and 1616m?

 

[spindizzy]

Your best bet to take a look at specs is to go to musiciansfriend.com or another website and pull it up.

To answer as best I can; the 1616 and 1616m have an outboard interface box that has multiple inputs (1/4", XLR, midi, etc.) and houses the DSP engine. With that you can plug directly into the interface box or if you prefer to use a pre-amp or an amp head as a pre-amp you can plug in a direct box or output and then into the interface. There is virtually no inherent latency within the context of the system but having the external fast drive (preferably using firewire as opposed to USB) will help with any harddrive created non-system latency problems. The unit connects to a card that goes into your PCMCIA card bus so the interface is locked directly to your motherboard for fast throughput.

As it works this way it is not a matter of sending to your laptop but rather that it allows your laptop to become the processing engine. You can add any one of the resident DSP effects at the input patch level prior to recording and using the VST effects and devices within your editing software (I use the Cubase LT version that ships with it) you can add additional effects during your post record editing.

E-Mu says:
E-MU Production Tools Software Bundle - includes Cakewalk SONAR LE, Steinberg Cubase LE and Wavelab Lite, Ableton Live Lite 4 for E-MU, IK Multimedia AmpliTube LE and T-RackS EQ, Minnetonka diskWelder BRONZE, SFX Machine LT, plus E-MU's Proteus X LE Desktop Sound Module - everything you need to create, record, edit, master and burn is in the box

Effects Plug ins included are:

• Stereo Reverb
• Leveling Amp
• Phase Shifter
• Speaker Simulator
• Vocal Morpher
• 3-Band EQ
• Mono Delay 250
• Mono Delay 1500
• Stereo Delay 250
• Stereo Delay 1500

• Lite Reverb
• Chorus
• Frequency Shifter
• Rotary Speaker
• 1-Band Para EQ
• 4-Band EQ
• Mono Delay 500
• Mono Delay 3000
• Stereo Delay 500

• Compressor
• Flanger
• Distortion
• Auto-Wah
• 1-Band Shelf EQ
• Mono Delay 100
• Mono Delay 750
• Stereo Delay 100
• Stereo Delay 750

The primary difference in the 1616M is the number of effects and additional production tools software bundle which is not included in the 1616. It is well worth the extra hundred bucks or so to pickup the 1616M as all the software you need to start is included. The more you advance the more you will likely upgrade those eventually to more robust solutions but this is the best way to get your feet wet at a minimum expenditure.

This is of course just MHO and others here have had extensive experience and good luck with other alternatives as well. Hopefully one of those folks will also respond to your questions.

 

[spindizzy]

I guess I will add on other thing for you to think about. After having this for approximately a year I have now dumped my V-Bass unit and all but two other outboard effects and use the E-Mu live to run a major portion of my effects using the DSP enging in the interface.

I approach using it for live performance in two different ways depending on the gig and the size of the room. I have two rigs my main rig which consists of an Eden Nemesis 650 head and one or two (again depending on the room) Eden 210XSTs. The second rig is an Eden 210XST and an old Polytone suitcase I am using until I pick up another Nemesis. I run the computer effects system through the Polytone rig using the second output on my 7 string and run the primary output into the Eden rig. The Eden has a limiter and a chorus peddle in its effect chain that I use when I am going for a uniquely personal tone. I add effects using the second output and computer effects so the it gives the feeling of two layers one uneffected and one with whatever appeals to me for the tune or performance.

In a really small performance setting I will sometimes put the computer rig through the Eden effects chain and only use the Nemesis and one cab and it sounds awsome for me. But I really like it when I am using the two rig approach as it gives a lot of flexibility and can allow for really subtle effects usage and a level of control that is hard to achieve any other way. Just thought the fact that these devices can have more applications than just recording might help you in your puzzling.

 

[Ernieballer]

Wow, I never thought I could use it live like that. That wasn't my initial intention, but that sounds really cool. I wonder if I would actually take my laptop to a gig, huh, It sure would be a shame for the laptop to run out of batteries or something during a show.

 

[spindizzy]

Certainly there are issues that you need to consider. I never use battery power in these situations only AC power. I am always most comfortable when it is the two rig set up because if anything were to happen that disabled the computer I have enough horsepower in my main rig to marshal on without the second rig and computer, even if it were to crap out in the middle of a live set. Hasn't ever happened though and I pack my computer with the same care that I take with my expensive custom bass so security and theft avoidence are my watchwords with both.

Not saying it is the way for you but I sure like the option this set up gives me.