Software or hardware

[Nicole Rose]

what do you use when recording. hardware? software? what?

i use a digital audio workstation-- tascam 2488.

[Bluesjam]

I started off with the Boss BR900CD and really liked it. I still have it, and I will keep it as its portable, but now I'm using Cakewalk Sonar 7 Studio. I was at a point that I wanted to do more with my recordings so the move to Sonar was easy. It took a little work to be able to use it, but it really wasn't that hard. I've always enjoyed playing with backing tracks and recording is rewarding.

[lp_junkie]

ProTools on a studio dedicated computer.

I use a lot of analog gear but prefer the ease of editing and mixing in the software.

[Harpozep]

I'm thinking of the digital worksation 2488.
Nicole, whachya think of it?
Right now I have a looper, but the recording console seems like a good direction for me. I've been recording since the '70's with reel to reels, then a PortaStudio cassette , then two ADATS for a 16 track digital studio. Now I'm looking forward to an all in one box once again. I kept my mics, sold most my compressors and other outboard gear.

[Nicole Rose]

Originally Posted by Harpozep

I'm thinking of the digital worksation 2488.
Nicole, whachya think of it?
Right now I have a looper, but the recording console seems like a good direction for me. I've been recording since the '70's with reel to reels, then a PortaStudio cassette , then two ADATS for a 16 track digital studio. Now I'm looking forward to an all in one box once again. I kept my mics, sold most my compressors and other outboard gear.

I love the 2488Mk1. It used to have quite a few bugs but the updates fixed all of that. It's really easy to use and quite intuitive. that's important for me as i'm not really that good with tech stuff sometimes. It can record 8 simultaneous tracks, the preamps aren't bad, most of it's effects are too much or too little but the compression and reverb is alright. i don't use much else for effects i have everything i use on my guitar processor/drum machine. basically it's very good for what you pay for it. there are better machines but you're going to pay a lot more for them i'm sure. The 2488 neo has just come out. that means the price on a regular 2488 MkII has probably dropped like a rock. be a good time to get one.

[Harpozep]

Thanks. My local store got five in. One Neo and four old ones. The old ones went to the Namm show, but were otherwise unused. The Neo costs $100.00 more and seems to only have different effects from what I can find out on the net and through them.

I use few effects these days, still have a good assortment of mics and a great tube preamp. Seems like a no brainer to get one and pickup where I left off. Every decade I upgrade then sell off. I recently bought two reel to reel machines for playing back my older tapes.

I've been wanting to turn the old stuff digital, so here's a chance to do it without having to make one of my computers a recording studio. I have very little room, so need the computers to stay in the kitchen. I play and want to record in the living room.

I'm glad the preamps are decent, that takes some worry off of the purchase.

I have a decent looper that I'm still learning, but this all would work well together for creation and documentation to finalizing.

Any suggestions on decent drum machines? I have not paid any attention to them since around '95?
Thanks again for your info.

[Nicole Rose]

You'll like the 2488. the main difference between the MkII and the Neo, is that the neo has better mastering abilities.


as for a drum machine, i use the boss Dr Rhythm 880. the dr rhythm is a cool little machine. it's also a guitar effects processor. a lot of people prefer software for drums though.

[Harpozep]

Found this on the neo:

YouTube - Tascam 2488 Neo DVD Video Tutorial...

[Nicole Rose]

Awesome. I want one! I would take the neo and my mkI to shows and put them in synch and record us live with up to 14 tracks

[Harpozep]

I like the mixdown EQ options. Is the dither down ability also present on the regular MKII?
I think it would be a useful tool, the entire mastering thing. But since I've not played with the non Neo version, I have no idea what if any of the mastering options are there.

I could get the Neo for $100.00 more, but my be able to talk them down a bit.

[Nicole Rose]

Originally Posted by Harpozep

I like the mixdown EQ options. Is the dither down ability also present on the regular MKII?
I think it would be a useful tool, the entire mastering thing. But since I've not played with the non Neo version, I have no idea what if any of the mastering options are there.

I could get the Neo for $100.00 more, but my be able to talk them down a bit.

well the MkII has the same mixing options as the MkI. but neither has any real mastering capabilities. once you mix down to your stereo track there's very little you can do to it. I believe that the neo is worth the extra money if you can learn to use the mastering abilities to even half of their potential.

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by Nicole Rose

well the MkII has the same mixing options as the MkI. but neither has any real mastering capabilities. once you mix down to your stereo track there's very little you can do to it. I believe that the neo is worth the extra money if you can learn to use the mastering abilities to even half of their potential.

Thanks. I may be getting the Neo then since I'm sold on the product and this upgrade seems like it can really be of use, once, ah, MASTERED ( pun intended) Ouch! ).

[Nicole Rose]

Originally Posted by Harpozep

Thanks. I may be getting the Neo then since I'm sold on the product and this upgrade seems like it can really be of use, once, ah, MASTERED ( pun intended) Ouch! ).

coolness. keep me posted and i'll try to control my drooling when you get it lol

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by Nicole Rose

coolness. keep me posted and i'll try to control my drooling when you get it lol

Now I'm drooling. Paid for, but awaiting delivery. One new Neo, , are ya sitting?. $600.00
GC, Coupon, Black Friday, plus price match. All working in my favor.
Picked up powered monitors, and Alesis RS 18 Drum machine. Back in the game .
Now to make the time.......

[Nicole Rose]

that will be the next portastudio i buy. let me know what you think of it when you get it

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by Nicole Rose

that will be the next portastudio i buy. let me know what you think of it when you get it

Cool, Will do. The deal just got better too. Tascam has a $40.00 rebate! To think I paid 3K each for Adats not that long ago..........

[Nicole Rose]

did you get it yet?

[Harpozep]

Yup! Sitting in my living room. No time to set it up during the Christmas season . Gotta put out decorations, go to pot luck suppers, do fun school stuff with my eight year old daughter and more.
Plus my store had major leaks, as in water coming in, and it's so slow in retail I'm really trying to get more sales any way I can, so I'm staying way to busy to play with my toy
I hope to try it out before my 30 days are up from GC!

I have a half track reel to reel and a four track reel to reel, plus a 1/7/8 ips reel to reel mono. These plus reels from the sixties to the Eighties . I hope to begin by transferring them into digital, archiving a lot of work from yesteryear. Plus my grandfather is on one of the tapes being interviewed in 1966. The oxide is rubbing off, so I'll get only one take.

Then I can start either doing this for other folks for pay or sell the reel to reels off.
The Tascam has eight ins at the same time so this is more than enough, but better than most computer cards will give me .

Then I hope to put the new Alesis SR 18 drum machine and my self through some paces.
Got it for less than the non Neo was at another store. $599.00US then a $40.00 rebate.

[Nicole Rose]

that sucks that you have a new toy and can't play with it. let us know how the new machine works when you get to start playing with it

[nsureit]

I use SONAR 8 Producer Edition, Presonus Firestudio interface, and lots of mics, principally Audix i5 dynamics, Sterling ST59 condenser, Marshall MXL V69Mogami tube mic. Plus, I occasionally use an old Radio Shack Pro-302 unidirectional dynamic that, for whatever reason, really sweetens up mids on acoustic guitars (it's close to 20 years old).

[Nicole Rose]

Originally Posted by Harpozep

Yup! Sitting in my living room. No time to set it up during the Christmas season . Gotta put out decorations, go to pot luck suppers, do fun school stuff with my eight year old daughter and more.
Plus my store had major leaks, as in water coming in, and it's so slow in retail I'm really trying to get more sales any way I can, so I'm staying way to busy to play with my toy
I hope to try it out before my 30 days are up from GC!

I have a half track reel to reel and a four track reel to reel, plus a 1/7/8 ips reel to reel mono. These plus reels from the sixties to the Eighties . I hope to begin by transferring them into digital, archiving a lot of work from yesteryear. Plus my grandfather is on one of the tapes being interviewed in 1966. The oxide is rubbing off, so I'll get only one take.

Then I can start either doing this for other folks for pay or sell the reel to reels off.
The Tascam has eight ins at the same time so this is more than enough, but better than most computer cards will give me .

Then I hope to put the new Alesis SR 18 drum machine and my self through some paces.
Got it for less than the non Neo was at another store. $599.00US then a $40.00 rebate.

well? it's 6 months later and i haven't heard a word, (or a track). that thing working for you?

[captcoolaid]

Originally Posted by lp_junkie

protools on a studio dedicated computer.

I use a lot of analog gear but prefer the ease of editing and mixing in the software.

+1. Mac + pro tools = portability and a very stable platform. Do any of you use flash drives to store your recordings or do you all still use cd's.

[the recordist]

a bit of both...

greatriver preamp

distressor (compressor)

macbook

logic 8

AKG C414 condenser

shure sm57

apogee ensemble interface