True or false: An integrated hard drive based multitrack digital recorder would be easier to learn to use for basic acoustic recordings of two or three instruments and voices (mixing and mastering down to a CD) than assembling and learning to use a computer/software system?
If true, does anybody have suggestions regarding make and model of multitrack recorders, taking into account sound quality, ease of use and essential features? Perhaps another consideration is, if I may eventually move to a computer systen, is there a multitracker which would be better to facilitate the transition? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

I bought a Stealth Plug to allow me to plug my Strat directly into a USB port of my computer and it was bundled with Traction recording software and AmpliTube that simulates amps and effects, all for $100. I then bought a Mobile PreUSB 2 channel USB-powered mixer that plugs in via USB as well. One channel of the mixer has phantom power for my condenser mic. The mixer was also $100. With Tracktion, I can add as many tracks as I want and the effects are decent. Give this a try and I think you'll find that recording to a computer is MUCH easier than a stand-alone unit and I can easily burn saved stereo tracks to CD. What fun.
When I record my Collings I put the guitar pickup into one channel of the mixer and the other channel is the condenser mic input. I record these on separate tracks and blend for a very full sound. Obviously, each channel can have different EQ, reverb, compression, etc.

Thanks, Randy. I'm going to be recording acoustic guitar and two voices on at least 3 condenser mics requiring phantom power, sometimes another instrument and voice as well. So I need at least 4 chanels for live recording. Then I'll want to be adding some tracks as well as effects,and mixing. Sounds like I'll need a setup a bit more involved than yours. Anybody else have suggestions? Thanks.

My mistake - I thought you were recording the tracks separately. I'm sure you'll get good advice here.

Hi RicMic...On my singer/songwriter stuff, I like going somewhere to just play and sing that's got some mojo, a good engineer,etc...but for home, I have the KORG D1600 Mark II and it's easy enough for me to do...has 4 XLR inputs and 16 tracks without doing any virtual tracks, which I don't really get anyway. Actually, I use tracks 3-16, because I bounce the mix down to 1 and 2 and often record using stereo. The truth is, it's here in my studio, yet I rarely record...go figure. I even have a back up unit. I should record more as simple as it is.

I don't think there are too many of these around, but it was recommended to me and I can follow the manual, and can make it work. Check my website and my instrumental album, 'Whiskey Run, Setting Sun' is recorded on it. I don't use the effects...I don't EQ it...I just record on it in a good room with good mics. (Shure KSM 44, Neumann KM184, among others) I haven't even played around with running through my Mackie Onyx mixer analog to the KORG digital, but it might be nice. Also, I had the album mastered by Dr. Toby Mountain in Mass. and he is a master (no pun intended). The unit does far more than I will ever do on it...As a matter of fact, I wish there was something like it that was even simpler...there probably is. Like I said earlier, I'm no expert on the recording stuff, for sure.

Most folks who mess with recording know more than I, but I hope this helps some. You might be able to find one used for pretty inexpensive.

I'm baffled by the whole computer recording stuff, but I'm sure it works great.

Good Luck...

Kia Manuia,

Dale

www.daleinskeep.com

Thanks very much, Dale that's helpful. I'm looking forward to responses and suggestions from other forum members. By the way I checked your website and bio, and I think I want your life.
Rick

I own a Roland VS1824CD. This is one of those "all-in-one" , or Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) that you refer to. Here's my take on the Pros and Cons:

Pros:

1. The recording quality is VERY good, assuming your source is good. That means good quality mics, a quiet room with reasonable acoustics, and employing "good practices" like proper mic techniques.

2. I have a built-in CD burner, so I can record multiple tracks in sequence, add effects during and after recording, mix down the multi tracks, master and burn to a CD without ever having to leave the digital domain.

3. This unit provides 18 individual tracks for recording, but you save 17 and 18 for the final mixdown. Honestly, I can't come up with 16 individual parts to any song I want to record, and I'm doing all the parts, so this is plenty for me. Plus, each track supports 16 virtual tracks--so you have the ability to record up to 16 "takes" of a particular part and choose the best of the 16 when you perform the final mixdown.

4. You can pick the platforms up for a fraction of their original price on ebay. I think this is because of the #1 Con

CONs:

1. These things are an absolute BITCH to learn, with generally incredibly BAD documentation and a user interface that will induce blindness long before floggin' your dolphin makes you need better lighting...

Roland has gotten a bit better, but those crazy Japanese will go to great lengths and detail over the "what". Apparently they never bother with the "how". What you need for every feature is, (even the basic stuff) an explanation for :

a) What you want to do

b) Why a particular approach is better

c) Step by step set up to accomplish the task.


2) To save space and controls every single button has multiple functions. Not terrible, but it's like a keyboard where every key supports two different notes and to get a particular note you must hit that key PLUS another one.


Now, having said that, my current approach is to:

1) record multiple tracks to the Roland VS1824, with no EQ or effects, and perhaps just a touch of compression

2) dump the song one track at at time to a PC running Adobe Audition 3.0, via a synchronized digital I/O between the VS1824 and the M-Audio 2496 sound card in the PC.

3) Once I have everything in Audition, I can mix, cut and paste, edit and add effects to my hearts content-- all non-destructively. And a nice big LCD is even better. While doing this entirely on the VS1824 is possible, life is just too short.

I know I could record directly into Audition, but I don't have the hardware interface to the PC that requires. And the ones I've seen don't have near the quality of the full mixing board I get with the Roland. YMMV--but, FINALLY, this works for me.

I would go simple first, keep the investment low, and figure out this stuff at a basic level. You can pick up a decent DAW for a reasonable price $200-300. I strated with a 4 track and worked my way up to the VS1824. Recording on a PC still requires a good bit of outboard hardware, a software application, and just any old PC won't work. You need as much horsepower as you can possibly muster....plus get a fast hard drive with plenty of space--actually a dedicated hard drive just for recording is preferred. In the end, and just my opinion, an 8 or 16 track DAW, as a first step, is a more simple and cost effective approach.

I'm fairly competent technically, but I have spent hours trying trying to make this stuff work---knowing where I wanted to go, but too few clues from the documentation on how to get there. But as they say, it's the journey instead of reaching the destination that's important....but at some point you still want to say: "ARE WE THERE YET????"