Topic: Recommendations for 4 channel device?

[notlance]

744T is a nice all-in-one recorder that goes for around $3200 used.  Keep in mind that it only has two preamps with phantom though, the other set of XLR inputs don't.  The 788T has four preamps with phantom and four additional channels without a pre and costs about $6000 new with a HDD and $6500 with a SSD.  They rarely come up used.  I think if you get one of these you won't need to upgrade for a long time, which is why I plan on getting at least a 744T at some point. 

No, that is not quite correct.  The 788T has 8 inputs that can be mic, line, or digital.  All 8 inputs are the same except inputs 1-4 use XLR connectors and inputs 5-8 use TA3 connectors to save space.  (Other than having to make some XLR to TA3 adaptors, I have no issue with the TA3 inputs.)  All inputs have phantom power which can be used for either mic or line.

I bought my 788T before the SSD option was available.  I've never had a problem with my HDD unit, but I'd recommend buying the SSD version since it has a 256 gig SSD (vs 160 gig in the HDD version) and it's a SSD with a MTBF of 1,000,000+ hours.

The 788T is a very fine recorder: nice preamps, phantom power done right, excellent A/D, great meters, extremely reliable, redundant media and power, versatile, built by a Cheesehead company with excellent customer service, etc, etc, etc.  Its biggest drawback is its versatility; it can be a bit complicated to operate, much more so than a 702.  John Willett has called it "a bit fiddly", and I cannot disagree with that assessment.

Yes, it is more expensive than a R44, but it is less than a Cantar X2.  You pays your money and you takes your choice.

[fmaderjr]

Wow! travellinbeat is now recording with an R-09HR and posted for recommendations about a 4 channel recorder. I'm guessing what he is looking for in more in line with an R-44, and this has morphed into plugs for the multi-thousand dollar SD machines. I'm sure they are great machines, but many of us can't afford them or or prefer to allocate the money elsewhere even if we could.

Anyway, the R-44 is a great machine for a reasonable amount of money. That's what I'd personally get even if I could afford a 788.

[page]

From what I've read here, some of the main differences are that the R-44 is bit perfect digital in

interesting, I hadn't come across that tidbit.

[notlance]

Yes, I agree travelinbeat is probably looking for something like an R-44, but he indicated no $ limit, and he was the one who mentioned (probably in jest) the Cantar, so why not a 788T?

Anyway, my main reason for posting was to clarify that the 788T does in fact have 8 mic pres.

[travelinbeat]

I feel so strange to have people posting things like "travelinbeat probably wants...".  I still feel like such a noob here, it's interesting to see that some of you folks have actually picked up enough of my posts to feel comfortable enough to make assumptions about what I want!  I appreciate all the input, and I know that my OP did indeed indicate no dollar limit, and that was the intent.  Of course I'm probably going to end up somewhere closer to the R-44 dollar end than the 788T (let alone my dream, the Cantar), but I figured I would cast far and see what bites (for example I had never even heard of the 788T until just now).

It's still sounding like the R-44 is the one stop shop for my needs-- sounds like it's a great device right out of the box with no need for mod's and a familiar interface which utilizes solid components.  I'm still lingering around the new Tascam device too (DR-680, TS thread), interested to see what kind of reviews it's going to get from tapers.  Good thread so far folks, thanks for everything, please keep the suggestions coming!

[datmike]

Don't forget about this new Tascam...due out in a few months, I believe......

http://www.tascam.com/products/dr-680.html


I'm still happy with my recent R-44 purchase!

[Walstib62]

That new Tascam ships in Feb. Full Compass will have it for 945.00. Could be a great unit if it proves to be reliable.

[su6oxone]

No, that is not quite correct.

Thanks for the corrections, it's awesome that the 788T can do eight channels phantom.  I was also incorrect about the 744T, which has one pair of XLR inputs with phantom, and one set of TA3 line inputs.  What we really need is a new version of the 744 with phantom/pres for all four channels.  That would really be my dream 4-channel recorder that I can conceive of someday owning. 

[Ozpeter]

The number of channels required in any recording situation is always one greater than the number of channels available.

I'd say that anyone in the four channel recording market with a non-urgent need should indeed be waiting to see what end users feel about that new Tascam before buying the R-44 - which I have and love, however.  For me its chief drawback is the rather restricted monitoring available, a problem which the Tascam seems to address.

[taperj]

just noticed this travelinbeat, thought it might interest you(R44 fs)... http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=131803.0

[travelinbeat]

just noticed this travelinbeat, thought it might interest you(R44 fs)... http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=131803.0

Thanks for that but this research is all to get me ready for the taxman (so I'm still a bit ahead of the real purchase).  But this too brings up a question I have: mods.  I understand that both Oade and Busman do mods on the R-44, and I'd love to understand why.  Furthermore, I'd be interested in hearing a) how significant the change is from mod vs not mod, b) if the mod is worth it, and finally c) [:gulp:] which is better?  Busman or Oade?

[fmaderjr]

just noticed this travelinbeat, thought it might interest you(R44 fs)... http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=131803.0

Thanks for that but this research is all to get me ready for the taxman (so I'm still a bit ahead of the real purchase).  But this too brings up a question I have: mods.  I understand that both Oade and Busman do mods on the R-44, and I'd love to understand why.  Furthermore, I'd be interested in hearing a) how significant the change is from mod vs not mod, b) if the mod is worth it, and finally c) [:gulp:] which is better?  Busman or Oade?

I believe in the earlier designed R-4 there is an audible improvement in performance with the mods that anyone can hear. From what I've heard, not so much with the R-44. It has redesigned and better stock preamps. Many people seem to be happy with stock R-44's.

People seem to like the Busman & Oade mods about equally, but you get mediocre communication and customer service from Busman. I got an Oade mod on a DAT deck and the improvement was like night & day mic in (I didn't know about line in back then). I got a Busman FR2-LE that never worked right and when I finally sent it back, it took him 2 months to fix it and then he sent it back with a loose screw or piece of plastic rattling around inside that takes away all the joy of using it. I personally won't buy from him again despite the huge number of people who have bought mods from him and love them.

[acidjack]

just noticed this travelinbeat, thought it might interest you(R44 fs)... http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=131803.0

Thanks for that but this research is all to get me ready for the taxman (so I'm still a bit ahead of the real purchase).  But this too brings up a question I have: mods.  I understand that both Oade and Busman do mods on the R-44, and I'd love to understand why.  Furthermore, I'd be interested in hearing a) how significant the change is from mod vs not mod, b) if the mod is worth it, and finally c) [:gulp:] which is better?  Busman or Oade?

You might want to check out this thread that I started earlier:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=130601.0

Based on what I read, it sounds to me like, at least in this test, nobody could tell the difference.  I have used my DPAs with both an Oade Mod 660, a littlebox and the R-44.  Of course, never all at the same time.   But, I can't say I can tell much difference, though the Oade deck is, I think, the best sound. Again, that could just be recording situations more than the preamp. 

One of these days I guess I should A/B between mics direct into R-44 and mics into the littlebox to see the diff...