Topic: the move to 4 channels

[wbrisette]

a few points...

with any of the 4 channels options, you'll have to mix the tracks down to stereo at home.  this is something you'll be doing with any of the options you listed, not just your option 4.

Be prepared to spend some additional time on the 4 channel masters. They will take you a good deal more time to mix and track out. Also, as many people here know, I've been doing multi-track recordings a long time, and just because you have four or more channels doesn't always mean your recordings are going to be loads better than a nice stereo recording. It's all in how your stereo recording is. That will be your prime source for your mix. The soundboard (if you go that route) will be something you use to enhance things like vocals. If you choose to use four microphones, Don't use four cardiods. There isn't a lot that's going to do (at least in a good way, you could run into phase issues and other bad things)...

Just some food for thought.

Wayne

[mblindsey]

Thanks again everyone for the wonderful input.  I'm going to have to mull this over for a bit.

the only other thing that I'll comment on is that a brand new (unmodded) HD-P2 is probably more in the $800-$850 range, not $1000.  I'm not sure how much Oade's or Busman's mods will run you.

Oops.  I was quoting the approx. mod price.  Updated..thanks.

[mandoman]

I like option 3 w/mod - ie R4 with oade or busman mod.
Don't discount the ease of an all in one setup!

The other options sound messy - unless you really believe the V3's a/d blows
away the R4's. Yes, I'm sure it sounds better, but I'd say the V3's pres (which
you can still use with option 3 just using the analog frontend) are 80% of the V3's overall sound.

[Scooter]

if using the V3 analog out > line in on R4 you are still getting the coloration (or degredation if thats how you characterize it) of the mic pres going that route.  if this statement is wrong, let me know, as I'm not 100% sure on that.  I guess one other point is that you need a pretty decent playback rig connected to your computer to acurately time-align and master the 4 trks, as well as a good editing program.

[J.T.L]

R4 with warm and transparent mods so you can enjoy at least 2 flavors of pre depending on your mood or venue, sell the V3-D8 and put the money into some fun mic sluttin'. Not that I don't like V3s but it takes something out of the signal chain and lightens the gear bag...just a thought.

[kbergend]

I don't have any experience with Busman mods myself but I can heartily recommend Oade's ACM R-4 (which is quieter and warmer than the stock unit), especially if you plan on buying 480s.  I don't think you'll miss the V3, and it's one less thing to lug around.

http://www.oade.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=OBA&Product_Code=EDR4ARCHACM&Category_Code=EDR4ARCHACM

Samples of a matrix made with the ACM R-4, mono sbd split to channels 1 & 2 and 481s on 3 & 4:

http://keithfromny.org/downloads/otr2007-10-05d1t03.wav

http://keithfromny.org/downloads/otr2007-10-05d1t16.wav

Samples of 481s only on channels 3 & 4:

http://keithfromny.org/downloads/cj2007-10-19d104.wav

http://keithfromny.org/downloads/cj2007-10-19d207.wav

http://keithfromny.org/downloads/dtb2007-11-17d1t01.wav

(no post processing on any of these except gain adjustments and sbd/mics synchronization)

I haven't made any 4 mic recordings myself yet, my new year's resolution is to get another pair of 480s with ck62 caps or a matched pair of 414s.

Good luck!