Topic: Least expensive portable multitrack?

[jnarchive]

Hey all.

I want to get into multitrack recording. My main goal is to be able to record a board patch and room mics simultaneously. I may also be interested in doing some minimal live multitracking for later mixdown, as well.

I've really been looking at the Zoom r16 or r24. It seems like the least expensive way to get into the game. I know it's not a high-end solution, but a way to track up to 8 at the same time nonetheless.

I like that the r24 offers more channels with phantom power, since I don't have external preamps at the moment.

Is there a better way to get started for around the same amount of money? Am I missing something?

Cheers,
jn

[yousef]

A secondhand Fostex VF16/VF160 can be had for peanuts now and offers eight simultaneous tracks (or 16 if you buy an ADAT interface). Not sure if it counts as 'portable', especially as it would require AC power too.

I've picked one up with a view to doing multitrack recording in the field but not got round to giving it a try yet.

[bugg100]

But the fostex would be 16 bits versus 24 bits on either r16 or r24.  That's a big deal to me.

I,m really happy with my r16, FWIW.

Joe

[sunjan]

For 24bit, choice is limited in this price range:
Tascam 788, used for $80-100
Roland VS-1680, used for $149 (AC only)

There's a bunch of 16bit machines out there. Most of these should take DC power:
Tascam DP-004 retailing for $139
Fostex MR-8 (MK I), used for $59
Fostex MR-8 MKII, used for $99
Fostex FD-4, used for $100
Tascam DP-01, used for $99
Tascam DP-01FX, used for $179
Roland VS-880, used for $79 (AC only?)
Roland VS-880EX, used for $119 (AC only?)

While sniffing around I also found a lot of gear that records to obsolete formats like 100MB/250MB zip disks, 128 MB SmartMedia cards. I assume that you don't want to swap disks during the concert, so I didn't list them...

[rastasean]

I really like the r16 as well especially since it runs on AA or AC power, i think at 1 amp. The R16 is less expensive than the R24 but I don't think it can be found for as cheap as the ones sunjan listed. The r16 records to SD cards and I think concurrently it can write to thumb drives.

[sunjan]

Dug up a few more. I guess hard disk based recording is regarded as obsolete these days. A few of the below do record to CF media at least...

24bit gear:
Korg D12, $100-$150 used (AC only)
Korg D16, $130-$150 used (AC only)
Korg D1200, $150 used (AC only)
Korg D1600, $150 used (AC only)
Roland VS-890, $150 used (AC only)
Roland VS-1824, $250 used (AC only)
Roland VS-1880, $225 used (AC only)
Yamaha AW2816, $200-$275 used  (AC only)
Yamaha AW1600, $300 used (DC!)

16bit gear:
Korg D8, $79 used
Korg D888, $200 used
Yamaha AW16G, $150 used

[bugg100]

The r16 records to SD cards and I think concurrently it can write to thumb drives.

Not able to write to the thumb drive, import files into project only, I believe.

[rastasean]

The r16 records to SD cards and I think concurrently it can write to thumb drives.

Not able to write to the thumb drive, import files into project only, I believe.

my mistake, i stand corrected.

[jnarchive]

Thanks for the info, everybody. Looks like many of the recorders sunjan listed are two tracks simultaneous at the most, so they wouldn't work for me, but interesting recorders at a low price for sure.

I'm probably going to pursue the r24.

Thanks for your help.
j

[bugg100]

Sounds like you are hoping to room tape and start with maybe just a stereo out from the house P.A. then  grow into your expanded use of the board....

If budget is a factor, keep in mind you will need a small snake and some adapters to actually use your gear as you envision. I got a Seismic Audio 12 channel snake 15 feet long for $50 and built my xlr to 1/4 adapters and xlr splitters. At least a $100, more if you're not lucky or handy with a soldering iron.



All this leads to the r16 being $100 cheaper than the r24.... Only for the added phantom on 6 more channels, that I NEVER need. My channel plot as follows:

      1- Bass   (direct out from board or passive split xlr before board, FOH almost always uses dynamic here, so no phantom)

     2- Guitar 1  (direct out from board or passive split xlr before board, FOH almost always uses dynamic here, so no phantom)

     3- Guitar 2 or keyboard  (direct out from board or passive split xlr before board, FOH almost always uses dynamic here, so no phantom)

     4- mono drum   (sub-mix from board, so no phantom)

     5- Stage left of DIN-a or ORTF pair in house snake  ( YES to phantom for my condensers )

     6- Stage right of DIN-a or ORTF pair in house snake  ( YES to phantom for my condensers )

     7- Backing vocals (sub-mix from board, so no phantom or direct out of individual channel strip if only 2 vocals for band)

     8- Lead vocal  (sub-mix from board, so no phantom or direct out of individual channel strip if only 2 vocals for band)

FOH engineer doesn't care to passive xlr split vocal mics because of change of impedance loads... but typically dynamic mics anyway, so NO phantom


If the above board plot doesn't cover enough members of the band, I put my r-44 down for 4 more channels, but still no more phantom is needed. 


Really considering another r16 to avoid a laptop with USB interface (looking at tascam us-1800 or 2000) for more channels.... REALLY want to avoid a laptop....



Best deals going at the moment onr16/r24:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Zoom-R16-Digital-Multitrack-Recorder-PROAUDIOSTAR-/300585025737?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fc4380c9  refurb'ed r16 for $319
http://cgi.ebay.com/Zoom-R16-Multi-Track-Recorder-Mixer-ZR16-R-16-R-16-/160625637624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256608b8f8   open box r16 for $325
http://cgi.ebay.com/Zoom-R16-R-16-Multi-Track-Recorder-Interface-Controller-/390337442666?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae1ecb36a  b-stock r16 for $329
http://cgi.ebay.com/Zoom-R16-Digital-Multitrack-Recorder-Interface-R-16-/170630250842?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ba5b015a   Sonic Sense b-stock with $338 BIN and make an offer option...



http://cgi.ebay.com/Zoom-R24-Multi-Track-Recorder-Controller-Interface-/300585024459?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fc437bcb   $414 b-stock
http://cgi.ebay.com/Zoom-R24-R-24-Multi-Track-Recorder-Interface-ZR24-/160632681109?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2566743295  $414 demo
http://cgi.ebay.com/Zoom-R24-24-Track-Digital-Recorder-NEW-B-STOCK-/330596606057?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf917e069   $419  factory repack

Hope the above helps!
If you like, pm me and I'll break out a song from a recording and put it up at mediafire for you to experiment with, multitrack style.

Joe

[sst4270]

I hope this helps... I just ordered the Presonus Inspire 1394 (Ebay for $60). 4X4 I'm expecting to record live with a L-R board patch combined with X-Y mics direct to laptop. According to my research I should be able to record 4 tracks with this simultaneously as the original poster requested. I'll let y'all know how it works out.

-Steve

[SmokinJoe]

If you have a decent laptop, there are oodles of computer interfaces that will take 8 or 16 channels in the same cost range as an R16.

For my tastes, computers are inherently a pain in the ass (I'm an IT guy by trade) which is why I bought an HD24.  If you don't hate computers, and already have a decent laptop, then considering computer interfaces adds a few dozen models to your list for consideration.

[Walstib62]

I learned the hard way that the key to successful PC recording is data throughput. My 1st config was a Lenovo edge, Win7 64-bit,  w/ 320G HD, 4G ram and an external eSATA. I was running Cubase LE4 that came with the Alesis multimix USB 2.0.
I kept having CPU overloads/ dropouts. I have since upgraded to Cubase 6, which is a 64-bit app. I also upgraded the ram to 16G. I can now run all 8 channels at 24/96 with no issues at all. Once you get the app. customized, it's really easy to get set up and roll.
THe 32/64 bit makes a huge difference. 32 bit apps. will only be able to access 2G of ram. 64 bit will use 4G+ of ram, enabling must faster data transfer.