Topic: four track recording - what would you recommend?

[guosh86]

hi guys,

i've been using a 2 track recorder (microtrack II) with a T+ UA-5 at SPDIF 24/96, and its worked great when i use a single ORTF pair.

however, recently i've been thinking of going to 4 tracks as i'll be getting a pair of omnis. so far i've been using a mixer for phantom power for my extra lines and feeding it RCA in to the UA-5. the problem is that its difficult to mix it on the fly, and i'd prefer to do it in post production as i mostly do classical recordings

what would you guys recommend for recording 4 tracks? i was considering getting another 2 track recorder, but i'd prefer not to spend too much on it. i would have liked to get an edirol r4 but its way out of the budget as i've just got the mics

so... is there anything out there that can accept 2 XLR inputs, go 24/96 and doesn't cost too much? battery power isn't a problem as i've usually got power supply from the venues

thanks!

cheers,
guo

[boojum]

It's just like NASCAR: speed costs money.  How fast do you want to go?        How much can you spend?  If you get a good enough recorder you will not have to replace it later.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.

[John Willett]

I went for the Nagra VI to do this. 

But, at a reasonable price, I would say that definitely the best option is the Edirol R-44.

[kirk97132]

X 2

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i'd prefer not to spend too much on it. i would have liked to get an edirol r4 but its way out of the budget as i've just got the mics

If your budget dictates that the R4 (used) is out of your budget (say $550), then I don't think there is much for options as thats about the cheapest 4ch recorder I can think of.

Had you considered selling the MT2 and the UA5 to fund the purchase (of an R-4 or something similar) or would you want to retain those for smaller operations?

[guosh86]

ahh... i like the UA-5 and MT2 actually. pretty convenient for use in places that don't sound too great as i'll usually run beyer mc930s pretty close in
think i'd like to keep them for occasions when i only need 2 tracks

4 tracks is kinda just something i'm considering at the moment because i just ordered a pair of hebdensound 3010 omnis (heard good things about and from them - pretty similar to the old calrec mics if i'm not wrong) and wanted to run them along with my ortf pair to give more space to the sound. i was thinking of mixing them in directly and into 2 tracks on the spot, but i'm just afraid i get it wrong and it can't be undone.

the r44 looks really really good, but at present my budget's probably around $500 after getting the mics. the r4 seems to be retailing for nearly $2000 from my local dealer, and the r44 at $1000. i guess i'll just have to save up a little more before purchasing one then as i think its gonna be pretty hard to find a used r44 at the moment anyway

thanks guys, appreciate it!

cheers,
guo

[Shawn]

you should be able to pick up a new R-4 for under $1000 and a used for $550 - $600 without too much hassle. I think you might be looking at the r-4 pro for around $2k, which is still high IMO.

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you should be able to pick up a new R-4 for under $1000 and a used for $550 - $600 without too much hassle. I think you might be looking at the r-4 pro for around $2k, which is still high IMO.

I agree, give it a month or two here at the YS and I bet you can get an R-4 for around that.

[sunjan]

Low budget solution: H4n
I haven't tried it, and I'm not saying that it's good value, but it fits your budget at least...

Otherwise you could hook up an external 4ch soundcard with a laptop for budget 4-track lappy taping. can be had for under $500 too:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,114959.msg1538396.html#msg1538396

That said, you'd make a wiser investment if you saved up a few hundred bucks more and got a R44.

[dgillyerek]

also fwiw you should be able to get a r-44 new for like 750 if you check around.
sometimes they popup with deals for less than that if you key an eye out but they usually go very quickly

[John Willett]

i would have liked to get an edirol r4 but its way out of the budget as i've just got the mics

Actually the R-44 is much better (and much cheaper) than the R-4 and almost up to the R-4 Pro.

Also, if you get something less than you want because of price you will always regret it - and then end up getting rid of it later and then getting the one you want -and it would have cost you a lot more than buying right in the first place.

[boojum]

^^^^^  John is absolutely right.  Buy about 50% more than you need.  The extra you pay will soon be forgotten in the quality and pleasure of use.  And you will be able to own it that much longer before you trade up.  Quality is always cheaper.  Read the tales of woe from the folks who bought stuff with good specs and a low price: the units did not hold up.  There is a fairly strong link between what you pay for and what you get.


FWIW - I bought gear way better than I needed.  I had a windfall and could afford it.  I now can work with good gear and not have to think about what I will be trading up to.