So, I’ve always been interested in getting a hardware recorder. I currently have my entire music setup consolidated inside a flight case and interface with an echo audiofire12. I’m able to jam with the computer off and when I’m ready to record I just need to power on and go. Lately, I’ve only been recording to stereo as it’s so much more simple. Though, it has been nice to use the interface to record multiple takes of vocals as I’ve started to incorporate more lyrics into my tracks.
I love my setup at the moment, but I feel as though the interface i have is overkill. Then again, I’m leaning towards getting a tascam DA3000, but I would probably want to get a straight forward 2 in 2/4 out interface to even out the damage it’ll do to my wallet.
Does anyone have any experience with the da3000? is it too much for electronic music?
I wouldn’t say it’s ‘too much for electronic music’ tbh…but it may well be overkill for simple stereo recording…? I mean will you actually gain much more benefit than from recording to a decent 24/96 handheld recorder, which you can get for a quarter of the price ? Or do you really want to be able to record at 192khz ? If so, arguably Tascam’s own DR680 might be a better choice as it’s cheaper & multitrack too…?
Hmmm… I got a vs2400 harddisk recorder here… and i use it less and less…
its big / heavy… eats cd’s and all that… and the only thing it does what is nice on stage/studio: giant filterbox and midi-controller.
There are better fx out there that are cheaper and smaller… and same thing with midi-controllers… So while I have a cool machine with lots of options… its a bit 2 much.
I also use a zoom q3hd fieldrecorder type thing… it fits in my hand… records what i do in a soundquality i actually like… does video (not superb, but good enough to film my fingers) … and i can point it at the audience if i walk out of the door and put my livesets/jams/practicing on youtube.
I dont say that multitracking/harddisk recorders are not fun… they are.
in my case its just a bit of overkill, and the little recorder is just more usefull.
I guess I"m just really interested in being able to record in DSD. And, I suppose the fancy converters on it make my inner gearlust bloom even further.
While that Tascam DA3000 looks like a badass piece of gear, I think it might be overkill for what you’re trying to do, I think.
I’ve been considering having an outboard recorder to just lay-down the stereo output from my Octatrack into a Zoom H6. With the H6, you can now do multi-tracking via USB (up to 6 tracks), hook a mixer up to it for more inputs (but less multi-tracking), but also just do up to 4 inputs straight in to the machine. Plus, you get the portability factor and be able to add some cool mics if you wanted to do more.
yeah, but you’re going to be capped off at 48khz /20 bit on an ADAT aren’t you ? An original ADAT would be 48/16 in fact, like the ( superior ) Tascam DA-88…
True, the 20 bit may be an issue for you, as you’ll get 24dB headroom before hitting 0 on full scale, but you shouldn’t be running things that hot anyway!
as for sample rates I’ve worked in very high end studios with Prism converters and balanced power and I’m not 100% convinced you really need anything other that 44.1, there’s an argument for 48khz as you’re slightly far away from the brick wall nyquist filter, except for 48 for broadcasting and perhaps higher for orchestral work
Of course this will change as we move into truly hi-fi playback devices, but remember it’ll ultimately as things stand go to 44khz/16 bit!
^
possibly true. I definitely noticed the difference going from 16-bit to 24-bit when I ditched my older portable recorder for a Tascam DR-40 …but I still only work at 48khz with that, not 96 simply because for editing, top-tailing, comps etc. on that stereo WAV I’m capped at 24/48 on my older Pro Tools rig - & I’m sure as shit not changing that .
I have a da3000, its fantastic! I also have an alesis hd24 for multitrack recording which does a decent job. Pm if you have da3000 questions since I prolly won’t see this thread…
Oh and prior to da3000 I was using a korg mr1 mobile recorder, which although being flakey in the battery department works a charm plugged in and sounds great too. Can record 24/192 or 2.6 dsf if required, and can be had for cheap now.
In theory every bit in recording depth will give you 6dB
I say in theory, because that doesn’t take into account the dither noise floor or other sources of noise.
so 20dB= 120dB before clipping
24 bit= 144dB before clipping,
The later is again in theory louder than the dynamic range of human hearing, but remember you’re summing audio together!
That’s a lil’ too much to physically deal with and a lil’ tedious in terms of recording.
I suppose I just want to get super high quality recordings. I’m not doing much multitracking lately. For vocals, I like to do a variety of takes which makes me want to keep my audio interface because it’s so easy to record several takes and keep the pieces you like. So the audiofire 12 kinda gives me everything that the tascam dr680 would give me.
woah, i’ve looked into the large unwieldy recorders and they’re just too much. i almost jumped onto a korg d3200, but decided against it because i don’t really have the space for it.
i started looking at the h6 because it could act as an audio interface when i need to multitrack, but i’d like to have 4 outs so that i can monitor with the computer off and then use the output of my daw when the computer was on. i also read there could be serious latency issues with it.
again, just a lil’ bit too unwieldy for what i want. i’d like to record a quality recording and go back to the computer to do slight edits, but for the most part, keep the sequenced/live performance the same. and that’s why the da3000 interests me, it’d give me a super high quality recording of my tunes to then bring into Live to add vocals etc.
i’ll think of some and throw them your way.
eh, i don’t really need the multitracking. also, the da3000’s ability of using sd or cf is pretty appealing.
Just got a DA3000, and I must say, my recordings definitely have a clearer/warmer sound. I’m digging the simplicity of just hitting record without a computer as the middle man.
i’m seriously thinking about picking up a tascam da3000. really like the idea of recording to DSD, but also wondering how useful it will be to run in converter mode with a DAW? for those still using the unit, how are you feeling about it now?
