So, I’m looking for a digital recorder/mixer to replace my daw and I’m completely lost because I’m not very familiar with the hardware’s technical specifications.
I’ve done a lot of research on ZOOM, TASCAM, and others, but I realize that their products are primarily geared toward live performance and podcasting.
The process I’d like to implement is very simple but quite precise:
I compose and arrange exclusively on the DT2, and I want to record my arrangement one track after an other on a machine that will then allow me to mix everything and save the master to an SD card.
So, I need to trigger the recording with the DT so that all the recorded tracks are synchronized. And this is precisely where I’m stuck; I don’t know where to find information on this technical specification in the device descriptions.
Regarding the mixing aspect, I prioritize audio quality over the quantity of effects.
I’m probably not the first to do this kind of research, but every search I’ve done on one machine leads me to another, in a vicious and endless cycle.
If anyone can ease my suffering and guide me toward a choice, that would be most kind.
the Zoom R-12/R-20 would do everything you need except for the syncronization, which i’m sure is a big part of the equation here.
i’m honestly not sure if many recording devices offer that kind of MIDI sync w/ recording, but that’s never been something i’ve looked into so it could be common enough. to help narrow your search i imagine you’ll need a recording device with MIDI sync possible, so maybe start with that possibility? the Zoom L-6 has MIDI in/out, but idk that it does what you need…possible tho.
Thanks for your replies, but I forgot to mention that I wanted to work in dawless.
Indeed, for now, I’m using Overbridge and FL Studio, and it works very well, but I’m going to have to do without a computer for several reasons.
Yes, I saw that the Model12 corresponds to what I am looking for (I saw a video which explained this well), but I thought that there was possibly something more recent with in particular the 32-bit float
I just read somewhere that the Model12 and the Bluebox are the only ones that support this midi clock issue.
It seems incredible to me that there isn’t anything else on the market.
So, if that’s the case, the choice will be very limited.
well, its not exactly common to MIDI sync a mixer.
you record single channels anyway so if youre in doubt and feel limited in your choice, just shift audio by hand.
you could put an impulse of any kind (clap, rim, dirac, whatever) at the very beginning of each track so its a matter of seconds to shift timing to perfection without any sync at all. you could alternate that impulses polarity from track to track and if you have an even number of tracks it all cancels out perfectly.
Yes, it really broadens the options, but I’d have to gain a lot of other things to do without MIDI sync.
I have so little time to make music now that every detail counts when it comes to optimization.
You have many options for this. I would still suggest an iPad or even better a DAW with Overbridge, but I understand your obsession about wanting something dawless… I went through many years of testing out different gear combinations, in the end landing again on the DAW and iPad… does not mean I still am not waiting for a perfect hardware solution. Currently I mostly use DTII that I would consider for this type of recording. I also have the AH+FX for sound designing samples/loops and also for end of chain. Basically for me OP-1 field is still the way to go in a hardware only situation.
On the plus side: amazing feel/immediacy, good interface design, works very well with only 1 USB cable connected to the DTII/AH+FX (back and forth Audio/MIDI), sounds quite good for a 44.1 sample rate, tapes and FX (and it’s got some good synths in there, as well as a very good ARP), syncs very well, once both devices are set you turn them on and it just works every time, “forever” battery life.
On the minus side: expensive, can not change the sample rate, very slight latency through USB, but can always use the 3.5 jack, no dedicated MIDI ports, only 4 tracks (but keep in mind you have several tapes available + two aditional master tracks), tape length is 6 minutes, good/fast basic editing/mixing tools, but cumbersome if you need to go into details.
(If you just need a basic recorder with MIDI sync, look into the ZOOM L6. If you need an arranger in a box check the 1010 music Bluebox, as mentioned above)
You, you’re a very dangerous person for my financial health and the well-being of my relationship.
For some time now, I’ve managed to deny the existence of TE.
And here I am, developing a financing strategy and an argument to justify the purchase of this little $2,000 thing.
Joking aside, this thing looks really, really cool.
Can you mix properly on this?
A Tascam Portastudio may fit your needs better than a Model 12 (more able edit tracks after recording without needing a computer) but do your research… at some point Tascam got rid of midi transport control on the Portastudios, which makes no sense to me. So an older PS model might suit you well.
