I have many HW sequencers OTB, but no recording capability. I was looking at the 1010 Bluebox but seems it might be buggy…
I am noticing this multitrack recording feature (to SD or USB stick) on mixers, but has anyone actually used them?
Could you record a ‘full song’, by doing multiple passes, punch in etc. Bit by bit just build your track up, using all your external synths etc that are jacked into the mixer?
I’m presuming you are serious… but you are describing the history of recorded music up until the DAW take over.
Many people still work like this. Many people still work/think in these terms with DAW’s (myself included)… where you visualise the tracks as multitrack tracks, etc.
But to your point, it’s totally possible to work like that, and I’d say it’s charm is that it’s more satisfying to work manually like this, and embrace some of the ‘mistakes’ you get.
Not sure why you think the Bluebox is buggy, that would work as an option.
The other that springs to mind immediately is the Tascam Model 12 (or 16/24). That works great as an all in one mixer/multitrack.
Unfortunately it seems to be a futile quest if you have these requirements:
Midi sync
Bar/beat editing
Locator points
Want something modern
The Bluebox has sync and is modern, but no locator points (other than play from and punch) as I mentioned in the Bluebox thread it can have problems with tracks which have multiple files, but still remains useful.
The various offerings from Zoom and Tascam often lack midi and bar/beat editing, some have either midi or bar/beat editing, but none have both.
Akai Force and MPC live/one/x can do it but are not mixers.
There are quite a few older machines such as Roland VS and Yamaha AW which can do it all, but are big, old and use outdated media, but can sometimes be fitted with modern media drives (CF or SD).
If you do a web search for digital multitrack hardware recorder with midi sync you will see tons of threads about it, yet manufacturers seem uninterested in providing a solution.
Currently I am using Bluebox for portable stuff, and a Roland SP-808 in my main setup, it has been modified with a card reader which is convenient (but expensive) I also have a Akai Force but find it a bit long winded to use in this manner, but could just be because I have not spent enough time. On the SP-808 it does not get in the way, I just set it to output midi clock, select a track for recording and away, no fuss. It is pretty limited with only 4 stereo tracks, and only single track at a time recording though, but it works ok for me in this context.
The one good thing about the old stuff is that it’s now really cheap. Just bought a Yamaha aw1600 for £250. The quality of the all round package is great and it’s not too big. Got rid of a zoom r20 because it won’t integrate. I agree that the next manufacturer who goes with a high quality, midi synced multitraker will sell a fair few.
I use the qupac from A&H, i capture my sessions with it - i make it good sounding as possible, and the editing is done in the DAW. I often just capture - and rehearse if what i played in sounds good afterwards.
So to speak its a nice feature, and i dont have to run my DAW alongside, if i just want to capture it, and i can play it back from the mixer, to see where i have done errors in my playing. The build in FX are ok, but not at the same level as in a DAW. (But still usable for my taste.) I just use some EQ to clean the mix up a bit, and then a short reverb for the drums - the rest comes from the instruments.
I use it as submixer for my octatrack, it has several mix outs, so i can send any or all other maschines to the Octa when i want to, its having scenes, which you could set up for any possible situation - so its a very comfortable device. Once you learned it - its quick to operate.
So - no editing, only capture on my end - if there would be a hw editor that is comfortable i would for sure look into it. I just had a little revelation with the hapax, its really a fast device. So maybe you get into the push3 workflow with an audio interface - that might also be an idea, i just dont know if multitrack recording would work on push3.
Most of the time I record live to stereo, but for some things I need a multitrack because I only have 2 hands and like to tweak stuff live, I generally don’t use automation for long form tweaking either, has to be done live. Also multitrack is very useful for layering things, and used in a creative way like a sampler.
…all these digital mixer solutions that offer interface and standalone recording can only offer u one take…wether it’s just recording the stereo sum or dedicated single tracks…u’ll end up with a stand alone recording session that can’t give u any further edit or even punch in/out tape like options…
for such things, u’ll always have to consider using a daw…
but never the less, it’s a great alternative to xtra audio interfaces and not using any computer in first place…and yes, a&h products do a pretty good job here…their converters and preamps do a solid job…
…ah, zoom again…didn’t know that…tascam and a&h don’t provide that…since they’re truu mixers in first place…
and i highly doubt, zooms approach here leaves u with real workflow comfort…
any hw digital hw recorder that wants to provide such things, is already a kinda daw on it’s own again…
so we see mixers that add interface and recording options and we see standalone recorders that add digital mixer capabilties…two different things…
and none of them can add truu workflow comfort, when it comes to edit and punch in/out and arrange like any average daw solution…
digital mixers that also work as recorders and interfaces, but have their focus on mixing, do really add overall comfort, while standalone recorders that add mixing options are way more just another hw substitute to a common computer…
