Author Topic: digital recorders (Read 17251 times)

maliciousteve · « **on:** March 06, 2006, 01:33:37 PM »

hey guys i have a couple of digital recorders in mind. The Tascam DP-01, Zoom MRS-802 and the Zoom MRS-8.

I need something that gives me half decent guitar tones (or the option to use external amps), programable percussion (so i can make my own beats). That's all i'm really looking for so i can write my own songs to use within the band i'm in and to just have fun and record my own tracks, expand my song writing.

Which one would be the best out of those 3? bare in mind, that i don't have the money to afford £400+ recorders at the moment because i have to be tight on money and not be foolish with it.

NPH · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2006, 03:41:58 PM »

I don't know about the other units you mention, but I have been looking at the DP01 myself. It is only a recorder, there is no fx on board and no rythm processor. So with this you would need a drum machine, external fx and either a mike or a amp moddler for your guitar sound.
As I have loads of outboard junk sitting round I am thinking about getting the DP01, so if anyone else has one let us know what you think.
Sorry couldn't help with the zooms.

sambo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2006, 04:07:48 PM »

dude i have the zoom ps-04 and its awesome! as far i know its very similar to the MRS series but smaller with less tracks....

drum machine is class and you can have a simple beat going in seconds. if you want to go that bit further though you can program the drums completely which is what im just starting to delve into at the moment. they're realistic as well- sound excellent. guitar sounds are ok stock but you can fully customise them anyway you want and get some pretty decent sounds out of em. alternatively, if your using a small practice tranny amp then you can run the guitar into the amp then connect a cable from the amps extension speaker jack to the zoom and get some really cool tones that way which i personally think sound excellent for certain things. all in all, its excellent for the money in my opinion. not sure on the exact differences between PS series and MRS but i know its not much. if the memory is anything similar though you will DEFINATELY need a bigger card- i would send you a recording of my band with the zoom but we havent managed to complete one yet as we keep running out of space!
need anymore info then ill be happy to help if i can, this is probably one of the few topics on here i can actually help a lot with.

this is an excellent forum for the zoom units, not too disimilar to here actually :)

http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/index.php

theres clips posted regularly and loads of info and help available.

P.S, as well as a drum machine theres a bass machine as well!!!

maliciousteve · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2006, 04:44:25 PM »

excellent, thanks sambo :)

maliciousteve · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2006, 05:12:39 PM »

Well i just checked out songs written on the MSR-8 and i'm pretty impressed. The drums sound better than the drum sounds on the Logic program i used to use at college. Looks like i'll be buying one then :D

sambo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2006, 05:15:16 PM »

excellent choice! they're pretty cool pieces of kit. especially when you consider that my PS-04 fits in my pocket!

only thing i would say is that its bloody complicated.... the manual was like 100+ pages and thats not even divided into loads of languages lol- there was a 100+ page manual for EACH language!

but yer... ive had it for ages and after i got the basic concept of recording and editing effects i gave up on the manual cause i didnt need to do anything else... its only recently ive been looking into the rhythm processing so i may need another couple of hours of reading before i have any idea what to do lol.

sambo · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2006, 05:18:27 PM »

oh and let me know how you get on with it when you get it...

Dakine · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2006, 06:39:31 PM »

Sambo, for a purely guitar recording box what would be the optimum the PS-04 or the PS-02? I mean, is there a huge difference (thats if you researched when getting yours).

Just checked your clips using it (although you called it cr@ppy there and are bleating about it now ROFLMAO) and are cool.

When I was looking for summit (and bought, well got bought) my Boss GT-8 no-one brought up these Zooms (that I remember).

The PS-02 can be had CHEAP so wondered about the merit of 04 over 02 for like recording clips that are posted here?

Nick

sambo · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2006, 06:45:59 PM »

hmmm, no idea actually, interesting idea. when i bought the ps-04 i didnt even know the ps-02 existed it was only when i joined that forum i discovered it. i presume if the '4' in ps-04 means four tracks then the ps-02 must have only 2 tracks? part from that they look very similar except for a slightly different shape and layout. i cant imagine there being too much of a difference- maybe the amount of effects on offer i dunno. youd have to look into it. i spose it also depends what your needs are- the 04 was necessary for me cause i needed the four trcks for my band but those 2 extra tracks could be useless to you. listening to the clips on the forum i doint think theres a noticeable difference in sound quality....

LOL! oh yer... i think i called it cr@ppy because i was surrounded by people with all this fancy recording gear and amps worth $$$$$/££££ and compared to that its nothing... but for what its for and who its aimed at its excellent.

Dakine · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2006, 06:56:49 PM »

Cool
will research more but..........

UPS just came, early for once, WOOHOO!

Major Red Flameage :)

Tinus · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2006, 09:52:52 PM »

Another one to consider might be the Korg PXR-4. I've owned this unit a few years and I liked the FX sounds and the recording sound quality, even from the built-in Mic. A drawback is it's use of outdated memory cards (smartmedia) which limits the memory capacity.

sambo · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2006, 09:54:02 PM »

yer that was one i looked at in reivalry to the ps-04... i had pretty much already decided on the zoom though and from what i remember i dont think think was actually any difference.... really

Dakine · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2006, 10:02:55 PM »

Well seeing as they all use smart media thats not a issue I guess.
I have the Boss GT-8 which taxes my brain enough really but if I can get one of these for under $80 it's gotta be worth it.
Maybe can actually go, guitar-Boss Gt-8-Zoom to record.
Anyway, thanks Sam, looking at MORE bloody music toys now! Better keep missus in dark this time lol.

sambo · « **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2006, 10:04:22 PM »

yer lol i think that would be wise....

yer it could definately go guitar-boss-zoom.... dunno what it would sound like but you could definately do it lol.....

sambo · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2006, 10:07:31 PM »

that was it- just remembered the pretty much one and only difference between that little korg and the zoom- korg has a usb port. to some people that means a lot but doesnt mean anything to me as i find it much easier to record onto a card then put it onto comp later rather than plugging it straight into the comp. dunno though, could be a feature your after.

Author Topic: digital recorders (Read 17251 times)

maliciousteve

maliciousteve

maliciousteve