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Audio RecordersBy: Anonymous |
| Selecting an audio recorder can be daunting, because there are any number of great machines out there. The important thing is to remember that they are machines, and the machine you choose must be one you can understand, because if you don't understand it you won't be able to use it. Digital recorders are the most cost-effective, but also the most technical machines to use. They are typically used in conjunction with sequencers, or in tandem, both usages requiring that you take a dive into SMPTE or other time code systems. This actually sounds tougher than it is, and the manuals will show you how to sync your systems up, but it will help to get into the actual workings of the time code system, just in case it quits working and you need to trouble shoot what went wrong. I'm not really going into this here, just giving you some options for recording systems, but you should be able to find something on it on the IDN site. Here are some manufacturers of digital recorders: Tascam: RDAT: 8 track systems. Uses 8mm video tape. Very reliable & simple to use. Stackable system, which means you can sync multiple units together to produce 16, 24, or 32 track systems. Synchronization is easy and reliable, and there are many studios using these systems, so it's easy to find a remix studio when you've finished recording your project. Has its' own dedicated sync track, so you don't need to lose a track for sync. If you want to sync, however, the synced units must have the synchronization card installed, and the card is extra. Alesis: ADAT: Same sort of recorder but not as widespread usage. Both of these systems use video tape and are pretty straightforward to use. Most versions do not generate SMPTE, so syncing to other formats will cost you a track. The newest model does generate SMPTE. Fostex: Digital hard drive systems are the new craze, and they offer the ability to cut and paste bits & pieces around the system, which is really useful for production. The information still has to be saved to a tape storage system or to Jazz or Zip drive. This is time-consuming and means you must plan your session carefully if your tracks are on several tape backups. On the other hand, the system is very reliable and uses no compression in recording, so your tracks stay very clean. Roland: Pretty much like Fostex, except they use compression on four of 8 tracks to save drive space. Vestex: Ditto. Analog recorders: Ampex, MCI, Scully, Otari, Tascam, Fostex and others. Analog recorders are very simple to use but require more maintainance, and special attention must be paid to how tracks are recorded, since most of the formats produce some sound change as the instruments are recorded. This can be good as well as bad. Bass guitars and Drums acquire a "fat" sound which is very easy to achieve on analog, but which must be created up front when recording digitally. |