Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
Don, I don't hang out much. Maybe the 3 docs this week will get me back on track.
That's an interesting gizmo.
I personally don't know what he plays, what he knows or where he's heading.
If you have the cash, go for it.
If not get a cheap, Behringher usb mixer and an 'oldish' computer laptop with linuix and an xp machine that runs band in a box.
The most overlooked piece of software is after band in a box is Sox. I cannot tell you how much I think of that.
If your brain still functions, and you can understand stuff like if A=George and B=Bush A+space+B=George Bush then you are a budding programmer.
I have Linux machines, Windows machines, tablets, laptops, and huge sit on the floor machines.
I've got amps from Roland Cubes to Bose. I've got way too much stuff.
I taped names on my stuff so that stuff I don't use much goes to the right person.
I got mics. I can't even croak and be understood. So the mics have stickers.
What do I know?
This.
That your toys are just that.
They don't make you a winner.
But they can be fun.
Start it on your instrument.
Perfect it in Band in a Box.
Polish it in Linux.
If you have unlimited money you can buy a Mac and impress people with how great it should be.
It will be cute.
I'm into longevity, I hope.
See you in a few weeks, or months, or next year. Or not.
Peter has the best advice, while you can, have fun. It ends quick enough.
John Conley Musica est vita
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,635
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,635 |
Don, it may be what he needs, but it may be disappointing if he is trying to use it with BiaB/RB/PT.
Depends on what his needs are. If it is his first venture into digital recording,and a stand-alone device is what he wants, it will be very cool. If he is looking for an 'all in one' interface to use with his DAW, it may not be the best choice and is a nice chunk of change to be throwing down.
I'd look for a nicer interface and use a computer DAW if it was me, but that may not be his priorities. This system makes things simple for ya, so it's got that going for it. And he *could* export the recordings to a DAW if he wanted too. Like I said, it depends on his need. I had a small Tascam once, and still have it, but rarely find a use for it now. I think the computer offers much more flexibility and plugins and other benefits.
Last edited by rharv; 03/14/11 07:39 PM.
Make your sound your own! .. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 233
Apprentice
|
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 233 |
Hi Don, It looks like a nice machine for what it is. Personally, I have a Boss/Roland BR-1600. It costs more but has better features. 16 Tracks can be played at once - Virtual tracks ( up to 128 tracks total. 8 XLR inputs. you can record 8 mics at once onto 8 different tracks. 80 gigabyte hard drive. - you don't want to mess around with little memory cards with digital audio Incredible built in FX Mastering suite, mixing, vocal fx including pitch correction and harmonizer. USB connectivity to computer also cd writer, and fairly easy to learn and use, very user friendly You also need at least 1 good condenser mike, and a pair of near-field monitors I still love the machine. I've been writing backing tracks from biab in computer to a rewritable cd and importing them into the BR1600 At the moment I'm going more in the direction of using Reaper with a Behringer BCF2000 hooked up to my computer. It depends what he wants to do. The portastudios can be a lot of fun, and you can get good quality results with them. Good luck, Andrew
Andrew Lloyd
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Hi Don,
I know of several different young performers who are using dedicated digital recording systems like that Tascam.
All but one of them use the dedicated digital recording system for tracking and then transfer those tracks to computer for final mixing and mastering. One of them use Macintosh, the rest use PCs - and one notable power trio goes from start to finish all on the dedicated digital recording system.
This seems to be a good work method, especially for the concept of recording their small combos, as the dedicated digital recording system is typically a lot easier to set up and run, capturing their performances as they play them live, in other words, not very much single track tracking session work, at least to begin with, they simply mic things, hook up direct boxes if needed and then can leave it all connected in the garage or basement "studio" between sessions, transferring files to the computer for mixing via USB sticks or CDR burns.
Advantages for the average musician who does not want to become a geek like me abound here. Built in mic preamps, no physical routing of cables from mic to pre and from line out to line in and then the often confusing selection of which channel goes where inside computer software as well as not having to deal with the things that go bumb in the night that stop the PC from recording today as it did yesterday, etc. etc.
These devices have a place. Every one of these young local performing groups is able to produce their own CDs, both for sale at gigs and also for internet publishing of their work - and if they do their part, the sonic results are rather good, too.
The dedicated digital recorder certainly represents a very viable alternative to all-computer based studios.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,816
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,816 |
I agree with what has been said about the DAW vs. Tascam discussion as it is about his needs. So I will address the mic side.
If this is his first good mic purchase I would suggest either a Shure M58 for vocals or a Shure M57 for both vocals and to mic amps, drums etc. Both are built like tanks and they are in the same price range as the one you are thinking about. But like amps, DAWs and cars mics can be a very personal thing!
Good luck.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up. Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,058
Expert
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,058 |
Don, I looked at some of these back before Christmas. I went to several different forums and the main complain was the crosstalk or noise from the unit while recording audio. Some were getting clicks and pops from hardware onto the audio track. You might want to look at some of the Tascam forums for more detail info on this unit. Wyndham
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987 |
john, gordon is a vocalist. i appreciate all of your suggestions but i neglected to say he already purchased this gear. my advice (after the fact) was to invest in a pro-quality sound card and, of course, biab. he already is familiar with audacity so i said to stay with that for the present, at least.
thanks again, folks.
see why i love this place?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,217
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,217 |
. I have had very bad experiences with Tascam product quality. Their customer support is pretty much non-existent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,250
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,250 |
Quote:
I have had very bad experiences with Tascam product quality.
My experience with Tascam is 1/3 good, 2/3 bad. The good part was an old Tascam 244 cassette recorder. It worked great in it's day.
The Tascam US-122 had lots of pops and cracks in recording. The US-428, ... ditto. I did use the US-428 in time to send it back for a refund.
No more Tascam products for me.
Don, I wish your son good luck with his purchase. Hopefully since it's not computer based, it'll work like my old 244.
There's a lot to be said for "stand alone" recording devices because they're so much simpler to use than DAW's and hardware conflicts, drivers, latency, bit rate, monitoring, etc.
I'm just not sure if this one fits the bill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,867
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,867 |
I love the Tascam products I have had, and still use the innovative FW-1884 as my main audio/MIDI interface & control surface.
However, I particularly dislike Tascam's customer service and product support, which presents a quandary when considering new purchases.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,101
Expert
|
Expert
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,101 |
TASCAM's forte has been with the Portastudios. The portastudios became somewhat less portable when TASCAM began producing the huge 2488 series and portastudios like the DP-03 seem to represent more of a return to their roots of a a small all-in-one recorder that can be lugged around by a musician. My association with TASCAM/Teac goes all the way back to the mid 70's when I purchased my still functioning Teac 3340s 4 track multi-sync tape deck. All of my actual recorders (3340s, 2 TASCAM 788s, TASCAM 2488) have functioned flawlessly during the time that I've owned them.
TASCAM has been somewhat less adept at producing good functioning usb interfaces and although my experience with the US-428 was not horrible it wasn' wonderful either although in fairness it depended which computer I plugged the stupid thing into as far as functionality. It liked my laptop much better than it liked my desktop. I've had better luck with my FW-1884 and it is one of the best home studio mixing boards around. Too bad that they have stopped making it.
Keith 2024 Audiophile Windows 11 AMD RYZEN THREADRIPPER 3960X 4.5GHZ 128 GB RAM 2 Nvidia RTX 3090s, Vegas,Acid,SoundForge,Izotope Production,Melodyne Studio,Cakewalk,Raven Mti
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,867
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,867 |
Keith, I also still have my Teac 3340s. I assume it still works, but it hasn't been turned on in 20 years.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,739
Expert
|
Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,739 |
I would come down on the side of a laptop with a Sequencer - there are many available even free - try KVR. The advantages of a computer based suystem is it grows with you, a tascam just gets binned when it can cope. I bought a digital workstation as my first system, I went back and bought Cubase tghe next week and I did not make a mistake. You might want ti start with a simple free sequencer and a decnet sound card with enough ins and outs, if you want to record multiple ins at the same time you need individual inputs -p line or mic levels. I supposew you can mix a bit on the tascam but it would not be easy
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 971
Expert
|
Expert
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 971 |
I still have an old Fostex R8 reel-to-reel which still works along with a box of Ampex 456 7" reels of tape.
Now and again I will run a digital track through it to warm up the recording or do a complete 8 track recording like I used to do all the time. It teaches me to think before recording and plan out everything.
That is in fact the greatest thing about BIAB - before recording we can have the whole song structure worked out.
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,101
Expert
|
Expert
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,101 |
Matt, one thing I'll say about the 3340s, if you haven't listened to it for 20 years, it is worth firing up just to hear that old slap-back echo that it can produce at 15 ips. That is mainly what I use for in my studio these days.
Keith 2024 Audiophile Windows 11 AMD RYZEN THREADRIPPER 3960X 4.5GHZ 128 GB RAM 2 Nvidia RTX 3090s, Vegas,Acid,SoundForge,Izotope Production,Melodyne Studio,Cakewalk,Raven Mti
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Paket | Was ist Neu
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums66
Topics81,625
Posts735,219
Members38,522
|
Most Online2,537 Jan 19th, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|