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Joined:
October 2004
Posts: 48
Location: State College, PA | Zowie!
Just getting started with the new unit - it's both a huge step up from my ancient (15 year old) Tascam 644 Midistation, but also a whole lot simpler in many respects.
16 tracks, eight simultaneous record at 16 bit, or 8 tracks w/ 4 simultaneous record at 24 bit. 40 GB hrad disk. CD/RW drive. A ton of insert effects as well as "final" effects for mastering. USB connectivity (makes the FAT portion of the HD look like a HD to my computer - drag n' drop). Backup to CD or Computer.
A touch screen with tabs, etc, to navigate the whole thing...
MIDI - it can send clock to my sequencer software which in turn can run my Yamaha S80 which in turn can come into one of the inputs. Other stuff too, once I figure out all the plumbing.
I've done a bunch of location recordings and small-scale analog multitrack for commercial, broadcast and personal use over the years. I had been trying to figure out some kind of computer-based best-of-all-worlds combination of analog & digital stuff.
I'll let you all know how it goes - but as of right now, initial takes & preliminary mixes sound extremely promising! I'm really excited about being able to keep a lot of the process in the machine itself, then port out to computer if needed.
More as things develop - wish me luck!
Michael
State College, PA |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Toronto | Congrats on the new toy! Keep us posted on how you make out - it's always good to have reviews on anything that can cause a GAS attach!!!
Dano |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I have one of the original d 1600's. great powerful machine. although I am thinking of replaciing it with the newer bigger model or the digidesign preamp and a lap top |
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Joined:
October 2004
Posts: 48
Location: State College, PA | Originally posted by alpep:
I have one of the original d 1600's. great powerful machine. although I am thinking of replaciing it with the newer bigger model or the digidesign preamp and a lap top
Yes - forward migration was something I was thinking about. The present solution gives me a neat, fairly comprehensive package on dedicated CPU, drives, etc, and still doesn't close off moving onto a PC solution later.
It looks as if for the most stable PC-based recording, a person ought to use a dedicated machine set up for his/her requirements. I've already got major hardware commitments into digital photography (firewire & usb 2 all over the place) - didn't want to wrangle my gear into a multitrack studio as well.
The next hill to climb: to get a handle on the amazing crop of low-cost condenser mics coming out of the PRC. Looking at Studio Projects, Behringer, Nady, MXL etc. Almost can't go wrong (but I can probably manage somehow...).
The D-1600 series has a great user community (much like this board!) in http://www.korgstudios.com
It'd be interesting to get some interchange going between the two groups....
More soon -
Michael
State College, PA |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Toronto | I've always been software based - using Acid Pro for drum tracks and doing my main recording in CuBase SX - with all the plugins - for my needs - there is no real need for hardware... BUT - I hate software and enjoy using hardware much more (I work in the software development space and need a break once in a while!).
Hence the intrigue in this thread - what people are using for recording that is non-software based and still high end!
BTW - I have an MXL - that works pretty good in general - but I find works best for mic-ing instruments (very little ambient nose). I just picked up an APEX 460 which is still affordable but is proving to be an excellent vocal mic for me (now I just got to get a vocal processor!!)...
Dano |
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Joined:
October 2004
Posts: 48
Location: State College, PA | Originally posted by MrDano:
BTW - I have an MXL - that works pretty good in general - but I find works best for mic-ing instruments (very little ambient nose). I just picked up an APEX 460 which is still affordable but is proving to be an excellent vocal mic for me (now I just got to get a vocal processor!!)...
Dano
Mr Dano - which MXL do you have? I've been thinking about a small diaphragm model like the 993 along with a large diaphragm model like the 992.
Whatever model it is, I'm glad to hear about the low ambient noise - that's one of the huge leaps in moving from dbx noise reduction on teenie weenie cassette tracks to digital (if we can keep the rest of the noise gremlins quieted down....) - it's nice to have to worry about the noise floor on the mic!
Right now I'm leaning toward the Studio Projects C3 for the large diaphragm mic (great for voice too), but ask me in five minutes...
Sigh - microphones - this has got to be a syndrome closely related to GAS...
Michael
State College, PA |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | microphones?
one word
neumann |
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Joined:
October 2004
Posts: 48
Location: State College, PA | Originally posted by alpep:
microphones?
one word
neumann
Jah - grew up with those. And ancient tubed Telefunkens. And Studers. And Ampexes. Heck - the station I started at still had a Scully record lathe in the corner of Master Control...
Ah well - all absorbed by the Borg now....
Resistance was futile!
But a few hearty souls gave it their damndest...
Read it and weep:
http://www.savewcal.org
It's part of what's behind this latest acquisition. I'm decided. I'm not going to go quietly....
Thanks -
Michael
State College, PA |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Toronto | Michael,
I have the MXL990 - for vocal it was okay (vast improvement when I ran it through a pre) - but it really stood out for micing. The price is just amazing too - I've seen it on Musician's Friend for half the price I paid (which wasn't much to begin with)...
Keep up the good fight! |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Zowie, a Korg D1600 for Christmas!!!
All I got was a lump of coal!
I wonder where I went wrong???? |
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Joined:
October 2004
Posts: 48
Location: State College, PA | Well, I had a word with Saint Nick ahead of time, and really did try to be very good...
But Bradley - I'll bet that lump of coal is really quiet! That's important at all points in the chain!
Dano - Thanks for your impressions of the 990. It's interesting that you found it better for guitar than voice - on the other hand, isn't it a 20mm diaphragm mic? That'd possibly put it close in character to the other small diaphragm mics. Small diaphragm condensers are often employed as instrument mics, but there's never a one-size-fits-all.
I've done the initial playing around with the D1600. I've put my Ovation direct in, my strat direct in, and my bass (Schecter Diamond Elite 5 string). My next recording objective is to better capture the Ovation's sound. I've seen the posts about combining mic & direct in - I'll probably dither for a while longer and then spring for a large diaphragm condenser of some kind. It all depends. My 1994 Collector's Series's sound is very bright - I have the feeling the right large diaphragm condenser could "bring out the woodiness" a little more.
On the other matter, thanks for your comments regarding the WCAL debacle - the station started on the air in 1918. It was truly one of the grand old broadcast operations in the country. I'm still in disbelief that the college so willingly handed it over to be assimilated...
Thanks all - |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I have a Studio Logic C1 and a Rode NT-1A that I use for vocals and acoustic work and a Shure SM57 for off axis electric guitar....along with going DI through a BBE direct to the computer.
I had an original D1600 and loved it but eventually moved over to all computer based. I am running Reason 2.5 and Abelton Live 4 for drum work and Cubase SX 2 for all the instruments and vocals. Not quite as easy as when I had an inspiration and just plugged into the D1600 and let it rip but ultimately more versitile.
Now I have an old Reel to Reel that I flip on when I get into a groove and just let it record for a hour or so and then listen to the playback the next day to see if it was really good or if I was just thinking it was. ;) |
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Korg D1600 MkII for Christmas!
