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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | I need some advice selecting a piece of equipment. I play at home alone 95% of the time. I've been playing for over 45 years but I don't play professionally anymore, mostly I play for personal enjoyment & occasionally for/with friends.
I would like to be able to accompany myself & also to record multi-tracks with the ability to upload the results to my computer. I've been looking at the three units in the subject line.
From what I've gathered researching the net, the Boomerang is primarily for professional musicians playing live on stage & has no permanent memory or provisions to upload.
The RC-20 can save 10 loops, but it is unclear to me if it can upload saved tracks to a computer through a sound card.
The GNX3 looks to be the best choice (& apparently the most expensive, at least on ebay), although I don't really need the effects features since I have more effects than I'll ever use through my zoom 505.
Can any of you folks give me any further information or other options than what I've found so far? Please bear in mind that I'm not looking for "professional quality" recordings or "bulletproof on-stage" gear.
Thanks for any help you can give,
Nils
[ September 18, 2002: Message edited by: Nils ] |
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July 2002
Posts: 162
Location: Pennsylvania | If you want to record multitracks on the computer, I have just the program--Cool Edit Pro. You run out of your mixer or amp (or guitar or mic) into the small red circular plug in the back of the computer. All you need is a 1$ adapter that converts the plug size. The program records 60+ tracks, mixes, edits, tons of effects, processors, options, etc. Can be as professional as you want, but at the same time, very easy to use. Simply plug in and hit record.
If you then want to accompany yourself, you can then play the track(s) back to yourself thru the computer, or burn them on to a cd and play the it along with yourself.
I think this will do absolutely everything and more for you.
If you want the program, e-mail me with your mailing address, and I'll send a copy on cd out to you.
[ September 18, 2002: Message edited by: snowlock ] |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The gear you are referring to are basically samplers/loopers, and while they will record & play back short phrases, they are not intended as recording devices in the way you intend to use them. Go with Tom's suggestion of a software based recorder, or buy a basic digital multi-track. The Zoom palm-top recorder is less than $300 and will do everything you need, records to smart media, has built in effects & will fit in the accesory compartment of a guitar case.
Take a look:
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=163&brand...
Paul
[ September 18, 2002: Message edited by: Paul Templeman ] |
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July 2002
Posts: 162
Location: Pennsylvania | Yeah, those Zoom palm-tops are nice. I always think of them like a digital camera, except to take quick pictures of music.
If you want to give cool edit pro a try, just let me know. I'll give it to you for free. It's pretty nifty. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Thanks guys! I've emailed Tom with my mailing address so I can give the software approach a try. (FREE is a VERY good price!) I've also looked at the zoom palmtop recorder from Paul's link & it looks like a good little setup as well. I already have a SanDisk unit for the Smartmedia card from my digital camera, so that might be a good way to go too. I looked on ebay under "completed auctions" & it looks like they can be had for well under $200. I'll try the free approach first :)
Thanks again,
Nils
[ September 18, 2002: Message edited by: Nils ] |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | How much you want to spend?
I've heard good things about Boss multitrackers like the Boss BR1180. Might take a look at that.
Or, how about N-Track. It's cheap, it think its $42. You can try the demo for free. Here's a link
N-Track
Something I'm checking out is Band-In-A-Box or Jammer. Wish I had more time, but I'm also learning Delphi because I don't know if I'll have a job much longer and I always liked Delphi (it's a computer language, I hate the tools my current job uses. PERL for Windows Application Development - YUCK).
You might be able to pick up one of the older Boss BR-8's cheaply also.
Good luck,
Bradley |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Based on this sentence "I would like to be able to accompany myself & also to record multi-tracks with the ability to upload the results to my computer. " I would say a small multi-track recorder or the above CoolEdit PRo solution if you have a PC. They have 4 track ministudios now that use Flash memory cards and have no moving parts and are the size of an old 8-track tape. :) (or a paperback book).
The Boomerang and those devices are samplers, and based on the above qoute.. that doesn't sound like what you want.
I would also reccomend for a little more money, and use on a PC.. is CakeWalk Home or one of the other suitable "stipped down" versions of studio software. What's nice is they come feature packed, but are simple to use, just not as many bells and whistles as the pro versions. It also adds the option of using MIDI tracks to play along with. Tons of drums tracks out there to do rhythms... but midi also allows you to add a keyboard or some other acconpanyment. There are tons and tons of MIDI to download, and it's fun to play a piece with the full orchestra behind you. |
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Boomerang, Digitech GNX3, Boss RC-20, other?
