As one of my other posts indicates, I'm zooming in (sorry) on to purchasing a Zoom MRS 802.

You can get a USB expansion card for about 70-100 pounds which allows 2 way comms between the PC and the 802; I assume the 802 will appear as a removable hard drive device on the PC (I think the other zoom hard disc recorders also accept the USB expansion card)(There are two available, the UIB 001 and UIB002; the latter is faster but otherwise identical so far as I can tell. I'm not sure whether this means the UIB 002 is USB 2 or not, however).

Also, Zoom provide an "Audio File Manager" with the USB board which converts the Zoom internal format to and from "wav" files. If this is anything like as easy as it looks, using the PC as an editor for "complicated" stuff looks very simple (at least in terms of data transfer).

Hopefully I can report back on the Zoom shortly. The USB interface will be a "sometime in the new year" item, I think.

Unless you have a Professional recording clientel, my vote is for a laptop[Sound Forge and/or Acid Pro...not Sonar]..Even on a Pro level there is merit in software..Flexability the biggie..If you are hard disk recording, most of your edits and fine tunning are resolved on a PC..The lone exception, a Top of the line Roland 24XX...For the average performer the laptop records well even with a slower disk drive than a desktop..I have been recording on my new laptop with great results, even compared to my hard disk recorder[Boss]..Even my old CTX laptop with the Digigram VX Pocket card records well enough to make the backing tracks for our band...It is just as fast as the Hard Disk recording , maybe faster if you need edits...The problem most of you run into is you are using the wrong software,get away from Cakewalk..As usual this is my descenting vote and opinion..

The Roland series of hard disk recorders are a poor example of what a true "professional" disk recorder is. The Roland VS and VSR Series use way too many functions to be able to setup, edit, and record. In addition to being too multi-menu driven they sound quite thin. Unfortunately most computer based DAW"s and cheaper hard disk based DAW's use poor converters, cheap filtering, and sound like poop.

I've been fortunate enough to own and use the best digital recorders available and I can say without hesitation the best sounding units are the Fairlight DAW's, IZ Radar, Sonic Studio, and Sadie. The downside of course is none of these systems are cheap.

Even computer based systems like Pro Tools HD and Nuendo lack the ease of use, sound quality, and speed of stand alone based HD systems like the Fairlight.




[This message has been edited by Ensnareyou (edited 12-01-2003).]

SK,
Not sure I get what you mean here. No matter what anyone uses eventually it has to be mixed down to stereo tracks to be burned to cd.

In the meantime a h/d unit can have as many seperate tracks as are available depending on the unit.
Terry



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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

I personally own a Roland VS1680 16 track 24 bit Stand alone DAW.. Let me tell you sir,
I would not speak of this awsome machine like you said.. Well, youre entitled to your opinion, but your response, seemed general.

With all due respect, in no way do I think the VS sounded thin.. WOW no way !!! As a matter of fact, you might have used one with out any effects cards installed...
I personally own the one with both effects cards installed, which provide a total of 8 mono effects or four stereo effects processors..!!
And the thing is so simple to use !! Simple as Plug your guitar, mic, etc, use the software patch bay, tell the VS what channel to record to, set it and Forget it!
Well, not really !! But almost as easy..

I made a cd personally for my brother in law totally made on the VS and now im working on the second one. Well, I had a friend who frequently records at PRO studios and I asked him to hear my cd. Well, I asked him, how much do you think this guy had to pay to record this cd, well, he said, no less than 3 grand !!!
WOW, I told him I had done the entire thing on my VS 1680 in my Bedroom !!!

No way !! was his response. Well, as you can see, I have heard so many people put down certain records and what have you, but the bottom line, is the ears of the engineer.. the mixes made, the time to mic things right, and the talent to do the final master.

Well, I love my Roland VST, I think the Mastering tools included in the Expanded version of the OS, are just so superb !!!
I master out via DIgital output dithering to 16 bits to my Marantz stand alone cd burner at 1x speed !! The sound..Ooooh so warm and thick !!!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the pres do sock !!
BUt im using an Art DPS Pre for vocals and acoustics... Going digital out to VS digital in !!
Please dont misunderstand me, Im not saying that the VS is the only Best thing to record with, but its a rather fine piece of gear when used right....

Oh man, you dont have to spend so much money to get the best sound !!

This is my humble opinion..

Peace,

Musikman



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Have you guys seen/used the new Yamaha firewire module (Yamaha 01X)? http://www.yamahasynth.com/pro/01x/zoom.html
Also the Tascam FW-1884 http://www.tascam.com/product_info.php?pid=269&nav=computer_recording

Maged