Currently using Tascam DP-008EX

Main use is for writing songs for a band I'm in so a lot of it stays in there as is and very rough and I never do anything else with it except erase it once it gets turned into a song at actual band practice.

But I've been doing some collaborating with people that aren't local. We trade tracks and cobble it together into a finished song.

This is where I'm looking at a possible upgrade.

Getting tracks from the current Tascam to a PC for mixing or for sending in an email is not a very quick process. Pulling tracks from a PC into the Tascam and then adding them to a project is not a very quick process.

I do have most of the instruments (guitar/bass/drum machine/keyboard/etc) I use plugged into a Yamaha mixer--and the mixer into the Tascam so I can just go in the room and start recording whatever I'm feeling.

Maybe I need to get over it but I don't want to record direct into a computer. For one I'm 99% sure that would mean an upgrade on my laptop in the music room. The current one is old but can still easily handle mixing what I do in Audacity.

Is there a digital multi-track recorder than can quickly move files back and forth between it and a PC? Ideally I just want to use the PC for mixing the tracks into a finished song and do all the recording on the stand alone machine

I'm doing fairly simple stuff. Drum machine/guitar/bass/keyboards/vocals

I have looked around but it feels like I need to either record direct or just get used to the slight inconvenience of moving things back and forth between computer and the multitrack

Check out the Allen & Heath ICE-16D. Now discontinued (I wish they'd release an updated version with higher bitrate, USB-C etc...) so you'd have to find one used.
https://www.allen-heath.com/content/upl ... ide_A5.pdf

thecr4ne wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2023 11:43 am Check out the Allen & Heath ICE-16D. Now discontinued (I wish they'd release an updated version with higher bitrate, USB-C etc...) so you'd have to find one used.
https://www.allen-heath.com/content/upl ... ide_A5.pdf

I just bought a Allen Heath CQ18t mixer. it can capture all inputs at 92K direct to sdcard. The CQ20B is the stripped down version (no touch screen, looks like a srack mount stage box) and can capture all inputs plus mixes (fx returns, bus sends etc) direct to SDcard as well. Controlled via phone, (either os) or ipad (or $40 amazon fire tab) or desktop app via wifi or network cable. the 20b is $999, and the 18t (touch screen version) is $1200 new. Works as a 24x24 IO into reaper (or any DAW) as well. works as a stand alone digital mixer as well. Does a lot for a grand.

It looks nice but if I"m going to spend that money I'd probably just upgrade my laptop and record direct into it

seems like a simple multi channel IO and a lappy and Reaper is maybe the best option. Skip a Hardware recorder all together since... they usually are a PIA. Maybe a Tascam Model 12 or something if you really want a hardware recorder. Zoom make something? Used Alesis HD24?

Kniferide wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2023 2:49 pm seems like a simple multi channel IO and a lappy and Reaper is maybe the best option. Skip a Hardware recorder all together since... they usually are a PIA. Maybe a Tascam Model 12 or something if you really want a hardware recorder. Zoom make something? Used Alesis HD24?

Yeah. I'm thinking you are right. My main reason for wanting an upgrade is ease of moving files around if they are coming/going from different places and a laptop solves that problem.

I've used this digital 4 track for years and never had an issues and my hesitation recording direct to a PC has always been vague concerns about having to update drivers and troubleshoot issues--where the 4 track just works.

The laptop in there now can't be long for this world so I'd probably be replacing it in a few years anyway.
I can't imagine I'd need a lot of power. All the laptop would be doing is sending email, recording VERY simple music (maybe 3 instruments at the same time at the most. Usually just one) and mixing.

Fuck using a computer unless it has a SSD and is not prone to crashing mid session. I strongly suggest any of the Zoom LiveTrak series or the new 32-bit floating whatever thangs. Them shits will not shit out on you because they record straight to SanDisk.

I get that. I will say I haven't had any performance issues recording to any computers made in the last 7-8 years, Mac or Pc, as far as Memory or HD goes. Drivers really either. Honestly, recording to a computer is mostly headache free these days once you get comfortable in the app you choose. I will also say there is something attractive about just hitting record and going and then when it is time to mix just hitting play and having all those tracks just going through faders all tape machine style with no stupid screens to look at. But if you are wanting to know about simplicity just keeping it all in a computer is pretty low pain in these days unless you are Amish or something. all those Zooms and stuff are really good at what they do, the tiny screens are terrible for me given my crappy eyesight. If you do go CPU, don't get the cheapest io you can. go with a mfg that keeps support active for a long time like MOTU, Focusrite, UA (I say this with a certain trepidation) or RME. No Behringer, MAudio, Tascam (the Tascam IO's are good sound quality but software is terrible and driver support is not great). For Hardware "upgrade" the Zoom R12 and R20 looks pretty good to me and isn't crazy expensive. Simple, small footprint, actual XLRs, nice big color screen.

Kniferide wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2023 4:37 pm I get that. I will say I haven't had any performance issues recording to any computers made in the last 7-8 years, Mac or Pc, as far as Memory or HD goes. Drivers really either. Honestly, recording to a computer is mostly headache free these days once you get comfortable in the app you choose. I will also say there is something attractive about just hitting record and going and then when it is time to mix just hitting play and having all those tracks just going through faders all tape machine style with no stupid screens to look at. But if you are wanting to know about simplicity just keeping it all in a computer is pretty low pain in these days unless you are Amish or something. all those Zooms and stuff are really good at what they do, the tiny screens are terrible for me given my crappy eyesight. If you do go CPU, don't get the cheapest io you can. go with a mfg that keeps support active for a long time like MOTU, Focusrite, UA (I say this with a certain trepidation) or RME. No Behringer, MAudio, Tascam (the Tascam IO's are good sound quality but software is terrible and driver support is not great). For Hardware "upgrade" the Zoom R12 and R20 looks pretty good to me and isn't crazy expensive. Simple, small footprint, actual XLRs, nice big color screen.

I don't use the Zoom for mixing, so all the screen is necessary for is making sure it's recording into the right project. They record to SD and then you throw that into your computer's DAW.

FYI: I’ve had good luck recently using Reaper and saving everything to Google Drive. Makes it super easy for other folks to work on the same stuff without having to copy files.