Home recording

[Woodchoppersbal]

Hey does anyone have any experience using the Korg D3200? Is it any good? Would I get better quality using a usb interface and software? Thx

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by Woodchoppersbal

Hey does anyone have any experience using the Korg D3200? Is it any good? Would I get better quality using a usb interface and software? Thx

Long ago I considered the Korg 3200 but 2 of my friends had them and they both told me to avoid it due to an issue they both experienced with REALLY long "save" times for projects.

That was when I wanted to migrate away from my old VS machine that used proprietary format for the data files.

I went with a Zoom R24 and it works quite well. Consider all of the factors if you want to go with an interface and computer.

[MikeBmusic]

Stand-alone recorder vs computer recording - long-going debate.
It depends on your level of technical ability.
It depends on what you want to 'do' with your recordings, the types of music/multi-tracking desire, etc.

Stand-alone - no pointing and clicking on a computer screen; no computer needed for the recording process; short learning curve.

Computer - many choices of DAW (software); unlimited # of tracks (except with 'limited edition' DAW releases); AUTOMATION (once you get used to automating volume and other parameters, you never want to go back to a stand-alone); virtual instruments (MIDI); unlimited number of plug-ins (FX) available; easy to share files/projects with others; everything is in the computer to share already, no transferring from another device.

[SprintBob]

Check out the threads here on the Spire recorder. Like the Zoom recorders you have the choice of either on board mics that are very good or you can plug in external mics that could be better. The Spire goes a step further than the Zoom recorders with an app makes it super easy from your mobile device to get the recording (up to 8 tracks) and do some basic editing and mixing. You also have the option to export to your favorite DAW and it’s easy to share your music files all from your iPad/iPhone or Android.

The Spire is now my go to answer for anyone looking to get started with home recording. Of course YMMV 😉.

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by Woodchoppersbal

Hey does anyone have any experience using the Korg D3200? Is it any good? Would I get better quality using a usb interface and software? Thx

You may find my old "Home Recording" web page of interest. The photos are no longer available, but the web archive still has all the text available.

http://web.archive.org/web/201603282...ecording1.html

[raysachs]

Originally Posted by SprintBob

Check out the threads here on the Spire recorder. Like the Zoom recorders you have the choice of either on board mics that are very good or you can plug in external mics that could be better. The Spire goes a step further than the Zoom recorders with an app makes it super easy from your mobile device to get the recording (up to 8 tracks) and do some basic editing and mixing. You also have the option to export to your favorite DAW and it’s easy to share your music files all from your iPad/iPhone or Android.

The Spire is now my go to answer for anyone looking to get started with home recording. Of course YMMV 😉.

I have a Spire and really like it. I had a four track cassette recorder 35 years ago, spent time trying to work with DAWs, and the Spire is overwhelmingly the easiest and most straight-forward recording setup I've ever used. BUT, that ease of use comes at the price of it not being very powerful. So there's a tradeoff. It's mixing is not dynamic - you can't change the location or volume of a track at different times in the song - you set it and it's like that through the whole song. The punch in capability is really limited and the punch out is non-existent. And there are effects, but they have to be set before recording - they can't be added or taken away after the track is recorded. You can import the tracks to a DAW for further work, which I assume can eliminate the first and third issues I raised, but then you're into a different level of difficulty.

For simple multi-track recording, there's nothing better. It's definitely the best solution for my meager recording needs. But if you know what you're doing and want some power, it's not the best way to go...

-Ray

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

Stand-alone recorder vs computer recording - long-going debate.
It depends on your level of technical ability.
It depends on what you want to 'do' with your recordings, the types of music/multi-tracking desire, etc.

Stand-alone - no pointing and clicking on a computer screen; no computer needed for the recording process; short learning curve.

Computer - many choices of DAW (software); unlimited # of tracks (except with 'limited edition' DAW releases); AUTOMATION (once you get used to automating volume and other parameters, you never want to go back to a stand-alone); virtual instruments (MIDI); unlimited number of plug-ins (FX) available; easy to share files/projects with others; everything is in the computer to share already, no transferring from another device.

I agree Mike, Automation is something not really discussed much (probably not widely understood) here on AGF but is arguably one of the most beneficial and powerful features of DAW recording, perhaps second only to the vast array of non destructive editing and processing features .

[SprintBob]

Originally Posted by raysachs

I have a Spire and really like it. I had a four track cassette recorder 35 years ago, spent time trying to work with DAWs, and the Spire is overwhelmingly the easiest and most straight-forward recording setup I've ever used. BUT, that ease of use comes at the price of it not being very powerful. So there's a tradeoff. It's mixing is not dynamic - you can't change the location or volume of a track at different times in the song - you set it and it's like that through the whole song. The punch in capability is really limited and the punch out is non-existent. And there are effects, but they have to be set before recording - they can't be added or taken away after the track is recorded. You can import the tracks to a DAW for further work, which I assume can eliminate the first and third issues I raised, but then you're into a different level of difficulty.

For simple multi-track recording, there's nothing better. It's definitely the best solution for my meager recording needs. But if you know what you're doing and want some power, it's not the best way to go...

-Ray

I agree with Ray here as I use the Spire primarily for my own self diagnostics on being able to easily record and then playback and do my own self critique on how well I am playing a song or section of a song. But if you have good mics and good room acoustics, it’s impressive what you can get with it. You can do the same with a Zoom H2, H4, H5, or H6 but it’s easier with Spire IMO. Like Ray, I believe if you are looking to do single track acoustic recording with minimal post processing, the Spire is a great tool to have.

[DanR]

I own and have used a Korg D1600. It's a great unit only limited by it's onboard effects. As the D3200 is only available used, I don't think it's a good investment nowadays. I stopped using my D1600 when the hard drive was giving me issues. And newer hard drives are not compatible with my D1600. I've since moved on to a laptop computer, interface and DAW software. The old Korg standalones are decent but not future proof.