Klarinet Archive - Posting 000391.txt from 2001/07

From: "mark" <cpaok@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Boss BR8 Digital Recording Studio
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2001 20:03:04 -0400

Ben,

Thanks for your thorough analysis. Mark Charette's initial reaction was
much the same.

Query: Can you go direct to the Soundcam from the portable DAT. Or do you
have to record on the DAT first & then transfer via the audio out to the
Soundcard?

Thanks.
mw
----- Original Message -----
From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subject: RE: [kl] Boss BR8 Digital Recording Studio

>
> >
> > Just wondering if anybody on the List has had any experience
> > recording with
> > the Boss BR-8 Digital Recording Studio.
> >
> > According to the Roland/Boss website, the BR8 offers better/finer
> > recording
> > abilities than DAT (although I have not confirmed this). In fact, it is
> > supposed to be very close to high-end digital recorders which are
utilized
> > in the best studios. Features, 8 track recording with a 100meg zip
drive
> > builtin.
> >
> > Thanks for any recommendations.
> >
> > Best,
> > mw
>
> While I don't have experience with this exact unit, I took a look at the
PDF
> on the Roland website.
>
> From what I can see, I would stay away from this unit at all costs. It is
a
> complete and total waste of money.
>
> Where to begin.... First of all, the storage medium. Zip disks hold 100
> megs of info and they aren't exactly known for reliability. 100 megs of
> storage will get you this:
>
> stereo 16 bit 44.1 KHz sampling (CD resolution)- roughly 10 minutes.
> stereo 24 bit (they advertise their 24 bit converters although it doesn't
> say the word length stored) 44.1- roughly 6.5 minutes
>
> 8 tracks of 16 bit 44.1 KHz- 2.5 minutes...
>
> need I say more?
>
> Second-- It can record up to 2 tracks at a time!!! They'll let you do
> stereo, but no more. Why bother if you have a multi-track recorder.
>
> Third- Doesn't even have microphone preamplifiers. Limits you to a
dynamic
> microphone with an impedance transformer on it to get from XLR to 1/4"
>
> Fourth- THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) at 0.15%... You can do better
with
> analog tape... Studio electronics will be at 0.0001% THD, prosumer stuff
> will be at 0.01%... This is HORRIBLE!!!!
>
> 5th... Truncation. It uses 24 bit converters, most likely storing a 16
bit
> word... Truncates, doesn't dither (induces distortion), mixes with 24 bit
> precision outputs 16 bit.. More truncation. I won't get into the
technical
> stuff, but truncation is *really* bad. Dither is good (even when poor
> quality).
>
> Those are the biggies.. I'm sure I could find more with it if I looked
> enough...
>
> It may be based on some of the same technology as a studio recorder, but
it
> is far from a piece of studio gear. Chances are the only way files can
fit
> on there is through massive data compression, that will harm the sound.
>
> Why do you need a multi-track? Are you running a band? For classical
work,
> you're rarely going to go over 2 track anyways. If you want to edit, get
a
> mini-disc for rough work or get a dat machine and a computer sound card
with
> a digital in. Do you have a budget in mind...
>
> The cheapest way to go is a little Sony MD recorder and a $99 sony
> microphone. Sound isn't great, but it gets you on tape. To get better,
you
> can go for the $250 (?) Audio Technica stereo microphone and a portable
> (i.e. Sony) DAT machine. To get even close to the realm that you would
> consider "studio," get a Mackie 1202, a Tascam DA20 or Sony R300 DAT, and
a
> pair of condenser mics (mics out there in the $200-$300/each range include
> Marshall 2001, 2003, V67, 600, Shure SM 81, Audio Technica 4031...) If
you
> want to do it "right" for a true studio quality recording, count on
spending
> $5,000-$10,000 or so for a good setup.
>
> --Ben
>
> Benjamin Maas
> Fifth Circle Audio
> Los Angeles, CA
> benmaas@-----.com
> http://www.fifthcircle.com
>
>
>
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