Zoom Or Boss 16 Track Or Alesis 16 Track USB 2 Mixer?

[brand new]

Hi!

my first post

I'm trying to set up a home studio, was looking for a bit of advice for which stand alone unit to get.......Would you guys recommend a zoom 16 track, boss or whatever?

Or would i be better off forgetting one of these units and getting the new alesis 16 track usb 2 mixer and using it with a laptop and cubase?

Would this be more flexible?

As my music is sort of rock/guitar based, what would i need to buy to record with the alesis to get a good guitar sound, because i believe the zoom and boss have good on board effects for live guitars.

Thanks in advance,

Ryan.

[Electriclight]

I think a lot of people here would agree that you have more flexibility by recording into a computer through an audio interface. That set up may or may not need a mixer, depending on what you want to do in your studio. Try the soundcard wizard on this site and read up on different software options. Explain what you expect to record and maybe you'll get more responses. -Dave

[brandondrury]

Or would i be better off forgetting one of these units and getting the new alesis 16 track usb 2 mixer and using it with a laptop and cubase?

Would this be more flexible?

Without a doubt, computer recording scores about 10,000 points higher than the standalone boxes int he "flexibility" department. Standalones have less technical problems to work out in the begining, but a much higher learning curve. Once you get past the initial setup on a PC, the sky is the limit.

I'm big on Cubase as well.

Brandon

[brand new]

OK, coming around to the computer and mixer route...

So, maybe the new Alesis Multimix 16 USB 2 Mixer?

and a dell vostro laptop?

I realise I will need amp and monitors plus a couple of mikes....

but what else will I need to get me of the ground?

will I need external effects units?

I have a Yamaha electronic drum kit. main instrument guitar and I also play piano. So will mainly be guitar orientated melodic rock......

[Electriclight]

As far as computers and interfaces... If you don't have any of these parts yet make sure you check out the Vista compatability issue, the hard drive RPM issue. (Does the laptop come with Vista, does the Alesis have Vista drivers, does the laptop have a 7200 RPM drive or will you use an external drive.) It's great to figure all this out before you buy.

If you are a one man band a mixer may be unnecessary. If you do go the Alesis mixer route then you have the Alesis effects plus the Cubase effects, plus a world of plugins available, so no, you don't need an effects unit at this time.

[brandondrury]

will I need external effects units?

When would you use it?

Brandon

[brand new]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

When would you use it?

Brandon

initially recording and maybe later live

I was thinking I would need external effects as I did not realise that alesis desk has effects and cubase as well...

looking at a 17inch dell vostro. with 3 gig ram and 200 gig HD (7200 RPM)
vista seems standard these days but will try and get XP Pro?

and cubase essentials

any recommendations for a pair of monitors and a vocal mic and one for recording acoustic guitar and a guitar amp.....

I am getting there!

[brandondrury]

initially recording and maybe later live

That's not really what I meant. I know you are going to use it for recording. The point I was making is if you put reverb on the vocal, for example, while you recording, you are stuck with that reverb. Most people do not track with reverb on vocals. It's VERY rare.

I expect you to be mixing in the box, so that means that you won't be using the reverb then either.

If you are uses for your rig are anywhere near typical, the only thing that reverb in the mixer is good for is for monitoring while tracking vocals. Does this make sense?

any recommendations for a pair of monitors and a vocal mic and one for recording acoustic guitar and a guitar amp.....

what's your budget for these?

What audio interface are you using?

Brandon

[brand new]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

what's your budget for these?

What audio interface are you using?

Brandon

Ah budget....Not sure really just reasonable quality enough that quality will not be an issue later on. say £200($400) for monitors?? and have not a clue regards mic's.... how many will I need?? one for vocal. and will I need a different one for acoustic guitar and another mic for guitar amp?

regards interface, I thought the alesis usb2 mixer would be the interface or am I missing something again!

starting to wonder about Zoom 16trk again! as I think it may be more immediate - easier to lay down ideas and come to grips with.....

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by brand new

starting to wonder about Zoom 16trk again! as I think it may be more immediate - easier to lay down ideas and come to grips with.....

It sort of like the difference between a hardware word processor (remember those?) and Microsoft WORD. The learning curve for getting your first track recorded will probably be about the same in either case. Once you start basic editing, I think it might actually be a shorter learning curve on the computer (can you cut and paste in WORD?). Beyond basic editing there is a world of things to learn, but at that point your 16 track device becomes obsolete.

The only thing quicker about the hardware recorder is initial set up. So yeah, you may kill an evening (or maybe just an hour) getting your audio interface (Alesis mixer or whatever) set up, but you'll probably find that it was worth it.