Multitrack Recorder VS Computer + DAW

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Episode show notes:
Surprisingly, some of our subscribers are telling us that they are using standalone multitrack recorders instead of computers.
We actually get these kinds of messages pretty regularly.
So, is it a good alternative? Are there any advantages to using a device like that? Or should you just get an interface and a DAW and start using a computer to produce your music?
Let's discuss!
PS: Please join the conversation by leaving a comment, a rating and review, or a post inside our free Facebook community.
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For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordi...

[@kursive1]

Some good points. I’m in my 40s and have made a lot of music on both computers and standalones. There’s always going to be a divide on this subject as the older folks will gravitate more to the tactile feel of buttons and sliders. Can’t beat the computers power and flexibility. Can’t beat the feel of old solid well built gear. Also, I’m on the computer all day at work. When I get time to sit and make music I don’t want to do it on the same machine I hated a few hours ago while I was staring at spreadsheets.

[@mathewworkman1625]

Some great points for sure here.

[@theselfrecordingband]

We appreciate it! Thanks! :)

[@mathewworkman1625]

@@theselfrecordingband No worries - love the podcast - but only had previously downloaded it / listened while I was driving. I had no idea you were on KZbin!

[@lawrencerasmus]

Sold my Boss 16 track and regret it 😢

[@theselfrecordingband]

Interesting. What did you like about it? Are you using a computer and DAW now? If so, what about the Boss was better than using the computer?

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

I would like to make better sounding KZbin videos; the simplest being one-take guitar and vocal recordings, but I'd also like to try incorporating double-tracked vocals and guitar, recorded separately. I'm leaning towards the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, however, I prefer to record in a different room from my computer. I may be able to simply use long cables from there to the interface, but alternatively, how about a stand-alone multitrack recorder that I can take anywhere? Would a Zoom R4, for instance, allow me to record several tracks like this? And once recorded, could I import them into a DAW to edit them? What other multitrack recorders might be suitable? Any advice will be appreciated!

[@avace917]

The main reason I wouldn't consider recording without a computer is that I compose in an Akai MPC and I've noticed that no current standalone hard disk recorder has MIDI ports. Hence no sync

[@toreeriksson6117]

Yeah, it really is a shame that all the manufacturers ditched that MIDI [sync] Out port on their lines of digital recorders. It used to be the default standard about 20 years ago to include that. However, I stumbled upon nice workaround here on KZbin to sort of recreate it using the metronome function in my Zoom R8, selecting a sampled Volca sync pulse as its click sound, feeding it into a Volca Keys modified with added MIDI Out connector, and there I have the MIDI sync recorded originated from a track on my R8. Of course, you should be able to use any device with +5v sync in and MIDI sync out to create a MIDI Clock Sync and not have to hack an older Volca.

[@nilespeshay1734]

I think, in 2024, the only reason to use a standalone would be if you wanted to record directly to cassette/tape. Otherwise, you're just using a crappier form of a computer.

[@toreeriksson6117]

Now you really made me upset. :) ;) I know you aim your content to a different audience as I will never produce a record and since I'm 62 years old it's totally impossible for me to tell the differece between the sound from a professional recording studio and the cheap pre-amps in low-end digital multitrackers. But c'mon! Two times you mention latency, i e the HUGE PROBLEM (terribly sorry for yelling) with computer based recording, and the problem that just does not exist in the world of multitrackers, not even the cheapest ones. I spent countless of hours reading forums, tweaking, downloading drivers, trying different DAWs, tweaking some more... nothing helped. The only thing I didn't try was converting to Mac. Then I purchased a used Zoom R8 for about US$100 and this whole latency issue was just a very unpleasant memory from the past. Now, I'm not religiously against computers. I went from struggling with DAWs to look at DAW-less, but landed in Less DAW. As I'm a lousy keyboardist, I generally start out entering the notes in a notation software. (Never befriended piano rolls.) Then export it into the recorder and add voice and acoustic instruments. Then I import the Master track into the PC and convert to mp3 in Audacity. I may experiment with VCV Rack since there is no way I can afford Eurorack hardware if there is some synth sounds my two Volcas can't perform.

[@nilespeshay1734]

I am only speaking anecdotally, ofc, but I've been recording for a few decades. Started out on some standalones and moved to PC about 20-25 yrs ago. Other than the 1st month that I ever used a PC (and figured out how to adjust buffer size), I've literally never had latency issues. I have never spent more than $150 on a PC (refurbished office surplus) so it's not like I'm using bleeding edge computers...