Gearing up to return after long time gone

[hollywood_steve]

After losing my studio when the building was sold, my job then sent me on the road for a while and my studio went into storage. In the interim, the manufacturer of my main recording device (a high end HD recorder that will not be named) went out of business and I need a new way to record.

I still do everything else in the hardware (analog) world. API 7800/8200 8ch mixer works great on location for tracking and back at home for mixdown. I just need a new way to capture tracks on location. I've promised myself not to buy another piece of hardware (dedicated recording device) that loses 95% of its value when I open the box. I'm looking for a software (PC) recording solutuion, but the most simple product available I have minimal needs as far as track count (8ch max) and will never use almost any features other than record / playback. So, who makes a reliable "DAW" for people who don't need virtual tracks, midi instruments or any of the million other features that all DAWs seem to include? I just want a reliable software *recorder*. Suggestions?

[klaukholm]

Good to have you back steve,

sorry to hear about your G...X.

I would take a look at a prism orpheus with samplitude/sequoia into a laptop.
From what you are saying, you should be ok with the cheapest samplitude or pyramix native music or broadcast pack.

[Audiop]

A PC with Reaper is my advice, add converters of your choice. Heck even Audacity may be sufficient.

Audacity is free.

Reaper has a 30 day trial period and costs peanuts after that.

Some 8-channel interfaces that looks good to me is;

Audiofire 8
Lynx Aurora 8
Orpheus


/Peter

[John Hedger]

Welcome back Steve. I wondered what happened to you. I always recall that you gave me some good, friendly advice on recorders, preamps, and mics several years ago.

Sorry about that recorder situation. I know that was one expensive piece of gear...and for the company to go down the tubes like that really sucks. Korg is making much more affordable DSD location and studio rack mounted recorders now. The two track rack units I believe have/or soon will have the capacity to be linked together for 4/6/8/tracks, etc.. But anyway, whatever you choose as your recording tools, I am glad to see you getting back into it!

John Hedger

[hollywood_steve]

thanks for the kind words and advice. It will take a while to get back up to speed, but one step at a time....

The good news is that I didn't sell off too much when the studio building was sold. I only dumped a small amount of "vintage" gear that hadn't been used in years and was completely inappropriate for the type of work I do (location recording) (30lb single channel tube preamps don't make much sense for a one man locaction gig.) So I really am very close to ready - I did a preliminary inventory down at the storage space last week and most everything is still packed up and ready to roll.

It really was too bad about the G....X situation. The first time I recorded a chamber orchestra and took the raw 4 track recording back to the studio I was blown away. (I had never done that type of session and it shouldn't have turned out that well) And the actual machine really didn't have problems - it was dealing with the company that drove us all friggin insane.

In a perfect world, I would find a local tech to repackage the 8ch of G....x converters currently mounted in the recorder chassis.... they sound as good as anything I will ever be able to buy for under $2500, and they are just sitting there collecting dust. 8ch of AD , DA - both PCM and DSD all wasted.... But I'm sure that it would turn into a "project from heck" and that I would end up with something less than what I really need in terms of reliability. Better to just buck up and buy something I can trust.

It served me right for trying to work on the leading edge of technology, instead of 'settling' for something that has earned a reputation for solid reliability, even if its not the 'latest thing.' Live and learn...

[fifthcircle]

Glad to see you back around Steve. Missed you around here.

I'd either second the recommendation for the Orpheus (great conversion) or look at one of the stand alone recorders made for the film industry. That would keep things small. The big question being what are your needs for post production?

If you don't need a DAW, then stick with stand alone. If you want to do some computer mixing and summing in your API, then something like the Orpheus becomes a great tool with the software of your choice.

--Ben

[klaukholm]

Steve, can you still use the ADDA on the G...x?
It has AES out right?
Would you be well served with a simple reliable AES interface to a laptop?

Can you sell the G, or is it dead?

[Ozpeter]

I'd second the mention of Reaper (especially as it takes seconds to download and install - then see if it "speaks" to you in about 20 minutes use, if not, move on) - but having done the laptop and interface thing, I'm sure finding that the Edirol R-44 is that much more simple for a perfectly good result, if you can bear to consider hardware. And a colleague is doing nicely with two linked together to provide 8 tracks when required. I like the idea of having no more with you than is strictly necessary.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

They still have a website Genex Audio | About

[Rick Sutton]

Well I'll be damned! Hollywood Steve is in the house! My old Genex buddy. Good to have you here again. So what finally happened to your GX9000? Mine had so many problems in the beginning I about threw it out a window but somehow I've muddled through with it for about 5 years now. Currently I'm taking it and a PT 003 out on remotes. Used a Fostex HD 824 for backup for a few years. Had very little luck with assorted tape based backups. Any way....keep up the faith and good to see you are back in the hunt.

[hollywood_steve]

Hey Rick !

long time..... The short version is that my studio's building was sold out from under me. The landlord had conveniently "gotten behind" on renewing leases and I was on 'month-to-month" when the sale closed. (obviously, the landlord wanted to deliver a building free from any long term leases as part of the sale) The new owners renewed several of the larger studio's leases, but my little room was in a part of the building they wanted for themselves. I just didn't have any workable alternatives for a space and I ended up putting everything in storage.

My other engineering gig (sitting in front of a computer, the one that paid the bills) made location recording pretty much impossible for a couple of years, but now I just might see a way back. No ideas for a space yet, but that's not as critical for location work as it is for regular studios; I just need a small room to set up a 'listening' station and some nearby storage for all my road gear. It might take me another six months to really get up and running, but with the economy kicking everybody's ass, I'm in no rush. The guys who are trying to make a full time living off of this biz really don't need a part timer like me cherry picking off the occasional well-paying gig.

re: the Genex. As you know, once you get a GX9000 up and running, the gear pretty much works and sounds great. The problem was dealing with the company; anything that should have taken an hour ended up taking a month, plus a hundred phone calls and fifty emails. I haven't fired up the 9000 in two years, which was probably really stupid, at least as far as the hard drives were concerned, My fear is that everything powers up fine, but there is just a minor software glitch. I'm almost happier just writing the whole thing off as an expensive mistake. (but one that sounded really, really good). Once everything else is ready to go, I'll take a chance on firing up the 9000, but I'd almost rather leave my door unlocked and hope some very unlucky junkie chooses that one piece of gear to steal. If there was ever a situation that screamed out for an insurance scam......(just kidding!!!)

So, how have YOU been?

[vince @ speck]

Hey Steve, good to see you again.