Tascam DV-RA 1000 VS 1000 HD

[Dave Ferris]

tascam

[Empiria]

I've never tried the HD, but I used to work with the first version. Being able to grab DVD, put it into computer and copy files was something I realy liked. That was fast and easy. When using proper DVDs, it never failed. I liked its converters, too, but once I connected Mytek, the difference was obvious. Now prices for DVRAs are lower, it's a good time for buyers. BTW, the machine is pretty heavy. If you work on location, I would think twice before purchase. If you don't need digital IO, Korg MR-1000 is an option, too. Maybe that is not exactly answer to your question, but hope that helps.

[Dave Ferris]

Thanks Tomasz but it's not for location, just staying in my studio.

I'll be running the CS Spider into it for 2 track recordings of jazz piano & vocal. So I'm mainly concerned about the D/A and headphone quality has well as ease of accessing the data.

[rumleymusic]

I used the DVRA1000 disk only model for several years in location work. Excellent sound overall. The headphone outputs, like most tascam recorders, are not exactly high gain, or even practical for live tracking. I have never concerned myself much with the DA because I usually pull the disk out after recording and stick it directly into my DAW.

These are probably the best 2 track recorders. Definitely a large step above the Masterlink. I can't see their practical use in a studio environment though.

[Space Station]

Great machine, save $800, dont bother with the HD version unless you particularly need that feature. Both versions are identical otherwise. The AD/DA's are fantastic.

[Teddy Ray]

Great machines. I had one and loved it.

fantastic conversion, ease of use..

[matskull]

Does it burn Redbook cds?

[Plush]

It is a good machine when it runs.

If you purchase a used machine, please make sure it has the latest firmware and software updates. Use only Sony DVD+RW discs. That is the recommendation of the manufacturer and I have found it to be a REQUIREMENT.

When using the machine as a cd recorder, the machine inserts a gap of silence whenever the "record" button is pushed to make a new id on disc.
This does not happen while using DVD+RW discs.

I have also found the machine to be unreliable and to stop recording and stop playing back on occasion. For this reason I do not use it for critical work.

My experiences have been verified with 3 other machines run by colleagues.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Plush

It is a good machine when it runs.

If you purchase a used machine, please make sure it has the latest firmware and software updates. Use only Sony DVD+RW discs. That is the recommendation of the manufacturer and I have found it to be a REQUIREMENT.

When using the machine as a cd recorder, the machine inserts a gap of silence whenever the "record" button is pushed to make a new id on disc.
This does not happen while using DVD+RW discs.

I have also found the machine to be unreliable and to stop recording and stop playing back on occasion. For this reason I do not use it for critical work.

My experiences have been verified with 3 other machines run by colleagues.

So would you say that a masterlink would be the way to go then?

I don't need one right away but I'm slowly moving away from the DAW, first got a console, now a multitrack recorder, I'll print my mixes to the daw but eventually it might be good to have a cd recorder to print my masters on.

[Dave Ferris]

Thanks Plush. Yikes, that's a little scary about the reliability.
I've been using the Sony discs for sometime now after the Marantz started acting up a few years back. Marantz recommended using only Sony has well.

Another first generation 1000 came up here in town from the GS classifieds. He asking only $600 and it appears to be in like new condition. I figure at that price at the very least I would have a temporary replacement for the Marantz which is not so reliable itself these days...it was going to cost around $400 to send it in for repair.

[rumleymusic]

I have never had those reliability issues. The only problem I have had with the interface was once all my audio for a dress rehearsal was deleted, because after recording, you have to make sure the information is saved correctly by ejecting the disk before you turn off the power.

Other than that, it has been glitch free.

[Teddy Ray]

Originally Posted by rumleymusic

I have never had those reliability issues. The only problem I have had with the interface was once all my audio for a dress rehearsal was deleted, because after recording, you have to make sure the information is saved correctly by ejecting the disk before you turn off the power.

Other than that, it has been glitch free.

Me either, the only issue I ever had was due to my own stupidity(and I had plenty to go around at the time!). rock solid over many performances in travel all over Europe.

I would not hesitate to recommend the DVRA over the Masterlink. the only noticable improvement(I think) would require a big jump in budget to the sound devices 7xx series.

[Dave Ferris]

OK ....a fellow GS member just drove up from deep in Orange County with his first generation 1000. The unit looked to be in brand new condition with original packing.

I asked if we could just power it on, throw in a CD and just check it through the phones. Well we were getting signal on the meters but NO SOUND through the phones. The monitor button on front was disengaged. I tried plugging my Dyn BM6As in and still nothing. He was at a loss for words, we both were looking through the manual and saw nothing that would indicate why we weren't getting sound at this most basic level.

I managed to get through to someone at Tascam and they said..that's not right, somethings up with that machine. So he's dropping it off at Tascam on the way back down to OC. I hope for his sake it's not something too major..on the other hand I'm glad I checked it out first.

[Plush]

Originally Posted by matskull

So would you say that a masterlink would be the way to go then?

I don't need one right away but I'm slowly moving away from the DAW, first got a console, now a multitrack recorder, I'll print my mixes to the daw but eventually it might be good to have a cd recorder to print my masters on.

No, masterblaster is a dud. I'd still use a 1000 machine which is a really good sound.
Just don't use it for something that's only happening once. I have had fantastic results with the 1000 box. Higher sampling rates, much better than usual converters and ability to read the dvd+rw media in the computer or daw are the pluses for this 1000 box.
Also if you like it, it does dsd recording.

If you're turned off by the 1000 box get a rack mount flash recorder that will do hi-rez recording. Anything new you buy has to do better than 16 bit recording, right??

[Space Station]

Never had a glitch on my DV-RA1000..been rock solid.
I master everything to DSD.. sounds great..definitely a step up from the masterstink

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Plush

No, masterblaster is a dud. I'd still use a 1000 machine which is a really good sound.
Just don't use it for something that's only happening once. I have had fantastic results with the 1000 box. Higher sampling rates, much better than usual converters and ability to read the dvd+rw media in the computer or daw are the pluses for this 1000 box.
Also if you like it, it does dsd recording.

If you're turned off by the 1000 box get a rack mount flash recorder that will do hi-rez recording. Anything new you buy has to do better than 16 bit recording, right??

Ok but does it burn redbook cds?
Can you have a final product with this machine withou transfering any files to a computer?

[Dave Ferris]

I don't own one ...yet, but from reading the articles at the top of this thread and past poop here on GS, going on the Tascam site and talking to Jim Finch @ Tascam, my understanding is that it definitely burns CDs.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Dave Ferris

I don't own one ...yet, but from reading the articles at the top of this thread and past poop here on GS, going on the Tascam site and talking to Jim Finch @ Tascam, my understanding is that it definitely burns CDs.

good to know
thanks

[Plush]

Originally Posted by matskull

Ok but does it burn redbook cds?
Can you have a final product with this machine withou transfering any files to a computer?

The answer to your first question is sort of yes--it does burn cds, but they are not redbook cds.

The answer to your second question is no.

The exception to the above where the answer is "yes," is if you are sending a fully edited and pq'ed final version out to the 1000 box via spdif from your daw.

There is no acceptable editing on the 1000 and when you press the record button to increment the track id, the 1000 machine inserts a gap of silence at the new track marker.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Plush

The answer to your first question is sort of yes--it does burn cds, but they are not redbook cds.

The answer to your second question is no.

The exception to the above where the answer is "yes," is if you are sending a fully edited and pq'ed final version out to the 1000 box via spdif from your daw.

There is no acceptable editing on the 1000 and when you press the record button to increment the track id, the 1000 machine inserts a gap of silence at the new track marker.

Ok now it's clear.
Would the masterlink suits my need better?

I'm moving away from the daw world and I'd like to eventually not rely on the computer at all.

[Teddy Ray]

Originally Posted by Plush

The answer to your first question is sort of yes--it does burn cds, but they are not redbook cds.

Sir, it is my understanding that the DVRA does indeed burn normal redbook discs?

. It can also record 16-bit, 44.1kHz PCM audio onto a standard CD-R disc, to create a Red Book-compatible audio CD. As a straightforward disc-based recorder, the original Tascam machine works very well indeed, easily outperforming conventional CD burners in every way.

[Plush]

It burns a yellow book cd that is red book compatible.

Red book compatible is not the same as disc at once Redbook.

[matskull]

Is there anything out there that burns redbook cds without adding a silence between each track and that allow to do some basic editing like a crossfade between 2 song, stuff like that?

[mpdonahue]

Originally Posted by matskull

Is there anything out there that burns redbook cds without adding a silence between each track and that allow to do some basic editing like a crossfade between 2 song, stuff like that?

Hmmm, the real question that begs to be asked is why wouldn't you just get a laptop if you need to be able to edit? Much faster and sooo many software options.
I had a Masterlink in the early days and the editing was clumsy at best. It was always much faster to just drop the CD in to the laptop, rip the disc to the harddrive, edit and burn copies (much faster than 2x).
All in all, I've never been a huge fan of recording on optical media. We have a DVRA-1000 without the hard drive and like Hudson, I would never use it as my primary recorder, same as CD-R's.
All the best,
-mark

[matskull]

Originally Posted by mpdonahue

Hmmm, the real question that begs to be asked is why wouldn't you just get a laptop if you need to be able to edit? Much faster and sooo many software options.
I had a Masterlink in the early days and the editing was clumsy at best. It was always much faster to just drop the CD in to the laptop, rip the disc to the harddrive, edit and burn copies (much faster than 2x).
All in all, I've never been a huge fan of recording on optical media. We have a DVRA-1000 without the hard drive and like Hudson, I would never use it as my primary recorder, same as CD-R's.
All the best,
-mark

Yeah sure I could just edit in a computer but I'm trying to keep the computer shut down the more I can.
I want an "old school" setup, I work in face of a computer screen all week long in post-production, at my place, I prefer to avoid it and concentrate on the music itself.

[Teddy Ray]

Originally Posted by matskull

Yeah sure I could just edit in a computer but I'm trying to keep the computer shut down the more I can.
I want an "old school" setup, I work in face of a computer screen all week long in post-production, at my place, I prefer to avoid it and concentrate on the music itself.

well, go with the dvra then....

it sounds great, onboard HDD...fade in/out...

cd capability..

you wont find anything better anywhere near the price.

[Dave Ferris]

Originally Posted by matskull

I prefer to avoid it and concentrate on the music itself.

RIGHT ON !

My whole reason for this 7 month search was to find an alternative for using a computer.

It's funny (not really) , some of my heavy PT/DP musician friends in town who write for TV, jingles, lower budget movies are all hitting ME (Mr. Hasn't a Clue- when it comes to tech stuff) up for the latest poop on how to avoid the computer. They all just "wanna play"...they're SICK of screwing with it. One friend told me.."I've lost my soul, I can't play a solo more than 8 bars anymore. All I can do is futz with plug-ins, samples, cut & paste or quantize".

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Dave Ferris

RIGHT ON !

My whole reason for this 7 month search was to find an alternative for using a computer.

It's funny (not really) , some of my heavy PT/DP musician friends in town who write for TV, jingles, lower budget movies are all hitting ME (Mr. Hasn't a Clue) up for the latest poop on how to avoid the computer. They all just "wanna play"...they're SICK of screwing with it. One friend told me.."I've lost my soul, I can't play a solo more than 8 bars anymore. All I can do is futz with plug-ins, samples, cut & paste or quantize".

That's EXACTLY how I feel and the reason why I'm doing this right now.

[mosrite]

The DVRA1000 is a great machine.

I've been using one for a while now and it hasn't had any reliability issues.

The user interface is simple and intuitive, the connectivity is everything you could want and the quality of the audio is v.good.

The AD stage is not amazing but it is 'pro.' I found the ADC's a little hyped and digital sounding especially in the higher hz when in comparison with some more expensive boxes, but that's being quite picky.

I wouldn't use it as my only recorder for anyhing critical (e.g. concert recording) as I don't fully trust the optical drive thang in that application. Having said that I would always run a backup anyway regardless of the recording device / medium.

Also, the addition of a keyboard would make it really nice to use in the studio setting that you describe.

[Dave Ferris]

Thanks both Teddy Ray & Mosrite for + reviews.

I don't think I'll be worrying too much about the Tascam's A/D with the CS Spider going in AES. Seems the D/A and headphone outs will be much more than ok from the input I'm getting.

There are some used 1000s around but I'm getting a little unsure about purchasing something like this used. The one that was brought to my home looked to be new but still had something wrong with it. If I hadn't fired it up I possibly would have been SOL. Maybe better to just bite the bullet and get a new one.