Looking for a rack-mount recorder for surround

[JonesH]

Hi,
I'm looking to install a 2-track backup in our concert hall studio, but since we also do 5.1 I'd like it to be able to record that as well.

For two tracks, there are plenty of possibilities, but it seems more limited when it comes to surround.

So far I've seen the Fostex PD-606, but I don't know about price for that. Any other ideas? Preferrably it'd be 1U, but more can be managed. Analog in would be preferrable.

[Gerax]

Any recorder than can do 5 tracks or more is suitable for surround recording, as you'll be feeding it 5 discrete tracks coimg from your main surround mic array, or combination of mics (I leave out the sub channel which is usually created in mixing).
I did it with my setup (Dell Laptop, with PTMP/ M-Audio Lightbridge and external ADAT converters, plus Mackie SDR2496 HD recorder as backup unit), but you can use anything multitrack, even a standard Tascam DA 8 track machine (which can do surround and stereo at the same time being 8 tracks) or even an older analog tape machine ()...
Later when mixing you'll need the monitoring capability do listen to the surround recording and edit mix it...

Hope this helps

[JonesH]

Thanks for your time. Obviously I can use any multitrack recorder, but my question still stands; does anyone know of a rackmount 1 or 2 U machine that can do at least 6 channels with analog in?

[Gerax]

OK, now I understand, forgive me if I didn't get your question.
I'm afraid the majority of multitrack recorders ar at least 3 RU, and afaik almost all have built in analog ins (Mackies let you choose which cards to load, if analog or digital, Alesis has both, as my SDR does).

[mpdonahue]

Take a look at JoeCo

All the best,
Mark

[JonesH]

Thanks for the suggestion, Mark! That's a little overkill though; we already have a 48ch Sequoia DAW and what we are looking for is a master recorder for stereo and surround, and a CD-recorder as well. We certainly wouldn't mind a machine that could burn a DVD live with surround sound on it

[klaukholm]

It's not really a very expensive box and seeing as you can have a client walk away with the files if they bring their own fat32 drive, it's pretty neat.
If they come out with a madi version I am definately getting two for backup use.

[Gerax]

Originally Posted by mpdonahue

Take a look at JoeCo

All the best,
Mark

Cool!!!!!! thumbsup

Hom much does that little cool box cost? And what about sound and expandability (hard disk etc...)?

[klaukholm]

I've seen it listed for 2500 at the US distributor. You use a generic external fat32 USB drive.