Do I really need a TASCAM DV-RA1000HD

[dwire]

What do you all think, they are supposedly nearly a a masterlink "killer" but they have a few bitching points. What is the peanut galleries opinion? I have neither unit. It would be nice to have something to archive with and master down to for a mastering lab if I can not master things myself...

Douglas Wire
PUPCo Studios... In shambles right now!

[kittonian]

I have a CDRW2000 and the one thing that always drove me nuts about it (although I love the thing) is that you cannot burn Redbook CD's with it. When the DV-RA1000HD came out I called Tascam and asked if they finally integrated Redbook CD burning. The answer was no.

So, Masterlink killer? Well, although I'm sure it's a great unit, the price tag is hefty for what it is, and since most every mastering house has a Masterlink (and I would guess very few have a DV-RA1000HD), plus the fact that it doesn't do standard Redbook CD burning, made the decision to pass on this one easy for me.

I still think that the Masterlink, if you use an outstanding A/D converter like the UA2192 prior to the signal getting to the Masterlink is still the way to go. Plus you can slave the Masterlink to the UA2192 and just feed it an AES/EBU signal up to 96k.

Hope that helps!

[diamondjim]

Originally Posted by kittonian

I still think that the Masterlink, if you use an outstanding A/D converter like the UA2192 prior to the signal getting to the Masterlink is still the way to go. Plus you can slave the Masterlink to the UA2192 and just feed it an AES/EBU signal up to 96k.

K,
So why use a Masterlink if you can burn a good CD master using, e.g. Wavelab and a Plextor drive?

I am just curious why you would go through the extra stages of production rather than work ITB. The reason I ask is that I almost bought a Masterlink just to have a totally reliable burner, but then ended up with a new DAW with 2 Plextor DVD/CD drives, and have checked the results using Plextools, and they look fine, and have duplicated fine.

[canderson]

Originally Posted by kittonian

When the DV-RA1000HD came out I called Tascam and asked if they finally integrated Redbook CD burning. The answer was no...<snip> it doesn't do standard Redbook CD burning, made the decision to pass on this one easy for me.

$2K and it doesn't burn Redbook CD's???

for shame

[diamondjim]

Originally Posted by canderson

$2K and it doesn't burn Redbook CD's???

for shame

Amazing, huh?

Wavelab supports the Red Book standard for a lot less. That and a good Plextor drive, enough for me, I don't use SACD or DSD. I can also do DVD-A with WL6 if I want better resolution audio.

The Masterlink looks like a great box, but unless you are receiving masters in its proprietary 24-bit format, I don't see the need.

diamondjim
Barn Jazz Home

[kittonian]

The reason to go with a Masterlink is for burning proprietary 96k CD's for mastering and/or the reason for using this instead of converting via software you can send your 2-bus mix out your D/A and then into another high-end 2 channel A/D like the UA2192 as I suggested so that you aren't downsampling/dithering ITB and instead are simply converting an analog signal to digital in the resolution required for CD (16/44.1).

[diamondjim]

Originally Posted by kittonian

The reason to go with a Masterlink is for burning proprietary 96k CD's for mastering and/or the reason for using this instead of converting via software you can send your 2-bus mix out your D/A and then into another high-end 2 channel A/D like the UA2192 as I suggested so that you aren't downsampling/dithering ITB and instead are simply converting an analog signal to digital in the resolution required for CD (16/44.1).

Ok, that makes sense. I just got a Folcrom and am starting to look at an analog output chain.

For now am planning to go out 8 ch. to the Folcrom, sum to 2-buss, then into an ADL600 for makeup gain, and then come back into the box via my RME FF800 and then make the CD via Wavelab. Maybe later when I get a good AD converter the Masterlink will come back into the picture.

Thanks!
diamondjim
Barn Jazz Home

[TL2]

The main reason I purchased the DVRA1000HD was for the ability to deliver DSD masters to my mastering house. Granted, not every mastering facility has DSD capabilities, but if it does, the sound difference between DSD and 192/96/44 should warrant the purchase. The unit has been completely solid since I installed it and it sounds better to my ears than my Masterstink.

[doug_hti]

i purchased over a year ago to mix down to a higher rez source than session as I use a nicerizerizer and outboard compression/eq so I figure that I my as well print to something higher rez than session.

My personal conclusion/opinion is the following:
-always print to a master and safety. Sitting in a mastering session with Marcussen and not having three masters come up was NOT COOL.

-always use the preferred Sony Media
-DSD (internal converts) sounds very very good and IMO is very very close to the analog source.
-internal 192k PCM sounds very good and I don't know if in blind test I could tell the difference between the 192k and DSD.
-96k internal takes a step down
-when mixing 48k sessions and bringing back the print through the converters into pro tools....the internal Tascam converters sound better than the 192i/o (clocked to antelope isochrone).
-reliability sucks, not having a HD sucks (although I guess they do now)but you can back up dsd files and pcm files and ultimately still protect yourself.


For me personally it has become indispensilbe as it gives so many options. I purchased mine for somewhere around 1200 I guess. The fact that I use it as a mixdown converter, format and even use the consumer line level fed to my boom box, I can't beat it right now.

I also shot out with David Leonard listening to the return of the 192i/o, 1/2" 30ips 499, and DSD. DSD was closest to the source. Tape sounded good, and pro tools did not perform in comparison.

That's my experience...

[soundgeneration]

Unlike the DV-RA1000HD, the DV-RA1000 owner's manual (p. 7) states red book compatibility:

CD-R and CD-RW These become standard CDDA
discs to Red Book standard. When recording
these discs, the DV-RA1000 acts as a CD recorder,
with standard features such as synchronized recording,
etc.

I wonder if that was an error?

[Silvertone]

Originally Posted by soundgeneration

Unlike the DV-RA1000HD, the DV-RA1000 owner's manual (p. 7) states red book compatibility:

CD-R and CD-RW These become standard CDDA
discs to Red Book standard. When recording
these discs, the DV-RA1000 acts as a CD recorder,
with standard features such as synchronized recording,
etc.

I wonder if that was an error?

It's an either or situation. It can record to PCM and give you a regular CD but if you record to DSD you can't convert this to a regular CD. Bummer.

[Nisse Hult]

[Elk]

Originally Posted by Silvertone

It's an either or situation. It can record to PCM and give you a regular CD but if you record to DSD you can't convert this to a regular CD. Bummer.

Yes, but you get a free copy of DiskWelder Bronze that allows you to burn either a DVD-A of high resolution PCM from DSD files or to simply convert the files to PCM and edit them in your DAW, etc.

[aberwastone]

[quote=kittonian;1325000]I have a CDRW2000 and the one thing that always drove me nuts about it (although I love the thing) is that you cannot burn Redbook CD's with it. When the DV-RA1000HD came out I called Tascam and asked if they finally integrated Redbook CD burning. The answer was no.

So, Masterlink killer?

You actually think that Tascam would make a product that is supposed to blow the masterlink out of the studio and not have redbook capablility? Come on dude?..your smoking some bad sh..eet..

No, I don't work for tascam..I am just a proud new owner of a Tascam DV-RA1000HD...and it kicks mule ass!!!

Awesome D/A converters for monitoring for one, (it has the best chip Burr Brown's latest and flagship D/A) second...it does record red book cds..and has kick butt A/D converters too. I am doing this as we speak.. Transfering my old cassettes and LPs to a CD. So yes, it has redbook for the big $2000 you spend for this unit.

And I sold my lavry DA10 that I used to use for monitoring for my tascam. The converters on the new Tascam is quite good. A tad bit better than the lavry's in the bass realm. I hear more of the bass instrumentation than I do with the Lavry. Don't get me wrong I kept my lavry over my benchmark which are all good converters for d/a monitoring. But I am a anal dude..about sound.

This is the perfect reason why me must all take Gearslutz info with a grain of salt...and not to heart..

[Spookym15]

I am waiting on mine to get here. I will try to do some tests and see. I can't wait for it to show up.

[darwin]

Has anybody tried the unit clocked to a Big Ben?

[Omicron_9]

Threadbump.

[staudio]

These things are great for live stereo recording.

[cavern]

i record my mixes on a cdrw 2000 after it goes through my outboard rack..i used to do audio mixdowns in nuendo, use wave plug ins and such, master with t-rax and burn onto a plextor drive but , for me it's just warmer and bigger on the cdrw 2000, but it's a mixing out of the box thing though..and by the way, i clock the tascam with a prehistoric aardsynk 2 and everyone can tell the difference between the cdrw 2000 internal clock and the aardsync.. the aardsync is clearly better. the instruments are more separated and just tighter, the bottom end in particular..i never used big ben but depending on the situation, it could definetly be an improvement..