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#1
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
Hello
i have several questions about both unit as i plan to buy one of these in a very near future. - can both unit record multiple sessions, can i switch from one project to another, saving all tracks and parameters ? - the DR4D-VR is said to have 256 virtual tracks. what about the DR8 ? - if i buy a DR4D-VR and then need more inputs/outputs, can i buy another DR4D-VR and sync/slave it to the other one ? - apart from 4 additional tracks, what do the DR8 have that the DR4D-VR don't ? i've read both units manual (downloaded from the net) but it's still pretty obscure to me as i've never tried them... thanks for any info matthieu |
#2
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
matthieu wrote:
Hello i have several questions about both unit as i plan to buy one of these in a very near future. - can both unit record multiple sessions, can i switch from one project to another, saving all tracks and parameters ? Yes for the Dr8 (all parameters, though, not sure). No for a Dr4 v3. Dr4VR? not sure. - the DR4D-VR is said to have 256 virtual tracks. what about the DR8 No virtual tracks. But it has 5 takes. ? - if i buy a DR4D-VR and then need more inputs/outputs, can i buy another DR4D-VR and sync/slave it to the other one ? Yes. - apart from 4 additional tracks, what do the DR8 have that the DR4D-VR don't ? A built in fully featured mixer, can handle mic level inputs. Options such as superview (keyboard and monitor). Interchangeability with the Dr16 (you can not sync a Dr4 and Dr8 together except by SMPTE)). The Dr4 has a few neat tricks that the Dr8 doesn't, though. Ping-pong is a great tick that has the secret feature of allowing you to change the level of a track for sections within itself. I am selling my Dr8, if you are interested. Rob R. |
#3
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
Matthieu: - if i buy a DR4D-VR and then need more inputs/outputs, can i
buy another DR4D-VR and sync/slave it to the other one ? I know nothing about the DR8's but I have three DR4's and they can be synced easily if you have the cables. They are actually quite decent units if they have the correct hard drive (check with Akai; they should still have a list). If you want to increase hard drives you could be in a bit of trouble but you could try what you might. I would imagine you can get these things pretty cheap now. I record primarilly in analog but I still occasionally use my DR4's. |
#4
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
matthieu wrote:
thanks to both of you another question : does the DR4D-VR have gain automation via MIDI ? it's really important for me... Definitely not. Dr8 has snapshot automation and also gain automation through midi, but only on the mixer outputs. (Not the individual tracks). Rob R. |
#5
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
Croline wrote:
Definitely not. Dr8 has snapshot automation and also gain automation through midi, but only on the mixer outputs. (Not the individual tracks). so the automation can only be heard on the main L/R output ? it's damn stupid ! That has always frustrated me to no end. It would have been a far more powerful system otherwise. However, you can eek out 4 channels of automation, if you like. The two on the main L/R and then also you have the two sends. One of the many hidden tricks. ok i forget about the DR8. i'll get a DR4d-VR and i'll do the automation by hand ! Well, then it isn't automation anymore! Rob R. |
#6
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
That has always frustrated me to no end. It would have been a far more
powerful system otherwise. that's true. and those machines used to be so expensive. i'm not a pro but this ain't professional at all. However, you can eek out 4 channels of automation, if you like. The two on the main L/R and then also you have the two sends. One of the many hidden tricks. ok... i hope there are some on the DR4d-VR. i also secretly hope i can make loops with it : the DR4 slaved to a midi sequencer in loop and make loads of layers with my guitar thanks to the footswitch 'punch in/out' function -the whole thing in realtime. but i think i'm dreaming. am i ? another question : you told me you can't save/switch sessions on a DR4, is there any trick to deal with it ? (this is also damn stupid) Well, then it isn't automation anymore! i know but ain't my arms automated by my brain ? thanks matthieu |
#7
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
Croline wrote:
That has always frustrated me to no end. It would have been a far more powerful system otherwise. that's true. and those machines used to be so expensive. i'm not a pro but this ain't professional at all. In all fairness, it's a multitrack recorder. The fact that there is a built in mixer and mic preamps is a bonus. However, you can eek out 4 channels of automation, if you like. The two on the main L/R and then also you have the two sends. One of the many hidden tricks. ok... i hope there are some on the DR4d-VR. i also secretly hope i can make loops with it : the DR4 slaved to a midi sequencer in loop and make loads of layers with my guitar thanks to the footswitch 'punch in/out' function -the whole thing in realtime. but i think i'm dreaming. am i ? Maybe a bit. But a neat thing is if you have it play in loop mode, it is seamless. With a Dr8, it needs a moment between the out and the in. The best trick the Dr4 has is ping-pong mode. The hidden trick is that you can ping-pong a single track to itself. Why would you do that? Good question little cricket (just kidding!), the reason is that when you ping pong, you set mix levels. So it means you can adjust the levels of individual tracks over specified points. Example, a musician plays one note too low, you can change the level of just that note. There's an alternative to automation for you. You can't do this on a Dr8 unless you record through the busses in real time. another question : you told me you can't save/switch sessions on a DR4, is there any trick to deal with it ? (this is also damn stupid) Yes---keep stuff on separate drives! But don't hook them up at the same time with different SCSI IDs, since, I beleive it all becomes one project across several drives. Hook up one drive at a time. Rob R. Well, then it isn't automation anymore! i know but ain't my arms automated by my brain ? |
#8
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
Maybe a bit. But a neat thing is if you have it play in loop mode, it
is seamless. With a Dr8, it needs a moment between the out and the in. great ! i'll see what happen for my loop idea... (crossing fingers) The best trick the Dr4 has is ping-pong mode. The hidden trick is that you can ping-pong a single track to itself. Why would you do that? Good question little cricket (just kidding!), the reason is that when you ping pong, you set mix levels. So it means you can adjust the levels of individual tracks over specified points. Example, a musician plays one note too low, you can change the level of just that note. There's an alternative to automation for you. You can't do this on a Dr8 unless you record through the busses in real time. nice trick ! thank you Yes---keep stuff on separate drives! But don't hook them up at the same time with different SCSI IDs, since, I beleive it all becomes one project across several drives. Hook up one drive at a time. ok. i would then need 2 hard drives. but i guess i can make several projects on a same session, just start each one just one hour later ? i found one backup trick while searching on the net : record a short click on all tracks at the same time at the beginning of the session, then backup the 2 stereo tracks from the digital output to a computer. get them back to the DR4 via digital input when needed, adjust the click to sync both pair of tracks. one last question : i'm lost with all the different names : some sell a DR4D which has "virtual tracks", very rare are those selling a DR4vr, some say they got OS 3.0, some talk about OS 4.01. the DR4Dvr also seems to be white ? i'm lost ! which came first, which came last ? which is the best ? thanks a lot for your answers matthieu |
#9
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
does the DR4D-VR have gain automation via MIDI ?
it's really important for me... I haven't a clue. Call up Akai. |
#10
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Questions about DR4D-VR and DR8
Since I don't use noise reduction with my analog deck, I have occasionally run
into situations where tape hiss is a problem. I recorded a dude recently who sings and plays piano. His dynamic range is massive and you can hear the tape hiss when he gets real soft, even using GP9. So, we use the DR4 and with great pre's and mikes it sounds just fine. Surprisingly fine. |