well you need a computer for the akai -i dont think the korg has as many feature as the roland
the roland does not have all the inserts that a mixer has but you have onboard effects

I suspect this purchase is one that your have been dreaming about and looking forward to for some time. However my suggestion is not to buy any of them. A DAW (a computer with software for recording audio) will offer a much better option in the long run, so far as what you can do with it etc etc. The problem with most digital recorders is that their audio interface is less than ideal, (eg insufficent headroom etc etc), and believe me (I've seen it many a time) you will outgrow a recorder quicker than you can imagine. If portability is important to you get a laptop.

I agree with Kinetic. I dropped 2K+ on a Roland vs880 when they first came out and really the quality wasn't that good. Get a computer, learn a DAw progran and that will grow with you the rest of your recording life.

Well

I have the VS2480 and have had it about a year and a half. I still really like it and my end products so far are better than my other set up

MAC G5
Cubase SX 2
Reason 2.5
TRACKS 24
PEAK 4.1
Groove agent
Soundtrack
UAD-1 Studio card

I only list these because this is what i have sunk into my DAW set up.

Now to be fair I am VERY new to this second set up and am hoping to get better results

But in terms of ease of use, portability (if that matters) and overall sound quality (so far) the 2480 has been superb and i really mean that

I can MIDI it to to cubase and control that if i want to use it in both instances

I had an 880 and it really isn't fair to compare that to a 2480, i also had an 1880 and the 2480 blows that away too

I was up and running on the roland WAY sooner than this second setup but only because i have so much different stuff to learn and integrate

Again just my opinon on this

Heck i might sell the 2480 to you if you want :lol:

well i've got the 2480 glad to hear your story Trock.

Hey mike

Yes I love the 2480, i have 4 V8SF-2 cards and since i got the DAW set up I can't put money into the -3's

the 2480 has been a great friend and I would recommend it to anyone, anytime period

I do agree that the small interface is bothersome, however with en external monitor it is fine for me

it DEF does not have the editing EASE of use the computer will give you , but for me it is the dns product sound that matters most

so far it is the 2480 hands down

are you using outboard preamps?on the 2480 what sample rate are you recording at.I now record at 48k i like it a little better that way

I only use the onboard phantom power

and I am still at 44.1/16

I have sort of moved onto the DAW stuff in terms of my time so i can learn it and feel good about all the money i spent

But if things don't get better in the near future i might be back to the 2480 full time

I really think the effects on the cards, especially reverb sound better even than the UAD-1 studio card i bought for the MAC and Cubase

kind of depressing

alot of guys use the computer along with the 2480.Do you checkout the Vs planet website?

yes i have been on that forum before, good site

I have set up the 2480 to MIDI sync to the G5 and cubase and used it as a controller for cubase

i like having real faders to use, that REALLY helps me mix

however i am not good enough yet to really map it effectively

I would really like it to work like a pro tools set up where the controller controls everything in the DAW

I am not sure it will even do that yet though

"1. The capability of producing pro-studio quality masters. (Whether or not my skills develop to that point is still to be determined.)

2. The ability to take what I've recorded to a pro studio for them to import, re-mix and master.

3. Twenty-four tracks minimum.

4. Lots of input/output choices

5. Easy interfacing with a PC. "

Sorry, but I would spend the extra money and go with a RADAR 24 Unit .

http://www.izcorp.com

They have better converters hands down than any of the machines that were mentioned.

trock wrote: Well

I have the VS2480 and have had it about a year and a half. I still really like it and my end products so far are better than my other set up

MAC G5
Cubase SX 2
Reason 2.5
TRACKS 24
PEAK 4.1
Groove agent
Soundtrack
UAD-1 Studio card
:lol:

I would add Digital Performer or logic to this set up. I have DP and works great for me. There is no comparison working with a DAW or a machine with a little tiny screen... I haven't heard the roland 2480 but I used to have the vs880 and my friend had the 1680 and the sound was squashed and nothing to brag about. But hey, whatever works for you works- more power to ya! 8-)

Peace and happy traxs :D :D

I think now the 2480 can hook to pro tools also .The radar system dosent come with an automated 64 channel mixer i dont think

Thanks for the input everyone. Does anyone have any experience with the Korg D32XD or the Akai DPS24? The specs on both rival or exceed the Roland VS-2480... at least what I've read... yet the price of both is a bit lower.

Street prices I've seen recently:
Roland VS-2480: $3,800 - $4000
Korg D32XD: $3,000
Akai DPS24: $3,000

Average ratings from the user reviews in Musicians Friend:
Roland VS-2480cd: 8.59 (32 reviews)
Akai DPS24: 9.73 (22 reviews)
Korg D32xd: 9.12 (17 reveiws)

Anyone know how the quality of the components and features compare of these three units?

I must confess, the Korg, with its 32 tracks, analog compression on 8 tracks, lots on onboard effects, 4-band parametric on all channels, etc, holds some fascination for me, simply because it seems like you get more stuff for the money.

Thanks for the input everyone. Does anyone have any experience with the Korg D32XD or the Akai DPS24? The specs on both rival or exceed the Roland VS-2480... at least what I've read... yet the price of both is a bit lower.

Street prices I've seen recently:
Roland VS-2480: $3,800 - $4000
Korg D32XD: $3,000
Akai DPS24: $3,000

Average ratings from the user reviews in Musicians Friend:
Roland VS-2480cd: 8.59 (32 reviews)
Akai DPS24: 9.73 (22 reviews)
Korg D32xd: 9.12 (17 reveiws)

Anyone know how the quality of the components and features compare of these three units?

I must confess, the Korg, with its 32 tracks, analog compression on 8 tracks, lots on onboard effects, 4-band parametric on all channels, etc, holds some fascination for me, simply because it seems like you get more stuff for the money.

Hi Maintiger

Good to have your input on the Roland stuff, I wasn't very happy with the 880 and 1880 was ok. When i saw the 2480 and saw what the upgrades to it were i decided to go with it cause i was comfortable with the product already

Then of course soon after that i really started reading about a DAW set up, then got excited about that dropped a BUNCH of bucks on that set up.

which is where i am now, excited but swamped with manuals and connections and a MAC FOR GOD'S SAKE! HAHA

I was always a PC guy so this whole new set up has been one HUMUNGOUS learning curve, especially conpared to the 2480 all in one

Thanks for the advice, i will look into the other things you mentioned

However I am trying to navigate numerous cubase crashes this morning and am pulling my hair out

I feel i should have gone with Logic.

Oh well live and learn and KEEP JAMMIN

man for that kind of money don't do it!

those workstations will be obsolete in 2 years max!

go for a computer based recording!
if you need 24 inputs buy a tascam dm-24 with the firewire card for having 24 recording channels to your computer!

or try the motu stuff or rme!

those workstations are powerfull for now... but in 2 years computer stuff is easy to upgrade... that workstation only with software and even so...

if you like the knobs to how about a motu 828mkII or the rme fireface with a good 8 channel mic pre adat and the new tascam control surface 2400!
there are so many options!

with the 2480 you get automix- compressors and eq on all channels
VGA hookup out of the box
the akai needs to be hooked to a computer to get vga hookup
akai has 12 faders roland 16 faders

well here goes - I have an IZ RADAR classic, a Roland 2480 and ProTools on a G4 Titanium - for a recording setup - NOTHING repeat NOTHING comes close to the RADAR - from the converters to the absolutely rock solid o/s (it just plain does not crash!) - however it is not an editing system or a mixing system - We do all tracking on the RADAR and most edits, however more complicated edits are moved to ProTools for editing and then back to the RADAR - we mix from the RADAR on an 02R96.

Having said that -

Personally I would not consider recording to a computer based system. From your list of options I would go with the Roland now that they have sorted out the o/s and preamp problems – great all in one box and for the price unbeatable (i just bought one with 1 fx card for under $1600).

Dan

Alesis

Take a look on the Alesis HD24. I own one and it is perfect! 24 tracks I/O analog and digital. Awesome quality and very affordable storage Hard Disks(conventional IDE hard-disks).

I use it in live recordings and then I take the HD's to the studio and transfer the data to the DAW via the Alesis Fireport. No loss of data quality and very, very fast!!

Hey REM and gang, I was useing the vs 1880 and the 2480. Added a korg D32XD. What A machine. The only Draw back is NO VGA SCREEN. But the touch screen is great also. the machine is so packed of features and so easy to use. With the tube preamp option It records vocals better than expensive out board gear. The sound is so crisp and clear. I love the 2480, but hmmm I find my self in the korg studio more

i had a vs2000 and a vs2400 with the extra 8 inputs and i thought it sounded really good, then i got an 002 and some good pre amps and the vs isnt evne in the same ball park. I would say a huge draw back for me was editing also

Im not sure if its been fielded yet

If I were building an affordable yet very good sound quality recording/mixdown/mastering gig around a self contained Modular recording stand-alone, I might wanna wait on the DPS24MKII. There's supposed to be significant upgrade to this architecture. Its a modular approach to studio integration with other stuff. You can always add on a HD24XR for 12 additional channels of lightpath at 24/96. Plenty of great med to high end outboard stuff you can s/pdif or aes/ebu in at 24/96. Too many complain that the Roland units clip like bad juju! I have no clue what the Korg is all about, yet everybody I know who got the Akai are thrilled even with the MKI! Initial learning curve then onto Valhalla -

/vr/rrc/ 8-)