IBOOK or LAPTOP WITH TASCAM US428 Options

[UPOWER]

HI,

I wonder if anyone has a similar set up? The Tascam US428 seems to be a good unit. Does anyone have any comments about this? I like to have hands on in regards to mixing and twisting knobs. It looks like a good combination of audio interface, midi controller and mixing desk for live performances.

[Ged]

Hi Flameboy,

Re: your questions, no worries...

1. As I mentioned in my previous posting, the fatness problem was due mainly to my inexperience with recording esp. with multiple audio outputs (i.e. the 428 and ibook's local audio ouput). I solved this problem simply by routing any source cds (professionally mastered cds of similiar styles used for checking levels, stereo width etc.) alongside my recorded tracks (from the ibook) through the 428. The resultant 'super fat' cds now provide me with a more accurate benchmark for final mixing/mastering levels etc.

2. No, I haven't yet recorded four tracks at once. This is simply because I only use one midi device (the scc88) and when I play guitar I prefer to concentrate on one thing at a time (I know, I know ...).

3 & 4. While recording my latest piece I pushed the ibook pretty close to it's limits. Prior to mixdown, I was running (just!) 24 tracks of audio (approx. 5 mins duration, not loops/ghost copies) in combination with 6 fx plugins (4 x reverbs/rooms, 1 x delay, 1 x amp simulator). In addition, more than half of the tracks were being processed using cubase's eq panel. Also, the kick, snare and bass were being individually processed/compressed using cubase's dynamics panel in channel mixer 1. The remaining (compressed) tracks were being routed and processed in three groups in channel mixer 2. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention that I'd upgraded the ibook's internal memory from 128mb to 256 mb to do this...

5. I doubt if you could use the 428 like a regular 4 track recorder unless, of course, you connect it to err... some other recording device??? not sure??? Otherwise, the 428 simply acts as an interface for hard disk recording (i.e. the actual recording takes place in the computer, not inside the 428 itself). As a mixing desk (I assume you mean for 'live' mixing), sure, the 428 will allow you control most parameters (of a sequenced track) that you'd need to mix live - levels, pan, mutes, transport, parametric eq etc. Not sure about fx parameters (plug-ins etc.) other than eq, you might need some other ('non-rodent' ) device to control these...

6. As performing/mixing live's not my specialty I'd be reluctant to make any recommendations about this kind of thing. I haven't really explored the 428 with this context in mind, though again, if the basic functions listed above will suffice, it's great. The ibook's a study little beast and should stand up to the rigors of live performance/travel as well (looks pretty cool too ).

Hope this helps a bit.

R