questions from a possible ps-02 owner January 29 2002 at 4:36 AM
Hello y'all!
I'm in the market for a simple digital recorder and thinking of buying a zoom. I have a few questions about it and I hope you can help me:
Do you need extra software or hardware, special cables or whatever to export song to your pc so you can store them/burn them on cd? I have a 1000Mhz Windows 98 machine with Adaptec CreateCD software but no other music related software on it. How easy is it to, say, record two guitars and to vocals (all after each other).
I do not have any experience with double tracking etc or multi track recorders in general. Besides, I do not really like computers etc.I am not a whizzkid nor do I like to delve deep into programming. I just want to record sketches and simple demos (bass and drums, 1 or 2 guitars and vocals)so I can give a recording of a new idea to my bandmates. Thanks for sharing!
"Do you need extra software or hardware, special cables or whatever to export song to your pc"
Maybe. depends what you want to do. Here are the most likely things you will buy or obtain after buying the PS-02, and why (and how much it will cost you):
1. A 64mb smart card.
WHY? The Zoom comes with an 8mb card which is just big enough to play with but too small to really use.
Price: about $20.
2. A stereo mini-plug male to male connector.
WHY? To connect the headphone out jack from the Zoom into your sound card so you can record your mixes from the Zoom as Wav files.
Price: $2? $1? You probably already have one.
3. A card reader.
WHY? To transfer files directly from the Zoom's smart card to your computer. This allows you to save the individual tracks in case you want to mix them on your computer rather than mixing them on the Zoom. It also allows you to create new rhythm patterns using Armin's software (see below).
Price: $25, sometimes less if bundled with a 64mb smart card.
4. Armin's Pattern Editor Software:
WHY? To create your own rhythms and bass lines once you get tired of the ones that come with the Zoom or can be downloaded from their site.
Price: $25
5. Wav editing software and multi-track software
WHY? To edit the wav files, add more effects, remove noise, compress the file. Multi-track software allows remixing of the tracks you record.
Price: Anywhere from free to thousands of dollars. At the free end I'd try Sound Forge and Pro Tools (the free version).
If anyone thinks of something I forgot, feel free to add it.
Bear in mind, the Zoom works fine as a stand alone music idea capturing device, but these are things you will want to get to enhance its usability. The only one you'll really "need" right away is a bigger smart card, and then the card reader. This will keep you busy for many months before you "need" the other stuff.
Have fun and make lots of music.
John
Another reason to #3.
January 29 2002, 12:34 PM
Big Z's list is great but you may also want to just backup your SmartMedia card and the reader will allow you to use your PC's hard disk for that ... cheaper than continuing to buy more smartmedia cards.
Jerry
Re: questions from a possible ps-02 owner
January 29 2002, 2:41 PM
Yes a good list above. For the Smart Reader you may may want to consider the USB connected models rather than the ones that work via a floppy disk adapter.
I have used both and the FD versiion is much slower than the USB one. I have now bought a USB connected Card Reader £29.00.
Regards
Jerry
Michael G
One more question
January 30 2002, 5:20 PM
Can audio tracks from the PS-02 be offloaded to a computer w/ multi-track software and then be edited (like cut/copy/paste)?
The EM review of the PS-02 was critical of the unit's lack of audio editing capabilities. If tracks can be edited on a PC w/ Cakewalk or something similar, this would be a non-issue.
Just curious.
John
Yes You Can
January 30 2002, 9:56 PM
Michael G ... Using “Card Manager”, software downloadable from the Zoom site, it gives you the ability create wav's files from each recorded track, which you can then import into a variety of software apps some free and edit, add effects and mix.
caveat
January 31 2002, 9:36 AM
Bear in mind that only the audio tracks can be converted to wavs for editing. The rhythm and bass tracks can be recorded to the PC to use in multi track software, or you can convert them to midi files (but they will not sound identical to the way they sound on the Zoom).
Get it?
Michael G
OK
January 31 2002, 11:38 AM
Thanks. I've been looking at the PS-02 and it's an intriguing little box. Must fight GAS...
Another question???
January 31 2002, 3:19 PM
I'm about to purchase a digital recorder like the ps02. Do any of you guys knows how the ps02 compare in terms of features and quality of sound to the boss br-532 and the korg pxr4??? Also, can I record guitar and vocals at the same time with the ps02?? Thanks for any info that you can give me.
Zoom rules
January 31 2002, 5:33 PM
There are many threads comparing the Zoom to other palm studios, read through them. Bottom line is Zoom is the best for its price and size.
And yes, you can do vocals and guitar at same time into two channels if you want, or do them seperately. What ever. This also has been dealt with in other threads.
Another possible owner
February 5 2002, 1:23 AM
I can understand the frustration of the regulars on this board when a newbie asks for a fair comparison of the PS-02 and other palm studios, but as a shopper in that position, it's a fair question. If this is a Question that is Asked Frequently, wouldn't it make sense to put its answer into a FAQ somewhere, instead of making newbies go digging through dozens of unrelated posts? Forgive me if there is a FAQ out there; I just haven't found it yet.
