Whether or not you do mixdown and mastering on the PC, for how many of you is your PS-02 your sole recording device (i.e., PC audio input device)?
I'd like to start doing home recording and I'm still sorting out these two options:
1. PS-02 -> card reader -> computer
2. Mic/DI -> Mixer/audio interface -> computer
I guess what I'm asking is whether the PS-02 can function as high-quality, stand-alone input device for the computer or whether I should go for a more "traditional" approach. Or maybe I should save up and do both!
"Whether or not you do mixdown and mastering on the PC, for how many of you is your PS-02 your sole recording device (i.e., PC audio input device)?"
Not for me. I use it as a practice, jamming, and songwriting/idea capturing tool. Also good for getting on location sound samples.
"I guess what I'm asking is whether the PS-02 can function as high-quality, stand-alone input device for the computer or whether I should go for a more "traditional" approach. Or maybe I should save up and do both!"
I'd say do both, that's what I do. The PS-02 is a great tool, but it has its limits. You'll always have more options with your computer and a decent mic then just the PS-02, but you'll probably record more often with the PS-02 since its so fun and so handy.
morindae
Re: Home recording poll
March 14 2002, 12:26 AM
Zoetrope, that's exactly how I use my PS 02. It's irresistible. It's small, convenient, and has usable sounds. Use the computer for more sohpisticated recording and the PS 02 for practise, writing and fun.Every musician should have one.
Home recording poll
March 14 2002, 12:47 AM
I actually do both.
After working out the kinks I'm finding recording the base tracks onto my PS02 then bringing them into the computer is a cool way to do things and creates nice sounding stuff. After converting, backing up and bouncing the first few tracks down to 1 track im then left with a guide to record other tracks which lets me just keep inserting newly created tracks into the mix on my computer til i feel it sounds good.
But I also use the PS02 to just play around with too sometimes.
Home Recording
March 14 2002, 1:36 PM
All I have is the PS-02. I'm only an amateur hobbyist, so it does all that I require. After getting the tracks to my liking, I transfer to the PC for maybe tweaking compression, reverb, cutting the silent parts, etc.; then conversion to mp3 format. If I was serious about it, or wanted to burn CD's, I probably would have gotten the MRS 1044.
Re: Home recording poll
March 17 2002, 10:15 PM
I went through this same debate. I was a little intimidated by the computer interface thing. I have a laptop, so that makes things more complicated. Also, I needed a portable jam-along box anyway.
I decided to get the PS-02, and then see where it took me. It seems that computer interfaces and digital recording is getting so much better so quickly that I could well afford to wait and let everything sort itself out while I got better at playing, recording and composing.
That said, I'm pretty stunned at the capability of this little bugger. Particularly if you have an amp modeler, I think you could do very well with it alone. And if you decide to upgrade, it will always be a useful (and fun) tool to have. Bottom line: I play guitar a lot more now that I've got it (and I played a lot before!)
-pete
Michael G
Thanks for the responses
March 18 2002, 1:41 PM
Thanks, fellas. I've been going back and forth on this and I've decided the mini-multitrack is the way to go.
I've been debating whether to get the Korg PXR4 or the PS-02. Right now, it seems like the PS-02 is getting the nod. If I understand this right, the PXR4 has 16-bit 32kHz sound quality while the PS-02 uses 20-bit at 32kHz. That would appear to give the PS-02 a slight edge in sound quality. Similarly, the PXR4 holds more data per megabyte than does the PS-02. This would suggest that either the PXR4 uses a more efficient compression scheme or is somehow more "lossy."
Can any of you more knowledgeable folk comment on this?
compression and the mix, etc..
March 18 2002, 3:26 PM
I wouldn't worry so much about compression when the recordings are at 16bit/32k sample rate. Most of the time, compression seems to limit the frequencies that are almost inaudible to the human ear but most will not even be recognized at a level such as this. If you used audio compression on a 24bit/96k sample rate recording, you will definately notice a degradation of quality because your dynamic range will be raised to approx 144 and the frequencies range up to approx. 48 kHz. With the PXR-4 your dynamic range is about 96 and your recording frequencies range up to about 16kHz. The PS-02 has a dynamic range of about 120 with frequences of about 16kHz.
Kudos for PXR-4
*128MB Support with no problems
* Advanced recording features
* 4 tracks instead of 3
Kudos for PS-02
* Better bit rate
* More portable
* Cheaper
* Good to take on gigs (too bad it didn't have a footpedal feature though!)
Finally, just like to close up by talking a little bit about bit rate. Even though the ps-02 has 20-bit, if you are recording onto a CD you are going to lose the extra 4 bits since a cd is 16 bit. If done correctly, you can preserve the 20-bit sound by using dithering techniques, but if you just convert it without dithering you will have just tossed away 4 bits.
