MC4 and Boss Br1600 CD, I need some advice.

I stopped playing my guitar and music a long time ago for reasons I really don't want to go into because certain people's feelings might get hurt and I don't want that, and have just been getting back into it here lately, and having some fun. The only person I have to rely on now is me! I've had the Boss BR1600cd for a year or maybe a little longer now and for reasons that would take up too much of anyone's time, I didn't spend much time recording hardly anything. It seemed like a lot to learn for an old school kinda cassette recorder player such as myself.

Anyway, I spend a lot of time on my computer and on the internet a lot of times talking sports so I saw MC4 on an office depot shelf so I purchased MC4. I thought what the heck, it might inspire me to make my computer time more rewarding and get me back into music which I love to play and record. Well it has.

I have been learning about MC4 a lot from reading the supplied information with the program and from these forums here on this website. I've learned many tricks on how to record that have been priceless realy. Being able to apply them to the music is another matter because my timing is so rusty even with a metronome or other methods I am still off a tad, I've gotta practice some more, hahaha Well practice will come in the form of recording some stuff I guess, I just can't do those scale runs anymore.

I didn't know much about the BossBr1600 when I recorded a few tunes which I didn't really take the time to read on how to use it because like I said I was used to using cassettes many years ago and honestly just haven't or didn't have the time. Plus, when I got it I thought it would inspire me to get back into music but it didn't at the time.

Ok, since I have gotten MC4, I find myself at a crossroads so to speak. From what I have learned from reading about MC4 it's making all the features much clearer to me on how to use not only MC4 but the BR1600 better and more effective. Somebody could post specs and all that about how the two compare, but the bottom line is "Which one would I be better off to record with to get the best sounding song"? Or that is I know compression means a lot when it comes to the final mix, I know MC4 has that and so does the BR1600.

Right now I have an M-Audio 2496 sound card, and have been using my Br1600 going from the line out of that into the sound card to record on MC4. It seems to work good because I can use all the features of the BR1600 and MC4.

MC4 is a lot quicker and easier to get to certain things.

I guess what I am trying to ask is : "If I record my songs on the BR1600 will they turn out better than if I record them on MC4 Sound when it comes to the final mix sound wise?"

I have been looking seriousally at the Sonar 6 XL and may purchase it soon.

I wanted to ask that to try and save some time because I don't know about all this KHZ's and all this technical stuff, I usually just record my music, although I am learning more all the time.

I'm just mainly wondering which one will produce the best results - "MC4 or BR1600", and also if I get Sonar 6 XL will that be better than both of those with my sound card? I have listened to examples of songs produced with MC4 and Sonar 6 XL and Boss BR1600 that came as demo's with the recorder, but I don't know which one will produce the best results in the end OVERALL?

Any advice on the subject will be greatly appreciated.

I am really interested in Sonar 6 XL, but I am still learning about what I have and just don't want to spend money to get a better result in recording if there is no need to do so with the equiptment and software that I have now that's why I am asking.

Thank you for your time and sorry for the long post, it's a lot to explain, I appologize in advance for all the reading.

as far as quality goes, they are both equal as far as I can tell from the specs. the biggest concern I had was if the boss was a 16bit or 24bit A/D and it's 24bit, so the quality matches your 2496 and MC. In my opinion it would be whichever you would be most comfortable with. MC/SHS are going to be more easily expandable and that's the biggest advantage of working on a computer where software plugins are numerously availble. but the boss certainly is very portable and convenient!

you must ask yourself.....how did I get here?.....NO....which is better for me?

ORIGINAL: Beagle

You must ask yourself.....how did I get here?.....NO....which is better for me?

As always Beagle you have answered my question. Probably sometime next week I will purchase Sonar 6 XL and wait for it to arrive. Probably friday of next week if I get outa work in time.

I'm still gonna use my Boss BR1600 to record by using the STEREO LINE OUTS to go out into my STEREO M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcards LINE IN inputs to record on MC4 and soon Sonar 6 XL. Is that a bad Idea?

I'm thinking that way, I can connect my guitar and bass, and use all the effects from the Boss Br1600 and use the Boss BR1600 for it's phantom power for mics and effects for the guitar/bass/vocals/ and tweak it with the MC4 and soon sonar. I also have a set of DTEXPLORER DRUMS by yamaha, I haven't even gotten into using them yet. I'm a terrible drummer, but luckilly my brother is a great drummer so maybe from time to time I can have him play on a few things I record. I have a Radioshack MD1160 Keyboard, yeah nothing fancy but that's what I got. I don't have a lot of money even though I keep talking about this equiptment that I have, I wanna get a better keyboard but the price ranges and options are really overwealming for someone like me, because I don't really play keyboards or piano, I just use them to compliment my guitar music. It will give me a lot more options when it comes to sound goes though I think by using that method to record going outa the Boss Br1600 into the AudioPhile 2496, I'm not sure, what do you think? I hope I am doing things the right way but I'm used to using old analog cassette recording methods so I dunno?

I have a lot to learn, and I am sorry to keep picking everyones brain on how to do certain things, but I know I am getting world class advice whenever I ask about something and that's the main reason I ask because I have heard some great productions when it comes to songs and sounds by clicking on so many people's "links" to listen to their sounds or songs.

Thank you for your time and information!

I hope everyone doesn't think that I am somebody that just plays one style of music, because I am not, I just have a lot to learn and I'm looking for information on everything I can right now. I'm fired up about playing again and it's a good feeling, one that I have missed for a long time!.

Thanks as always RobertB!

I have an Emachine w/Celeron D - "I am still confused on what it compares to when it comes to computer chips and using software" I mean Pentium 4 and stuff like that, it's like a shot in the dark if I try and buy a program, or software I should say, I don't know it's limits.

I have an Emachine 3.33 Ghz w/ Celeron D, also 2GB ram, and a M-Audio Delta 2496 using the new drivers for Vista 32 bit I should add whatever that means for the sound card which they just come out with, and I also use a flash card 1GB that is "Windows ready boost ready", I have Windows Home Premium. I have a Pinnacle TV Tuner USB HDTV Prostick 800e Module connected to my computer and a Logitech Quickcam USB Webcam, along with a HP photosmart D5160 Printer, I have a few other USB things connected like game controllers and other stuff. I know my computer isn't what I would consider strong but it seems to do what I want it to do for now, and that's more that most people in my life right now so I will take that as a blessing.

My speakers for this computer are a Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround sound. Although to use the surround sound with this M-Audiophile 2496 I have to select a key called matrix, that puts it in surround sound mode or simulated mode with this sound card, I don't like that so I deselected it when I mixed one song w/MC4 because I thought it might cause problems playing back the song on the final mix on a CD on a standard player that didn't have the same speaker setup.

I appologize for the bad punctuation, I type faster than I think sometimes, and sometimes I don't think before I type.

You mentioned a keyboard above, a few posts up. Just wanted to mention, I bought a yamaha psr-172, only 63 keys, not even sure what sounds it has on board 'cause I never use them a few years back. It has midi in/out, and I use the soft synths and sound fonts. The point is, it only cost about $125, and I don't think I need any thing more to do what I do, just backing tracks like piano chords or organ chods (not a mammabear piano virtuoso here) so, for a small price you can get eveything you need.
Later
Albert

Thanks as always RobertB! I have a lot to learn, and I'll be honest "I'm not afraid to ask, nor am I afraid to admitt if I am wrong or just plain stupid". LOL

I've been reading around the threads and I can tell you know what you are talking about! Thanks again.

Thank you, Freeze.
A little over two years ago, i was completely new to this. The community here is awesome. The people here helped me, and the best way I can repay them is to help others get their legs under them. We still learn new things all the time. You are in good company. Ask questions in the various forums, just as you are doing. Someone will have an answer.
Shameless plug: I had the pleasure of working with Kenny (who replied to you in the Techniques form) on Fishing Buchanan Creek.
This is my crown jewel. Give it a listen, if you are so inclined.
And spend some time in the Songs forum. Some phenomenal talent there, and that should whet your whistle. Enjoy the ride!

You could also save your tracks in the BR1600 and share the audio files with your computer via the USB connections. There would be no loss of data and no added noise. Of course there might be a learning curve to be able to do that but it works really well. And if my memory serves me correctly your computer should recognize the BR as soon as you hook it up ("found new hardware" pop up). That's my 2 cents worth.

Any kind of RCA cord should work with the digital in/out. Don't let anyone talk you into getting a $50 Monster cord, though.

It is important to note that standard audio cables cannot be used with the DIGITAL OUT connector

Thanks for checking that, Harvey. That's what I get for assuming that wires are wires.

Thanks 57 Gregy, I haven't tried hooking it up yet, but I am fixing to try it. I've been away for a day or two and just now got back to my computer. Thanks again

THANKYOU for the advice! I finally got a chance to try my RCA cable and it's working great! I can tell a huge difference when it comes to turning up the volume on the BR1600, before going out the stereo line outs I would have to really turn it up to get the volume levels right recording on MC4, now I don't have to turn it up much at all, it sounds a lot cleaner too.

Thanks again for the information

..."Since everything seems to be working I'm kinda afraid to change anything."

Don't fix what ain't broke...
Later
Albert

Thanks for the advice, I don't think I'm gonna change anythin.

For the hiss can you go into the Delta control panel and turn down the faders for the digital audio? And does that help? The BR samples at 44.1K only. I don't know if MC4 lets you use multiple sample rates. I only have MC2002. I'm pretty sure it doesn't allow multiple sample rates.