Hi All,
For what it is worth, a couple of cents from this humble home recordist. I own the Tascam 2488 DAW. I know, I know, consumer POS compared to what you Big Boys play with. But I use decent external pres and I am expecting a set of matched AKG451s any day now, so I am trying....
To the subject: I tinkered with recording off and on in my teens (I am 45) on borrowed or used analog gear, and even then the 'ear pleasure' was always there. I got back into playing and recording only in 2001.
Now my Tascam DAW has all the bells and whistles, but even with that, I still missed analog.
I missed it so much that about a month ago, I dropped (for me) a good chunk of money to get a Studer 807, MkII 1/4" two-track.
At 30IPS, with new Quantegy GP9 stock, it is heaven.
If two devices could ever be said to represent their respective eras, it certainly is in the contrast here. The Studer will definitely outlast the 2488 by a long shot and just sounds a lot better than the admittedly cheap Tascam.
I know it's an unfair comparison to begin with, but nonetheless, it has just to me reinforced the glory of analog sound.
And keep in mind, I bought this:
For a private home; I know of no service techs yet.
Yes I have seen the price of new replacement heads.
I am not a techie myself, so I am at the mercy of someone else.
And still I bought it. So call me an idealist, a fool, a dreamer...yes, most likely, but....I just missed analog.
Best,
CC