All user reviews of 4/5 for the Boss BR-1600CD Digital Recording Studio

The Boss BR-1600CD is a well made digital multitrack recorder with an efficient interface and well places sliders and buttons. This recorded has plenty of effects on it that you can use with anything mainly vocals and guitars though. Using this recorder you will love how the interface is, it is very easy to understand just by looking at it and not even opening up the manual. You can figure everything out within the first hour of using it just because of how everything is places.

UTILIZATION

You can record up to 8 tracks simultaneously and playback up to 16 tracks simultaneously. You get EQ on all 16 tracks with compression on 8 tracks. There are a total of 8 microphone preamps and they are very warm and rich.

SOUNDS

Connecting this recorder to your computer could not be easier because it is just a USB connection. There are 2 analog outputs and 8 XLR analog inputs. There are plenty of faders on this recorder to, it has a total of 13 but one of them is for the master.

OVERALL OPINION

The Boss BR -1600CD is a decently sized console but it is very light, it weighs around 10 pounds. If I could make a change to it I would make the screen a little better. It feels rather cheap, I would add a full color LCD display because for the price of 1500 dollars I at least want a LCD screen that I can enjoy looking at.
Of course the main feature of this console is the record right to a CD feature which is the main reason why people would purchase it because they would not need to have a computer to record anything with. If you do not like dealing with computers for your demo tracks then this is the way to go. You can completely cut out the computer to do your demos and mixes. I would not purchase this recorded if you need something portable, because it is light but the size of it is a little bigger than I would want to carry around with me.

The BR1600-CD is the BOSS flagship multi-track digital console recorder. The "CD" designation on the end of the part number indicates that there is a CD burner on-board the console so that when you're done mixing and mastering the songs, you can burn them to the CD drive and have a professional-sounding CD for way less than all of the equivalent studio time would have cost. The BR1600-CD has eight dual-purpose inputs that can accept 1/4" or XLR, and the XLR can provide phantom power to all eight ports. All eight channels can be recorded simultaneously which makes it incredibly flexible for recording stereo guitars, one or two at a time, or as you'll read below, a complete drum set. One of the great features of the BR is the ability to record tracks then export them to WAV format so they can be imported into another program such as SONAR or Pro Tools. The internal 40 GB hard drive is capable of storing a full album's worth of songs with multiple takes per track.

UTILIZATION

I bought this recorder before computer-based recording really took off and became consumer-affordable. I liked the fact that there were multiple tracks, a built-in CD recorder, and built-in processing and mastering effects. This is an all-in-one solution that is supposed to allow you to record, mix, master, and burn all your music onto a CD. The real sticking point with this unit is the interface and controls--tasks that should be relatively simple require scrolling through several menus and REALLY knowing this system inside and out. The included tutorial DVD is good, but not great. Don't get me wrong, this is a great unit and WILL allow you to produce professional-quality CDs. The problem is that the industry model changed and the fact that you can purchase hardware and software for your computer for equal or less than the price of the BR-1600CD makes it hard to justify unless you don't have a computer. The upgrade to version 2.0 software was easy to perform but didn't really make a noticeable difference. I've since moved to computer DAW recording but still use my BR units for scratch tracks and ideas. One point to emphasize is that when my band needed to record drum tracks, no one had an interface that would accommodate mic'ing up a full drum set. The BR-1600CD was the perfect solution. With eight XLR inputs we were able to mic up the entire drum kit, record the drum tracks, and export the files in .WAV format so that we could then import them into Pro Tools and save a ton of money and studio time, and got great-sounding drum tracks.

SOUNDS

The BOSS BR-1600-CD has the BOSS GT-6 guitar processor engine on-board plus a vocal toolkit. Considering when the BR-16000-CD was launched this was something relatively unheard of. Having the basic functionality of the GT-6 floor processor at your fingertips to record both guitar and bass, plus an additional on-board vocal toolkit and mastering tools make the BR-1600-CD a force to be reckoned with. Understand, these are not "light" versions or stripped-down versions of the GT-6 and vocal toolkit, these are the full suites of effects and mastering tools. All of the sounds in the BR are top-notch and intended to allow you to produce professional-grade recordings, all of which can be mixed down locally and burned directly to CD.

OVERALL OPINION

If you're not ready to take the leap into computer-based recording, this is the top of the consumer-grade products. You could obviously purchase more expensive Roland or other units, but for the money, this is the recording console to have. Once you go through the instructional DVD a couple of times and master the navigation of the controls the BR-1600-CD can be used to record, mix, master, and produce a professional-quality CD recording, worthy of any home or car stereo. If you don't have your own studio, or can't afford studio time but want to get your music out to the world, this is the unit for you.

I've spent 30 some years on the road in music and entertainment. Mainly an acoustic guitarist, and a 12-string specialist. Now in my old age (just turned 50) I still play regularly, but have settled down to running my project studio and publishing company.

I have a well equipped PC-based project studio, but wanted to do some live remote recording of local music groups. The BR-1600 seemed like the best bang for the buck. $1400 at Musiciansfriend.com.

This highly portable box, about the size of a small briefcase, has robust features; way more than I can list here. Including:
8 XLR mic/line inputs, each with trim control.
8 tracks of simultaneous recording.
A large bank of vocal, guitar, bass, and other effects based on the same circuits as Boss's excellent stand-along products. E.g., the unit includes the Boss GT-6 guitar effects.
CD burner--you can actually record, mix and master a complete CD all inside the unit, complete with good FX.

My first project was a live recording of a youth music group at a big church. The BR-1600 worked perfectly recording 8 tracks. The backlit LCD display is a bit primitive, but adequate with good-enough VU indicators.

I moved all the tracks to my PC for editing in Sonar. The resulting project has won me raves among my musician friends here in Duluth.

The "plastic" feel of the box makes me wonder how will it will travel over time. I keep it in a foam padded suitcase, and a few bumps have done no harm so far.

The controls are fairly arcane. You really need time with the manual even to do the basic recording. I haven't attempted to do much with it's editing and mastering functions.

The LCD display is very primitive. And there's no option for an external display.

Slow response time for loading and saving projects.



Apart from it's over-all plasticness, it's seems to be made well. It's been reliable for me for almost a year.



One thing about Boss, they maintian a long product cycle. That is, their units change slowly and are supported for a long time. So once you have one, you won't feel it's obsolete over night.

Despite limitations, at the prosumer level the BR-1600 is the best bang for the buck in it's class.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Okay so I know that many people expect a review on this product, but I pass on the connection because I'm lazy, and that all information on the roland site!
I just remember that the strength of this poinr bcanne is the simultaneous recording of 8 tracks audio with phantom power supply.

UTILIZATION

The config is simple gnrale I got. I use it for 24 hours and I matrise 80% of the functions. (I did not look at mastering and burning).

The functions are trs simple: it's a big magneto numrique that works with large buttons.

The manual is clear, but TRS is in English! I am not a personal drang not because I speak good English and I'm familiaris with technical terms in English, but a good may be a problem if you do not speak the language at all! ! Be careful.

SOUNDS

So I will commend my days here as two good microphones that I have not. For insant I had fun with a 58 sm dja silent and sound good with headphones trs crap.
The effects on the voice type compressor-esser, etc. .. are set automatically insert (you can remove Obviously) but it's very practical.

Like piano or guitar, offers a bcanne SERIES adapted as an insert effect.
Very easy to add APRS (or before) delay, reverb, pan, comp, etc.

I'm not ing but the resulting sound as a dj is impressive for the numrique. A model for semi-pro or pre-production I Do not hesitate.

OVERALL OPINION

What I love: the simplicity! It was for that I buy at dpend the total computer music. It is a tool for musicians (which is my case) who do not want to take the head.
Least Obviously, the lack of ergonomics for a mix. But hey, we can not have everything!
I've seen (not tried other models but it is the only one that will record a live jazz trio (8 tracks simultaneously!!).
I forgot something that will make srieusement dscendre Note: there is a USB port (for audio or for MIDI, just for backup), mail it is only compatible with Mac OS 9! !! Carrment and is the shame that price! I work on Mac OS X for several years now, and I find that such abhrant bcanne is Designed for X.

Days I will put in a few months!

Um, everything is a dj with extreme precision Describes the site boss (and then it's late, first).
Ok, I give the bare minimum:
Frquence of Sampling: 44.1 kHz, enough to make the big sound that sounds good.
Storage on a hard drive 40 GB (or 120 hours, enough fun for hours and no bugs, thank you God (has nothing to see, but ...)
8 tracks are recorded simultaneously (for rp is s'couter INTERESTED order and progress, or to make a quick layout done well with a drummer who knows jouern square! You Grut , drummer).
In all, There are eight tracks "mono" Stereo + 4 tracks, 16 tracks in all. Mental math lovers, good evening.
Can read very simultanment 12 tracks (including four in Stereo mandatory). Capichera?
A big minus (worth 7 out of 10): no insrer Possibility of an effects loop post miking! My god! But what have they done! Global Warming's no way to signal its machines prfres APRS taking a neutral sound, unless you go through a DI or other stratagme malicieu (what I do with a JOE MEEK 3Q).

UTILIZATION

So in terms of simplicity of use, madre mia, it's all cooked. A bit too much, but hey, we'll come back later on. It's like "plug and play", they chose a particular recording mode (oh, I choose the mode-bass guitar, or singing, or singing and guitar simultaneously, or when multiple tracks of anything until 8 at the same time with inverters and phase cuts the lows very practical).
The manual is the word of god. Seriously, we seek we find, trs clear, bim-bam-boom, no time at all and it's packed. Well done boss.
Attention, BMOL death. In dpart, it is trsdstabilisant for a "non-geek boss" to see why when you want just the sound (or insert later) a kind of special treatment or effect (just a distortion just one chorus) it must go through a lot of patches and disable pr-Defines tons of useless things for us ... Clearly, the Bosss BR1600CD is excellent for people who want to cook at all, sounding patches (because they sound a lot). But if you want to refine his are, of course you get there, but what galre sometimes! In short, you must outwit and patches and re-bouncer bouncer (for nophytes, a means to play multiple tracks and save it in one, or else play the track by applying effects and saving it to another), but worth it because the sounds are l.

SOUNDS

Ah sounds ...
The thunderous modlisations are, really.
Try the electric guitar DIFFERENT patches (good y'en ten out of 100 cast), but frankly, fiddling, there's something to have fun and produce something enjoyable trs.
Patches of low: I try to be multi-instrumentalist, I play bass, guitar, drums. But patches of low, throw!
Cuts: good, INTERESTED, modlises well, we feel their actions.
The modlisations of distortion pedals to: you bend over you tend to forget, and possder lot of these pedals for real (electro harmonix big muff of, OD1, turbo overdrive, overdrive / distortion boss ...), it's really excellent.
Mtalliques reverbs a little, but by adjusting the top end of the said tracks ddies reverb (because yes, something for people that possdant BR1600CD BOSS: a sound much better when instead of apply a simple reverb in post production on "" track, this track is copied twice, it regulates the original signal with two twins in the extreme left-right panning, reverb and applying the background on these tracks that are framing the volume fader gre, while correcting the top of their spectrum, without affecting that of the original signal!? Included? ask me otherwise).
Good EQ, Settings, and trs effective sculpting sound (especially in rusant you like the rabid foxes pairing him a four supplmentaire a patch taken from his post).
Delay, Doubling, chorus, really good. Ms. point of coupling with the patches in post recording.
I jump voluntarily everything else (not the place but the important thing is said). Really nice sound trs.

OVERALL OPINION

It's going to be one and a half that I use.
The +: the sound, there's fiddling average death (sound recording, post processing and mastering) to make trs trs trs good models (for an album pro, children will see Los Angeles Andy Wallace, mixer Compagnie de Muse, Skunk, RATM ... if we are!).
The -: To insert the connector lack an effects loop, and the towers of P'tit Filou need to use it to have its own sound.
In terms of competition (Korg, Tascam, Zoom, Yamaha), I have tried many, usability and logic to get his sound is certainly better, but for her there's no image I 'm in love with the boss. This is a good eight out of ten. I think it is better for a budget of 1200 euros that the computer music base, which pull your hair out and even the hairs of the buttocks for those who (DSOL but it's true, the computer music better than the compilation intgrale). Believe me.