Korg D-1200 MKII

It all started with borrowing my dad's guitar when I was 15 and went rapidly downhill from there... Before too long I was playing in bands at school, writing songs in my bedroom, and generally not paying attention to much else.

My teachers thought I'd grow out of it, but 15 years later, I'm still playing teaching, recording and playing music, and haven't got a proper job.

Mainly I play folk and acoustic styles, but my recording work has covered opera, hip-hop, metal and pretty much everything in between.

I'd been looking for something fairly cheap and simple I could use for home or location multi-track recording, and transfer data to my studio computer for editing and mixing.

I considered various options, and this ticked pretty much all the boxes, without being too big & expensive, or cheap and nasty. I got it second-hand on Ebay for £200, which was a bargain.

The features that sold it to me:

* 4-track simultaneous record (4 analogue inputs)

* 24-bit recording mode

* ability to export WAV files via CD or USB.

It also has a "modelling mode" (controlled via 3 knobs) and loads of FX programmes, which are all eminently usable.

Other than that, it's very neat and compact (fits in a shoulder bag) and a nice blue colour.

There's not much to dislike about it. The only downside of something this small is the screen display is tiny, amazing what they do get into it, but there's a lot of menus and button pushing involved.

While I rarely use more than 8 tracks, it's worth noting that tracks 7-12 are stereo paired tracks, so really it's a 9-track machine (though of course you have something like 96 virtual tracks so nothing is lost if you have to "bounce")

One other thing is once you're in the "modelling mode", it's hard to get out again!

It's pretty well constructed. I wouldn't want to put it to the test by throwing it down the stairs. The buttons feel a little flimsy, but I'm sure it will last a while yet (as long as I don't press the undo button too many times)

Sound quality is excellent, what you put in, you get out again, I wouldn't compare the mic preamps to dedicated outboard gear, but they do the job. The onboard FX give you plenty of options for polishing up the sound.

I love my Korg D1200 mk ii! It's dinky, and easy to use, but it lets me make quality recordings anywhere there's mains electricity.

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

My Korg D12 was running out of drive space after only one album's worth of recordings, and add-on Glyph drives to increase its storage cost at least $400. Hardly seemed worth it, then, to upgrade an obsolete unit. The D1200mkII sold for $849 on Musician's Friend and Music 123. Guitar Center stores in Hollywood and Sherman Oaks were willing to match the price.

Compact enough to do mobile recording -- a must, since it allows me to record drum tracks at any location I wish. Huge array of features, 40GB internal drive (over six times the storage of my old D12) with USB connectivity. The interface is nearly identical to the D12's and I didn't have to relearn a whole new system of operations. Much faster CD burner than the D12, and it now comes pre-installed on the unit, rather than as an extra acquisition as on the D12. The XLR inputs can now provide phantom power to microphones, and this unit still gives good sound quality.

The build seems flimsier than on the D12, and the buttons are definitely stiffer. The soft rubber-padded buttons on the D12 were extremely responsive, superior to the plastic ones on this D1200mkII. The layout of the input jacks is more conventional, but I now realize the advantage of the D12's unusual, front-access jacks: The input jacks on the D1200mkII are so close to the trim knobs and other controls that you can no longer use certain types of cable jacks on them. Data access seems slower; it takes longer to stop a track and access marked points. Finally, the packaging is crap -- since there is no carrying case available for the D1200mkII, I always pack it back into its original box for protection, and this box was designed so that you can't close it back up completely. Since the D1200mkII is a portable recorder, I think Korg should really make a specially tailored carrying case for it.

One last, substantial gripe: As on the D12, the click track is far, far too soft! I always use a click track when I record rhythm tracks, and even at the top volume setting, this click track can barely be heard over a drum machine that's far from peaking. Korg should have erred on the side of too loud rather than too soft here.



Doesn't feel quite as solid as the D12. This unit has a larger surface but thinner edges, so it will suffer more from impact. But a device such as this one is meant to be handled gingerly, so I don't count this as a major flaw.

I was blown away by the D12 when I got it years ago; the D1200mkII didn't quite have the same jaw-dropping effect. That could conceivably be because I've already been spoiled by the D12's features. But the D1200mkII adds some invaluable features (the USB connector and enlarged hard drive being the chief ones) that patch up many of the D12's weaknesses, and most assuredly makes the D12 obsolete. I'd recommend the D1200mkII as much as I once recommended the D12 -- this is simply one of the best mid-level, portable digital recorders.

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

I bought my D1200 mkII from Musican's Friend (www.musiciansfriend.com) for $999.99. I have been playing music for many years, and when I became interested in setting up a fairly small and simple home studio, I started looking around for 10 or 12 track digital recorders. I got a feeling for what the different products within my price range (up to $1000) were like and, simply put, the Korg was just the best.

There's so much to like about this unit. Some of the main features are: 16 bit/12 track recording or 24 bit/6 track recording modes, 4 track simultaneous recording, 40 GB hard-disk, a HUGE number of effects and modeling features, etc. You can just visit their website (korg.com) for the full specs. It should also be noted that the D1200 mkII has a bunch of fairly advanced editing features as well such as waveform editing. The sound quality is amazing, the unit is extremely easy to use, and it has a built in CD burner + a USB connector to export files to a computer.

Nothing. Literally, for $1,000 there is no better digital recording unit that you can buy.

It seems extremely well constructed, fortunately I have never had the opportunity to find out whether or not it would hold up to being dropped, stepped on, etc. The controls are placed very intuitively (if you can operate a CD player you should have no trouble with this) and moving parts such as the volume sliders move smoothly and firmly.

In short, the D1200 mkII is an amazing product, full of great features, with an extremely low price for a high quality professional digital recorder. If I somehow lost mine or if it were broken I would buy another in an instant.

Thoroughly Satisfied!

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

See the technical specifications of the D1200 is the same. The blue color is awesome and unlike a certain opinion and read this device is not at all "plastic toy" ... it looks solid trs, in short nothing to do with what I've read ...

UTILIZATION

I reu dj yesterday and recorded a dozen songs. Managing the effects is quite simple if you take the time to read the manual (very comprehensive trs ...). The use quickly becomes "instinctive" and rglages are without any difficulty.

SOUNDS

Then the c EXCELLENT! Really nothing wrong. If we play a sound "raw" (no effect) it is perfectly refund. If we add the effects when the glove has become! Is there really a way to have fun with dozens of effects available (all paramtrables with tons of possible combinations). As for the Modelling Rems, frankly I do not use it, it prferant effective integration and other Master and Final Effect. Extra.

OVERALL OPINION

The D1200MKII is my first APRS Ministudio numrique have used a Fostex 4-track analog ... In other words, the c Rvolution!
If I buy it again c'tait no hsitation since 1100 for nine euros c really an excellent deal.