I recently spoke with Korg about their new product, the D888 – a live recorder designed to capture band rehearsals, gigs and other applications. Together, we came up with the Broadjam Blog Giveaway, an idea that I hope will benefit both broadjam members and Korg.
Here’s how it works: I try the product, if I like it, I write a blog about it. And as you can see, I’m writing a blog about the D888. If you’re interested in this product after reading this entry, post a comment telling Korg why you should have the product and how you would use it. Later, we’ll all vote on the best five comments, and one of you will walk away with a brand new D888.
As I mentioned, I finally had a chance to check out the Korg D888. Dennis, our long-time customer service master, wanted to record a song as a gift for his mom’s birthday. Since we didn’t have enough time for a studio recording, I told him to bring his guitar into my office, and we could try the new Korg thing. I brought my 220 and my 414 mics to see what kind of sound we could get. I was interested in the feature set, but more importantly, I wanted to know what kind of sound quality the D888 had.
Three songs later I had gotten totally lost in the production and forgotten that part of my mission was to check out this product. How many times have you set up to do a recording and something was unplugged, or you were chasing a problem that you couldn’t identify? Within 20 minutes of taking the D888 out of the box, we were recording his acoustic guitar. 20 minutes after I took it out of the box, I knew enough to get the project done. I don’t ever recall a session being this easy.
[BTW: The mic pre-amps are pristine and the A/D conversion is excellent, so sound quality wasn’t a problem. It ended up that the 414 was a little better sounding on the guitar than the 220. However, we recorded with both of them simultaneously.]
Once we were finished I plugged a USB cable from my laptop to the D888, grabbed the folders off the recorder’s hard drive and dragged them to my desktop. Since the D888 already records as WAV files, we were editing in minutes. If you don’t already have DAW software for your computer, no worries. The D888 comes with Cubase LE 4, which allows you edit, arrange, mix and master your multi-track live performance.
I’m anxious to record a live band. I actually think one could make an extra buck or two doing this. And since the D888 is set up to be a fully functional live mixer, a small band could use it as both their mixer and recorder at the same time. I wish I had one of these when I was playing live, but digital products didn’t exist. In fact, presets didn’t exist either, nor did MIDI, USB, hard drives…but that’s another blog.
For the sake of full disclosure, I consider many of Korg’s employees close friends of mine, as I have worked on numerous projects with them in past lives. Last year I had the chance to have breakfast with Mr. Katoh (Founder and Chairman of Korg) and his son Seiki (President of Korg) at the Musik Messe in Frankfurt. I now know why they are industry leaders. Year after year, they put out great products with passion that is unsurpassed in the music industry.
So here’s your chance. Korg has made a generous offer to the bloggers on broadjam, so I ask you to answer these questions in your post: What features of this product are most attractive to you? How would you use this product if you owned it?
Here is a link to the Korg website www.korg.com/d888. Check out the features and write your thoughts about this product. Most importantly, tell me how you would use it, and be specific.
Best of luck,
Roy
Posted by Broadjam on Nov 20, 2007 in Broadjam Blog
I am in need I live in the philippines. I’m late in joining this contest. I’m a songwriter who wants to record my songs. And have no recorder. Anyway goodluck to will be winner.
Jan 26, 2008/11:46 pmHi! I have a Korg D8 I need the other two 8 so I can stop bouncing tracks and start bouncing live!
Jan 15, 2008/11:04 pmthanks! Isis
I would use this,for my recordings,as a producer of live exprimental music,acid jazz,would be dream come true,as a
Jan 14, 2008/7:59 amdisable artist,with no funds,would be star in my home studio,i think the best feauture its so easy to hook up and record.
thank you mario pompetti
http://www.youlicense.com/
i want to sell and produce my music
Jan 5, 2008/11:30 amWow, it sounds like the Korg D888 is what I need to succeed in 2008! I find the idea of the D888’s compact portability VERY INVITING, so that I can record my live shows, and ACTUALLY hear my vocals AFTERWARDS!! Just see my You Tube Videos, and you will see why I need this baby for my live sound! http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=circeansongs
I also like that this Korg D888 comes with the USB connector to make it easy to load it into my laptop to edit and mix. And, the free Cubase software just makes it sweeter!
My very first songs I ever wrote when I was like 15 or 16, were recorded on my home computer, with a Tonocorder that I’d downloaded free off of the old Tonos website. Those early tracks sounded lousy with a lot of pops coming from my cheap karaoke mic, but I put them up on the internet anyway as free low-fi downloads on my web page, and I was surprised when thousands of fans from all over the world took advantage of the free downloads off of my page. I’ve also had my share of bad experiences in the studio with some cocky producers who have changed my songs to fit their tastes … and have completely missed the mark, … so, my Indie spirit needs this baby to record my music how I think it should sound!
I also think the effects are cool, and the 8 tracks at once playback feature great too, but the fact that it saves the tracks as wav files is awesome! I cannot tell you how many times, I have had to fish all over the internet for various conversions programs for my songs and videos, and the wav files that the Korg D888 creates will save me time, and make my life easier!
I had come to the conclusion some time ago that I needed to set up my own studio for myself. I feel that the Korg D888 will help me do that and it will foster that laid back vibe I need to create my original music in a stress-free atmosphere at home. I think that you and Korg should give me this because I have limited funds right now…, and I think that the Korg D888 can change that in the long run, because my newly recorded songs will be of superior quality, and then I can sell my mp3’s instead of giving them away! And, the D888 is just what I need to finish my 1st album, so, please vote for me to win the Korg D888!!!
Thanks!
Jan 4, 2008/6:24 pmAmber Rose Kelly
http://www.myspace.com/amberrosekelly
Wow, it sounds like the Korg D888 is what I need to succeed in 2008! I find the idea of the D888’s compact portability VERY INVITING, so that I can record my live shows, and ACTUALLY hear my vocals AFTERWARDS!! Just see my You Tube Videos, and you will see why I need this baby for my live sound! http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=circeansongs
I also like that this Korg D888 comes with the USB connector to make it easy to load it into my laptop to edit and mix. And, the free Cubase software just makes it sweeter!
My very first songs I ever wrote when I was like 15 or 16, were recorded on my home computer, with a Tonocorder that I’d downloaded free off of the old Tonos website. Those early tracks sounded lousy with a lot of pops coming from my cheap karaoke mic, but I put them up on the internet anyway as free low-fi downloads on my web page, and I was surprised when thousands of fans from all over the world took advantage of the free downloads off of my page. I’ve also had my share of bad experiences in the studio with some cocky producers who have changed my songs to fit their tastes … and have completely missed the mark, … so, my Indie spirit needs this baby to record my music how I think it should sound!
I also think the effects are cool, and the 8 tracks at once playback feature great too, but the fact that it saves the tracks as wav files is awesome! I cannot tell you how many times, I have had to fish all over the internet for various conversions programs for my songs and videos, and the wav files that the Korg D888 creates will save me time, and make my life easier!
I had come to the conclusion some time ago that I needed to set up my own studio for myself. I feel that the Korg D888 will help me do that and it will foster that laid back vibe I need to create my original music in a stress-free atmosphere at home. I think that you and Korg should give me this because I have limited funds right now…, and I think that the Korg D888 can change that in the long run, because my newly recorded songs will be of superior quality, and then I can sell my mp3’s instead of giving them away! And, the D888 is just what I need to finish my 1st album, so, please vote for me to win the Korg D888!!!
Thanks!
Jan 4, 2008/6:24 pmAmber Rose Kelly
http://www.myspace.com/amberrosekelly
http://www.myspace.com/evilluvisandthe420production
Jan 3, 2008/1:02 pmI am what others post bumper stickers about. I am what many vow to support. I am the reason we can make music. I am an American Soldier. This title alone should explain just why I should be using the Korg. I deploy at a moments notice and with the power of an all in one work station I could easily pack that in my ruck sack and record music worldwide. I could record in the midst of battle, um okay mabe not then, but i could continue to be creative even in the abscence of a full blown studio.
Dec 31, 2007/2:16 pmI reckon all those humble creative souls who have posted a blog here deserve a free Korg. The PR that Korg gets, the word of mouth advertising and the Karma that Korg recieve will undoubtedly make the future sales of the D888 mindblowing. Its a risk, sure, but just one world-wide No1 hit produced on a D888…wouldn’t that get the word out how good it is!
Kim Imber, Tasmania
Dec 27, 2007/4:01 amAhhh, the bass player thumps out some maniacal riff on Tuesday, surely the next groove to move to, and Thursday it’s all forgotten. Inspiration has gone the way of the Dodo. To this I say, “Never again if I win the Korg D888 digital mixer!”
Dec 23, 2007/7:29 pmWith 40 gigs of space I can pack 120 hours of my band’s rehearsal into this little box and ride the WAV all the way to my computer just to tweak each morsel of musical goodness. These gems would be sent to each eager member of the band, and homework would for once be a welcomed activity. Answer all questions in complete sentences, please: What’s hot? What’s not? Should we ax that tune? Should we ax the drummer?
Imagine the fans’ smiles as their favorite band posts rehearsal versions of their favorite tunes, up close and intimate on their home page.
The possibilites are limitless with the D888. Eight tracks of live wonder.
Coming to my rehearsal space soon….
I HAVE NEVER USED A MIXER OR ANY OTHER KIND OF EQUIPMENT LIKE THAT I JUST USE THIS STUDIO PROGRAM I GOT FOR MY COMPUTER.MY DAD HAS ALL KINDS OF STUDIO EQUIPMENT BECAUSE HE USED TO BE IN A BAND BUT HE DOES NOT LIKE TO SHARE I HAVE TRIED TO GET SOME OF THIS ROLAND EQUIPMENT HE HAS BUT HE DOES NOT WANT TO LET IT GO.ANYWAYS I AM A LYRICIST/PRODUCER I RECORD QUITE A BIT OF MUSIC BUT IT IS ALL LIKE RAP,HIP HOP,OR R&B I HAVE LIKE 15-20 PEOPLE THAT COME TO MY PLACE SO I CAN RECORD THEIR MUSIC WE ALSO COLLAB WITH EACH OTHER.FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT IF I HAD THAT KORG D888 I COULD MAKE THE TRACKS SOUND WAY BETTER.I AM TRYING TO GET SOME GEAR SO I CAN HOOK UP MORE MICS.PEOPLE SAY THE TRACKS I RECORD SOUND REALLY GOOD BUT I THINK THEY COULD BE A LOT BETTER.IF I HAD ENOUGH MONEY I WOULD BUY A PIECE LIKE THAT KORG BUT I GOT 2 SUPPORT MY KIDS THEY COME FIRST SO IF YOU WANT TO HELP ME OUT IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED CAUSE I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS MUSIC THING FOR TEN YEARS AND I STILL DO NOT HAV ANY REAL GOOD EQUIPMENT.I COULD PROBABLY GET SOME IF I CHARGED PEOPLE FOR STUDIO TIME BUT I DONT CAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT TIMES ARE HARD.
Dec 20, 2007/2:24 am8 channels in and out? It has a mixer too? AND ITs portable? What am I even using that old tape machine…what I really need is the korg D888. Then I could really get some clarity on these muddy tracks I’ve been having to deal with….oh anywhere I want too.
solflow@gmail.com
Dec 19, 2007/9:03 pmFabian Hernandez
I have a very small studio that has taken many dreams and blessings to create. This peice of equipment isn’t simply another peice of equipment to me. This allows me to fulfill a lifetime of dreams. I’ve been aware of the Korg quality for a long time - since before the O1 workstations. I have performed with symphonies in the US and in other parts of the world, and music has been and is everything to me. I have since then come down with multiple sclerosis, and am able to record through a firewire interface into a mega computer with Pro-Tools and Cubase. I just recorded a childrens CD with my cousin - and recording was pretty difficult due to the interface limitations. With the Korg D888, I would be able to use my energy for creation and production. Whomever is chosen to recieve the D888 is one lucky person. I appreciate your time and energy spent to develop and reward upcoming and new artists.
Mark Taborn
Dec 19, 2007/4:07 pmSounds Of Rest
http://www.soundsofrest.com
Talent alone will not cut it these days. You have to be nimble in so many ways. It’s not just your talent, it’s a matter of fate. And an unbeatable duo, Broadjam and my korg D888.
Dec 18, 2007/5:29 pmGood luck and happy holidays.
Mark Fleming
Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all:
Thanks for giving the opportunity to so many great artists here at Broadjam. I may be biased but I am a long time user of the Korg Triton workstation and have been very impressed with its performance. Not only does it sound great but it is built like a tank and I have never had a problem with this unit.
I am the Creative Director of a small Independent studio. Basicly it is a one man operation. Since I am disabled I rely on grants and other funding to keep us afloat. Being able to include the Korg D888 to my small studio would prvoide many opportunities to me that I do not have now. These would include remote recording of artist performances , use the D888 to further my outreach into local High Schools so I could record various concerts and performances, provide recorded church sermans on CD for some of our home bound members, and finally the capabilities of the D888 would enable me to record remotley and then master these recordings on the spot or bring it home so I could provide the above mentioned clients with a mastered recording that would rival any other large scale recording studio.
Having the flexability, quality, and assessable of the D888 remote recording capabilities would enable me to compete with other studios and remain available to support the needs of many Indie artists and my community.
Finally after reviewing the capabilities of the Korg D888. Owning one of these units would support my current needs as both a sound enginneer and as a composer and arranger.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit this blog.
Sincerly,
Michael Driscoll
Dec 18, 2007/1:55 pmCreative Director
Indian Rock Records
(610) 541-0918
Mdriscoll_IRR@comcast.net