What is the Boss BR 600 like?

[jackofall]

I'm sending off my Micro BR today for repair. I'm just thinking about the Boss BR-600. An 8 track with no bouncing sounds exciting. Is it as easy to use as the micro and just as easy to get on to your computer? It's £250.....boy is the urge strong to get one. What do people think of it. If it's really complicated, I'll stick to what I've got. 

[guitarron]

i like it a lot
it's still small enough to take with you, it employs faders (great for mix down), can load sounds in it (i replace cymbals and snares from existing kits), can play midi files (drums only), drum presets are editable has more effects and basically operates much like the MBR.

It doesnt do MP3's and training tho

[Tony]

My trio just broke up but we had two BR series recorders in the band.  I have a Micro BR and the bass/singer/drummer/rhythm gtr/mandolin player (he's so with it it makes you sick) has a BR600.  I keep saying that I want a BR600 because I want 8 track.  He keeps saying he wants 16 track (because he already has 8 track).  I don't think that stuff ends. 

The differences that seem to matter for me are 1) Micro BR has unbeatable portability.  I take it everywhere and now that I use the Roland PMA-5 with it I think this is the best of all worlds. 2) the BR600 has 8 tracks, XLR inputs and (most important, I think) faders.  You don't have to hunt down menus to take levels up and down or take out a track all together.  It still has portability but nowhere near in the same way.  The difference is between carrying a paperback and an A4 file - one fits in your pocket and one needs to be carried - and sometimes you just need two hands - call down a bus, cigarette and a drink, phone call and adjust your your shades, whatever.

Decide what you want to do with the recorder and then make your decision. How did you use your Micro BR before it frazzled?  Did you ever take it out of the house? (No, then go BR600)  Did you use the mp3 and trainer functions a lot? (Yes, then go Micro BR) Why didn't they put an assignable fader along the edge of the Micro BR?

Good luck, Jackofall.  Whichever one you choose you are going to have fun.

[jackofall]

Many thanks for that. I will probably never have cause to take a recorder out the house. I've never had a band and are not likely to now. I like the sound of 8 tracks and would not want any more than that. I find it a bit complicated doing the bouncing thing. Would rather do a straight recording of bass, elec guitar, drum machine, up to three vocals, maybe a few sound effects....plenty for me. Is the USB thing just as easy as the MBR? I absolutely assuming it's at least as good in sound quality, if not better. The voice correction facility sounds like what I need with my voice!

[Kody]

I don't know, I have the BR900 and the MBR....I absolutely LOVE the BR900~But it does cost a bit more than the BR600

One difference I noticed is that the MBR records at 16bit and the BR900 records in 24bit~ I do notice a difference in sound quality~ Not too bad though~ I'm not sure what the br600 records in.....

The BR900's USB thing is the same as the MBR~if not better...It's easy to use the Wave Converter to get your tracks onto the PC~ Then use Audacity to turn them into MP3s~


Another thing is: Musikmesse (similar to Namm) is right around the corner~ you might want to keep your eye on it to see if anyone comes out with something new....

[guitarron]

2) the BR600 has 8 tracks, XLR inputs

no xlr's on the 600

[Tony]

2) the BR600 has 8 tracks, XLR inputs

no xlr's on the 600

You are right.  My mistake.  Sorry.

[64Guitars]

I know everyone here loves their Micro BR, but I have to say that I strongly recommend the BR-600 over the Micro BR unless the price or extreme portability is a consideration. Except for MP3 capabilities, the BR-600 does everything the Micro BR can do, plus so much more. As for portability, it's true that the BR-600 is a lot bigger than the Micro BR. However, the BR-600 is still very tiny compared to the rest of the BR line (and to recorders from other manufacturers), and it's very portable. Also, the larger size and weight of the BR-600 make it much less prone to being knocked to the floor. And any WAV files you export from the BR-600 can easily be converted to MP3 on the computer using software such as Audacity or Switch.

If you don't mind the price of the BR-600 and you don't need the extreme portability of the Micro BR, then I highly recommend the BR-600. In my opinion, it offers the best value of the entire BR line. Most of its features are identical to the BR-900 and BR-864 which are much more expensive, and the BR-600 is a lot more portable than those machines.

[64Guitars]

Is it as easy to use as the micro and just as easy to get on to your computer?

It's actually easier because there are more dedicated controls (faders, for example), which means less scrolling through menus.

It doesnt do MP3's and training tho

The BR-600 includes the Phrase Trainer feature. The only difference is that it only works with WAV files, while the Micro BR's Phrase Trainer works with either WAV files or MP3 files. I've never found that to be a problem as it's very easy to convert an MP3 file to WAV format on the computer, then import the WAV file into the BR for use with the Phrase Trainer.

Is the USB thing just as easy as the MBR?

Pretty much. The only difference is that you have to put the BR-600 into backup mode before your computer will recognize it as a USB storage device. The Micro BR is recognized as soon as you connect the USB cable to your computer. But putting the BR-600 into Backup Mode is quite easy, so I don't consider this an important difference.

One difference I noticed is that the MBR records at 16bit and the BR900 records in 24bit

Sorry, that's incorrect. The Micro BR, BR-600, and BR-900CD all use 24-bit signal processing internally with a 44.1 kHz sample rate, and all three machines export to 16-bit, 44.1 kHz WAV files.

2) the BR600 has 8 tracks, XLR inputs

no xlr's on the 600

The BR-600's mic inputs are 1/4" balanced phone jacks (TRS). However, I believe it comes with an XLR-to-TRS converter cable. No phantom power though.

[The Reverend 48]

I am very tempted to upgrade from my BR  I never use the trainer or MP3 facilities and don't move my Br around much so it sounds like I should upgrade altho I feel a bit of a traitor to my BR:D....
Is the drum facility easier to use? cos I don't particularly enjoy all the programming involved after all I am only a simple Blues Player