Korg D4 4-Track Digital Recorder

4 X 8 Virtual Tracks. Easy Effect Editing. USB Connection.

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customer reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

46 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 6 out of 10

4 People wrote reviews

* * * * * * * * * * 6 out of 10

"Don't buy it."

Feature:
You can record with it.... it's got a microphone on it... it's handy sometimes, but nothing too special.... expandable memory....

Quality:
It was made very well. Nice and compact, and can easily fit pretty much anywhere really.

Value:
Not worth buying. Look for something else, trust me.

Desirability:
You don't want this. Completely un-sexy.

Sound:
There is a little bit of hiss noise but not much. If you mix the sound good enough, it's not noticable.

Ease of Use:
NOT EASY TO USE AT ALL. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT RECORDS IN WAV OR MP3, DO NOT GET THIS BECAUSE IT ONLY RECORDS MP2 I REPEAT ONLY RECORDS MP2 FORMAT

Support:
They've stopped making it, therefore stopped supporting it.

Submitted: 9/11/2008

Style of Music: all

* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"Finally! Everything in one neat, tiny package!"

Feature:
Having played with sound recording gadgets for 30 years, I found the D4 is easy to use, with just the right amount of bells and whistles, when and where I need them most. A lot of thought must have gone into deciding the final menu, because when I looked for something, there it was; not buried under ten layers of commands, and not 100 times more effects than you can remember you have, (or need). Korg left out the cheesy stuff and kept it real.

Quality:
For the cost of the unit, it is perfect. Korg spent money in all the right places. The knobs respond smoothly, the volume is exactly as expected from my microphones, all the nuances of accoustic music were captured easily. It seems like they took everything good from all the home recording devises and put them into the D4.

Value:
Like I said, the D4 makes my cables, software, drum machine, and 4-track tape recorder obsolete. My life is less cluttered. My studio is wherever I want it to be. This is great! but owww! all that old stuff!

Desirability:
D4 design is not genius, its evolution. The D4 has tons of common sense. Korg found a way to take all that's good in home recording and put it into one small package. It works by feel, in manner that came as no suprise. Using it feels a lot like eating comfort food. Everything you expect from it is there with no suprises except how good it is.

Sound:
I am a little irritated so much of my gear is obsolete now. (What do I do with all that stuff?) Now I can record sessions with the local bluegrass enthusiasts without intimidating anyone. I just set up right and left mic's for incredibly accurate reproductions. When I let the players hear the final cd they were all smiles.

Ease of Use:
I laid down 4 tracks and mixed to cd within a couple hours. The spontaneous magic of the music was not tainted by technical difficulties. It was a lot like using my reliable old Tascam PortaStudio MK-II, only with a much smaller footprint along with on-board drums and effects. No more sync tracks, no more expensive software, no more lost moments due to steep learning curves. I can see how a person starting out would find all this functionality a little confusing. Over the years I have spent hours and hours studying manuals on this type of device, and I believe that learning it all at once, on one machine, would be a daunting task. Newcomers be grateful you have saved thousands of dollars on analog equipment you will never have to learn how to use. Locked in the funny translation of the manual are all the secrets you seek. I would rather do some homework and figure stuff out than spend an extra 50.00 per unit it would probably take Korg to revamp their english version user manual.

Support:
I have not needed any support. Probably never will since home recording equipment seems to become obsolete way before it wears out. I would not be careless with it, treat it like any other expensive tool. Work it hard and have fun, but treat it with respect.

Overall:
Now I need to get rid of stuff, not find any more! I live in the country and love being able to record in my living room without taking over the whole room with gear. No amps, nothing. My guitar, my mics, and this little black box and a pair of headphones.

Submitted: 2/26/2006

Style of Music: Accoustic Roots

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About This Product!
Description
Docs
From Our Catalog
High-Performance Recording Studio In a
Friendly, Compact Package

Welcome a new member to Korg's lineup of D-series recorders - acclaimed for their superb audio quality and intuitive ease-of-use. About the same size as a VHS video tape, the D4 Digital Recorder contains built-in effects, rhythms, and a tuner, everything needed to plug in a guitar or mic and start recording right away. Five real-time knobs provide immediate control over numerous functions, including a full array of Korg's proprietary 'REMS' modeling effects. These same knobs perform double duty as Pan knobs and Record Select buttons; an informative backlit LCD screen keeps it all together. Inside, you'll find powerful recording and sophisticated editing functions that rival high level models. There's even a USB connector that makes it easy to transfer song data to a computer. With enormous potential packed into its small size, the D4 is the ideal partner for your creative music life.

Main Features:
4-Track digital recorder features 8 virtual tracks per track, for a total of 32 tracks.

Two tracks of simultaneous recording.

High audio quality with extended recording times using MPEG1 Layer 2 compressed recording format.

XLR and 1/4 inch inputs accommodate both a microphone and/or guitar.

Intuitive user interface provides plenty of knobs for easy operation.

Instantly recall frequently-used effect settings, including custom-tailored settings, using the Favorites knob.

Five knobs (with push-button function) allow for easy effect editing and pan control.

Full suite of non-destructive editing tools includes punch-in/out, bounce, copy/paste, delete - even pro-level functions such as time compression/expansion are provided.

Korg's proprietary 'REMS' modeling technology delivers 93 effect types that can be used for guitar, insert, master, or final effect processing. There are 100 preset effect programs ready for immediate use, and 100 user program locations.

High-capacity CompactFlash data storage.

Transfer data to a computer quickly and easily via the USB connector.

Built-in mic allows immediate recording on the go.

87 Rhythm / metronome patterns and a chromatic tuner are built-in.

The custom LCD display is backlit for easy visibility - even in dark locations.

AC adaptor and 64 MB CompactFlash media are included.

Just The Right Size
The D4 is a complete four-track recording studio, providing multi-effects based on Korg's proprietary 'REMS' modeling technology, and an array of rhythm and metronome patterns to compliment any musical style. Just plug a guitar or microphone into the D-4 and you can begin creating your own song a track at a time. Eight virtual tracks are provided for each track, so you can choose the best take as you build your song. The D4 records directly to CompactFlash using one of three modes -High Quality, Standard or Economy - providing extended recording time with great audio quality. CompactFlash cards of up to 2 GB* may be used and each one can store up to 99 songs, recorded and saved in MP2 (MPEG-1 Layer-2) format. A built-in mic lets you make quick musical memos as inspiration comes to you. There's also a built-in tuner, ensuring that you'll be in tune whenever you record.

*maximum recording time = 72 hours, single track using Economy mode with a 2 GB CompactFlash.

Simple, Easy-To-Use Controls
Despite its compact size, the D4 offers quick and convenient control of its many professional features and rich functionality. A single knob takes you from mode to mode. Five dedicated knobs provide real-time editing of the onboard REMS effects. By pushing down on these same knobs you can select recording status of each track and turn effects on and off. There's also a 'favorites knob' that lets you instantly recall eleven of your favorite effects. The Value Dial provides a quick way to change settings and select various options. With trim knobs on both inputs (XLR and 1/4 in. are provided for Input 2, 1/4" only on Input 1), you'll be able to get the optimum level in any recording situation.

A Full Suite of Editing Tools
The D4 provides the functionality and flexibility you've come to expect from Korg digital recorders, including copy, delete, punch-in recording and more. Bounce recording combines multiple tracks into one - with no loss of fidelity - and frees up tracks for additional recording. You can also use professional time compression/expansion editing functions to alter previously-recorded phrases so they match the tempo of your song.

"REMS" modeling effect technology
KORG's proprietary "REMS" (Resonant structure and Electronic circuit Modeling System) modeling technology simulates the audio characteristics of many classic guitar amps, legendary recording microphones and numerous effects with startling realism, adding depth and character to your original recordings. The AMP effect faithfully recreates a range of amps; from classics such as the VOX AC30TB through today's latest guitar amps. The CABINET effect accurately simulates a wide variety of speaker cabinets that match the various AMP types. The 4-BAND EQ allows you to make detailed adjustments to the tonal character and you can also apply chorus, phaser, and flanger type MODULATION effects. For recording bass parts, the BASS DRIVE and BASS CABINET effects provide a broad spectrum of bass sounds that perfectly simulate the character of various bass rigs. When it comes time to add vocals - or another acoustic instrument - the mic simulator recreates the ideal tonality for various recording applications.

What is REMS
REMS (Resonant structure and Electronic circuit Modeling System) is Korg's proprietary modeling technology that digitally simulates a wide range of factors that affect sound, including the sound-producing mechanism of acoustic and electric/electronic instruments, the body and cabinet resonances that affect the tone, the spatial character of the sound field in which the sound is heard, the electrical and acoustical response of the mics and speakers that are in the sound-transmission path, and the way in which electrical circuits such as vacuum tubes and transistors affect the tone.

Create Multi-Effect 'Chains'
The D4 digital recorder provides four types of effect chains, in which up to five effects can be connected in a specified order. This makes it easy to create multi-effects that are suitable for the material you're recording. These effect chains are stored as programs, with 100 user and 100 preset locations for easy access. The presets contain programs created by professional musicians and studio engineers and are ready to use. You can edit the effects in a program and store it in the user program area. Four chain types are provided. [GUITAR/MIC] is used when applying effects to a mono input, such as guitar or vocal; [INSERT/GTR+VO] is for use with a stereo input, or when applying separate effects to a vocal track and a guitar track that are being recorded simultaneously; [MASTER] makes the overall sound more consistent; and [FINAL], which applies overall adjustments to the final output stage. A dedicated switch is provided to select each chain type. No complicated operations are required, letting you concentrate on your recording.

High-Quality PCM Rhythms
Inside the D4 is a PCM sound generator that can produce 87 different rhythm patterns (32 metronome patterns and 55 rhythm patterns). The rich array of patterns include 8 beat, 16 beat, Rock, Funk, Big Beat, House, Reggae, Hip-Hop, R&B, Disco, Dance, Jazz, 3/4, 6/8, 5/4, and 7/4, covering a broad range from simple beats to highly distinctive styles. These rhythm patterns may be used as recording guides, or as an easy way to create tracks.

Reliable, Convenient CompactFlash Storage
CompactFlash capacities of 16 MB - 2 GB are supported for data storage.*1*2 The data is written automatically when you've finished recording or editing. The D4 also provides a USB connector, so it's easy to transfer song data and user effect data to your computer for backup.*3 Completed songs created within the D4 as stereo MPEG format*4 song files, can be played back as stereo MPEG files on your computer.*5 This also makes it easy to distribute or exchange data on the Internet.

Technical Info

*1 One (1) 64 MB CompactFlash card containing demo song data is included.
*2 CF TYPE I cards only. CF TYPE II cards are not supported.
*3 USB connection requires Windows 2000/Me or later, or Mac OS 9.0.4 or later. If your computer does not have a USB connector, you can still use a card reader/writer to backup data that's stored on the card.
*4 MPEG1 Layer2 format.
*5 Windows Me, Windows 2000, Mac OS 9.0.4, or later systems are supported - when using a PC with an audio card that supports 32 kHz.
Specifications subject to change without notice
Four-track digital recording in a little black box about the size of a VHS tape! The D4 gives you 2-track simultaneous recording, 32 virtual tracks, and 4-track playback. Its 5 knobs give you easy and intuitive control over panning and effects parameters. Its 93 effects include EQ, compression, reverb, and guitar amp models. A chromatic tuner and an 87-preset rhythm machine/metronome are also built-in. Digital editing tools include copy/paste, automated punches, and even time compression/expansion. One XLR input, two 1/4" mic/line/instrument inputs, plus a built-in mic. Records to CompactFlash (comes with 64 MB card); upload data to your Mac/PC via USB. AC adapter included.

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