Line 6 Backtrack

[macheesmo3]

Just noticed this little mini recorder in my newest MF catalog.
It'ss supposed to record up to 8 hours at the highest quality and 24 hours on the lowest quality. Plus , it's like a dictation recorder as it start when you start playing. This and it's small size would make it great for recording jams , and writing sessions.

Anyone have any experience with the line 6 backtrack ( with or without the built in mic?)


I put this in the recording forum , but got no response. I figure since it's kind of a grab and go mini recorder . It kinda fits in more here !
http://img.thegearpage.net/board/images/misc/progress.gif

[almogaver]

I have one (with mic) on the way. I'll post about it once I've tried it myself.
http://line6.com/backtrack/images/backmic01.jpg
http://line6.com/backtrack/backtrackmic.html

(...)It'ss supposed to record up to 8 hours at the highest quality and 24 hours on the lowest quality.(...)
At the highest quality (48 kHz / 24 bit) the BackTrack+Mic is supposed to record up to 4 hours (up to 24 hours at the lowest quality) whereas the basic BackTrack can record up to 2 hours (up to 12 hours at the lowest quality):

BackTrack + Mic BackTrack Sample Rate Bit Depth
24 hours 12 hours 11 kHz 16 bit
12 hours 6 hours 22 kHz 16 bit
8 hours 4 hours 32 kHz 16 bit
6 hours 3 hours 44.1 kHz 16 bit
5 hours 2.5 hours 48 kHz 16 bit
4 hours 2 hours 44.1 kHz 24 bit
4 hours 2 hours 48 kHz 24 bit

[89strat]

I have one (with mic) on the way. I'll post about it once I've tried it myself.
http://line6.com/backtrack/images/backmic01.jpg
http://line6.com/backtrack/backtrackmic.html





Well? What'ya think?

[jbird]

I tried one! Going from guitar > backtrack > amp: Playback through headphones was (maybe obvious) just dry guitar. Playback w/o phones came out of the amp, which was cool for a minute, kinda let me sit back and play with settings on the amp, while I was'nt was playing, weird? It's cool for capturing those moments you may forget! In the end, I opted for my GC 30 day guarantee and traded it for a Carbon Copy, much funner! I guess I was somehow hoping I could use the backtrack as a sort of headphone device for listening to the amp, not so in my case.

[almogaver]

Well? What'ya think?

I'm using it all the time 1) to record my band's rehearsals and jams through the built-in mic as well as 2) to record my guitar sessions at home by placing it either before (for subsequent PC processing) or after my preamp and effects.

In both scenarios, the mark function comes in really handy to make a first selection of the improvisations/riffs you think that can be further usable and/or that are just worth keeping.

I can also instantly loop the tune/riff I've just recorded to create new ideas for a song or just jam along with it.

I love its "set it and forget it" concept: you just have to turn it on and then you can forget about it during the whole session as it detects whether you're playing or not and records everything automatically (a little tweaking on the recording sensitivity is needed to make sure that it will record properly).

IMO it's a super useful gadget and it's very small indeed!

PS: I never digged Line 6 products, but I must admit that both the M13 and this simple but little magic gizmo are really amazing.

[89strat]

So if I wanted to record our band doing a couple of songs to put up on a web-site, this would be a good way to go?

The reason I ask is that when I went to guitar center and explained that I wanted something easy to record our band at a bar or perhaps at a rehearsal to hear what we sound like he suggested the Backtrack with mic. I was more interested in the Zoom H2, but he talked me out of it and into the Backtracker. It wasn't until later that I found out Guitar Center doesn't carry zoom products. I'm just looking for something as close to effortless that will give us a good enough recording so we can hear how we sound, maybe even put a song or two on our web-site.

[155]

love the zoom h2!

[almogaver]

So if I wanted to record our band doing a couple of songs to put up on a web-site, this would be a good way to go?

The reason I ask is that when I went to guitar center and explained that I wanted something easy to record our band at a bar or perhaps at a rehearsal to hear what we sound like he suggested the Backtrack with mic. I was more interested in the Zoom H2, but he talked me out of it and into the Backtracker. It wasn't until later that I found out Guitar Center doesn't carry zoom products. I'm just looking for something as close to effortless that will give us a good enough recording so we can hear how we sound, maybe even put a song or two on our web-site.

IMO the Backtrack with mic is the easiest and less expensive way to get good mono recordings of your band so you can hear how you sound.
However, I'm not sure if it's the best way to record songs to be posted on you web site.

[sick1982]

I'm also interested into buying this device, but a few things I wonder: does it change anything? as in:
- Does it noticeably kill dynamics? (I can live with a LITTLE bit of compression)
- Does it add any hiss? (do you hear a noticeable difference when you max out the gain on the amp?)
- Do you think it can be used to record my crap and be able to "professionally" record my crap later? (like, plugging in into amp without guitar, press play and record with SM57 to computer ... I hoped this will enable me to play along a drum track and record/sync it to that afterwards).

Thanks!!

[89strat]

It's been almost a year since I last posted about this device. I returned it. This past December, SamAsh had a one day sale for the Zoom H2 at $99 for the first 25 people through the door. I bought it and have been extremely happy. It's very easy to use and for our loud band rehearsals, it records really well. It's easy to use and convert to MP3's so I can e-mail them to other members in the band. I think the sound quality, build quality, and features are better than the line 6, and just as easy to use.

The Line 6 is cool to use with your guitar going through your amp. You can record a phrase then it will play. But that's not what I needed it for.

[Twik]

It's been almost a year since I last posted about this device. I returned it. This past December, SamAsh had a one day sale for the Zoom H2 at $99 for the first 25 people through the door. I bought it and have been extremely happy. It's very easy to use and for our loud band rehearsals, it records really well. It's easy to use and convert to MP3's so I can e-mail them to other members in the band. I think the sound quality, build quality, and features are better than the line 6, and just as easy to use.

The Line 6 is cool to use with your guitar going through your amp. You can record a phrase then it will play. But that's not what I needed it for.


I also returned the Line 6 for the H2... H2 has so much more versatility... I actually sat in bed and laid down two guitars and a bass track then took into my music room and played the drums behind it. Incredible sounds for a totally self contained device..
The built in mics are surprisingly clear and accurate as well! I am VERY happy with my H2!

[89strat]

I also returned the Line 6 for the H2... H2 has so much more versatility... I actually sat in bed and laid down two guitars and a bass track then took into my music room and played the drums behind it. Incredible sounds for a totally self contained device..
The built in mics are surprisingly clear and accurate as well! I am VERY happy with my H2!


You're able to lay down more than one track? I'm under the impression that the H2 is single track recording. How did you do that?

[sick1982]

H-2 looks like a very nice recorder indeed, especially having an SD slot! But too bad it cannot simply be (transparently) connected between guitar and amp, as this is the only functionality I am currently interested in :s

At least I THINK such feature will enable me to enjoy recording the way I like to.

I only have limited recording equipment, and each time I want to record, I have to get all these things out of the closet. This because I currently don't have any heating or decent isolation upstairs (very slowly working on that), so I am somewhat forced to play and keep sensitive equipment in the living room.

That said, basically I only have a decent headphone, decent mic and the POD Studio UX1 as far as recording material goes. In the Past I had the Line 6 JM4, but it was FAR from ideal using it between the guitar and amp, and even worse when in the FX loop.

Since I hate playing guitar with a headphone, and get cars/cats/girlfriend/... that are able to ruin any mic'ed recording, and the fact I need something to play along with (metronome, drums, ...) without needing a headphone and without being captured by the mic and without needing an extra piece of equipment to get out of the closet and setup every time I want to TRY recording but in the end finish nowhere.

Also, having everything setup on such a small "corner" really annoys me as I end up tripping over cables, cables getting stuck, try not bumping against anything, ...

This made me think that Backtrack could be the tool I need, maybe I oversee another obvious and economically viable solution?

I imagined myself using it just anytime and to play along drum tracks that are playing on my computer. And when it seems ok to me and am done playing guitar, I could clean up and transfer files to my computer. Then at a later moment I can have some fun with VST's and/or mic'ing the playback through an amp without ending up frustrated with the cables, headphone, playing the same thing over and over again, ...

[bsic]

This thing looks cool, the demo shows a cool application of it playing something in a loop so you can check how you sit in the mix from the opposing vantage point. Anyone used it in this type of application?