Multi-Track Recorders

[darkie]

Cool edit "long gone" I don't think that was the question was it !

[ecca]

What was the question ?

[RayL]

Brian

If you want an intuitive multitrack recorder, then a standalone unit which records on to a hard disk or an SD card is a good way to go.

Things to look out for are:
1. The number of tracks that can be simultaniously recorded. Companies very often cheat in their advertising and say things like '8-track recorder' when the truth is that it does 8 tracks of playback but only two tracks of simultanious record. This is also a problem with many computer interfaces - they only allow two tracks of simultanious recording. The drawbacks of 'only two' are pretty obvious, with the wish to put down a guitar track plus stereo drums at the same time as a common example.

Frankly, if you want to make it fun and not worry about bouncing down all the time to free up tracks, then get an '8 track simultanious record with 16 track playback' machine. They are not much more expensive than the lesser recorders and you'll be able to make decent multi-instrument recordings quickly and without fuss. At the same time you'll be able to record a live band, or a band rehearsal, with reasonable separation between instruments for later mixing. I waited years for such a machine to become available. I used to go round trade shows with my spec on a piece of paper getting "No demand for it, mate" until Zoom produced their 1608 about six or seven years ago and then they sold like hot cakes. My 1608 has been a real gem - very reliable, and so full of valuable tracks that I bought the simpler Korg 888 a couple of years ago just to take on the road.

2. Get a recorder that allows drop-in recording (i.e. to go from Playback into Record in the middle of a number) using a footswitch. This will make your one-man recording very much easier to achieve.

3. Make sure that you can back up your recorded files. Have nothing to do with anything that has 'permanent built-in memory' or a hard disk if it does not have a USB connection.

Ray

[Didier]

Things to look out for are:
1. The number of tracks that can be simultaniously recorded. Companies very often cheat in their advertising and say things like '8-track recorder' when the truth is that it does 8 tracks of playback but only two tracks of simultanious record.

The Zoom R16 I mentionned can record 8 tracks simultaniously.

Didier

[roger bayliss]

Actually the specs are quite good on the Zooms Didier with control surfaces for DAW software and builtin DSP effects amongst the other features. Heres the site

http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/r16/index.php