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Music Media

Digital 4 Track Recorders? 111

Posted by Cliff from the for-you-music-makers-out-there dept.
leftist writes "I'm looking for an entry level digital 4 or 8 track digital recorder to experiment with in the $500 range. Any product recommendations or warnings out there in the geek crowd? Something that uses mp2/mp3 natively a plus!" Krow: What, you wanted content with your story?
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Digital 4 Track Recorders? More

Digital 4 Track Recorders?

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  • Way to go guys. There's no article there. Swift.
  • Slashdot no longer even has time to post the body of post...just the titles.

  • Sure... (Score:4, Funny)

    by pythorlh ( 236755 ) <pythor AT gmail DOT com> on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @12:50AM (#5384546) Journal
    I'll take one.

  • Did you search google? (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @12:52AM (#5384559)
    That always seems to be the response to Ask Slashdot anyways, so I'll pre-suppose the question and provide a Google link: here [google.com]
    • That's why, sometimes, a simple Google search won't do. The results you found suck! Cakewalk [cakewalk.com] wasn't even returned by your search and it's one of the better digital home recording products out there. No one seems to get that Ask Slashdot is about getting the opinion of geeks, not just cold hard results from a search engine! :)

      • Re:Did you search google? (Score:1, Insightful)

        by Anonymous Coward
        Cakewalk [cakewalk.com] wasn't even returned by your search and it's one of the better digital home recording products out there.

        If, by "better", you mean "better than Windows sound recorder", I agree. However, if you mean "better than Pro Tools, Cubase or even Cooledit", then you are delusional or high.

  • Finally! We can't get yelled at for not reading the article, or even the post now!

  • 4'33"? (Score:5, Funny)

    by tedDancin ( 579948 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @12:53AM (#5384566)
    You have to figure out the story yourselves. It's not 4'33" by any chance?

  • Nihilism? (Score:5, Funny)

    by kruetz ( 642175 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @12:55AM (#5384575) Journal
    Okay, as a /. editor you cop lotsa crap when you do a repost
    You even cop crap for posting about every release of Mozilla/Phoenix/other OS darling
    But did you really have to revert to denying the existence of the posted article by posting the textual equivalent of John Cage's patented 4:33?
    (Is the title - pertaining to music creation - a reference to the aforementioned composition?)
    Are you posing the ultimate philosophical yet slashdotical question:
    "If a post has no text, does it get read?"

    Cliff, I give you 11 out of 10 and salute your originality.
    But don't let CowboyNeal repost it!
    • Or still others:

      If a post has no text, will it still be redundant and misspelled?
      If a post has no text, can it still be filled with factual errors and misinterpretations?
      If a post has no text, can you still flame it? (Yes, you can)
      If a post has no text, will moderators still mod everything down as off-topic?
      If a post has no text, will hordes of Slashdotters still jump to random conclusions without checking the facts?
      If a post has no text, is it ok for fanboys to post "*n1x r00lz" messages?
      If a post has no text, what happens to the Slashdot effect?

      You have entered the realm of the Slashdot singularity. Time and space, as you know it, are no longer relevant.

  • Oh come on (Score:3, Funny)

    by Satai ( 111172 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @01:00AM (#5384601)
    I think everybody know what he wants to ask. "Ask Slashdot: Digital 4 Track Recorders?"

    Yes, it turns out, Bruce Willis was dead through the entire movie. He only realized it when he saw that his wife dropped the ring; but there were numerous clues dropped, like his choice of attire through the entire thing, as well as some foreshadowing with the "I see dead people."

    Question answered.
    • Not to mention that you never see him walk through a door after finding the guy in the bathroom...

      Or the fact that every scene he's in without being alone, the temprature makes people cold and/or uncomfortable.

      Plus, he probably could have used a digital 4 track recorder to enhance the tapes he was listening to in the basement...

  • 42 (Score:1)

    by Erebus ( 13033 )
    42

  • I love it! (Score:2, Funny)

    by sexysasian ( 592552 )
    Awesome, I love. It's a go~ When can we ship?
  • Figures they'd screw up the first post in a while that interests me...

    So I'll post my own question, guessing what the post was supposed to be: I'm in the market for a digital multitrack, but since I'll be recording my wife's voice, a guitar and keyboard, I shouldn't need more than four tracks. I've seen lots of expensive digital 8-track and 16-track recorders, but a simple, high-quality digital equivalent of the old casette four-tracks (we own one of the casette types) would be really nice and would save some money. So what do people recommend?

    • Cakewalk [cakewalk.com] rocks. I've recorded about 10 songs using "Guitar Tracks". Look into it. It's 8 tracks too. You'd be surprised how many tracks you can use when you get creative! You can also "bounce" 7 of the tracks to the eighth, opening up the 7 tracks for more! Great product IMO!

    • Re:It figures... (Score:4, Informative)

      by Eneff ( 96967 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @01:19AM (#5384685)
      Linux, of course!

      (sorry, had to be said)

      http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM02/Content/ Zo om/PR/MRS-4.html -- 450 bucks.

      http://www.crmav.com/recording/81/pxr4_4_track_d ig ital_recorder.shtml -- 300 bucks

    • I once saw one that used Sony Minidiscs and supported only four tracks. It looked like this [harmony-central.com] or this [sospubs.co.uk].

    • Re:It figures... (Score:3, Informative)

      by Scaba ( 183684 )
      So I'll post my own question, guessing what the post was supposed to be: I'm in the market for a digital multitrack, but since I'll be recording my wife's voice, a guitar and keyboard, I shouldn't need more than four tracks. I've seen lots of expensive digital 8-track and 16-track recorders, but a simple, high-quality digital equivalent of the old casette four-tracks (we own one of the casette types) would be really nice and would save some money. So what do people recommend?

      Something off this page [midiman.com]. From what you're asking, the Delta 66 may be the right one. Don't waste your time with cassettes, digital or not, when for about the same price, you get 6 in/6 out, and virtually unlimited tracks in software (CoolEdit [syntrillium.com], Cubase [steinberg.net], etc.).

    • Re:It figures... (Score:3, Insightful)

      by adolf ( 21054 )
      People will hate me for saying this, but:

      ADAT.

      There's several real advantages over anything consisting of just the simple PCI audio card that many others have suggested:

      The converters are outboard, you get an automatic backup of your work for the cost of a VHS tape, the converters are outboard, it can operate independantly of a PC, the converters are outboard, and it's easy to use while intoxicated.

      Did I mention that the converters are outboard?

      Oh. You also get complete electrical isolation from the RFI monster that is a PC, which will help prevent your mic preamps from picking up seti@home via the temporary wiring disaster that comes along with any recording project.

      Just plug it in with toslink. RME cards are supposed to have good support under ALSA. I've used a Lexicon Core2 (under...another OS) with good results.

      You also need a bunch of mics, and mic preamps of some variety. I used to use a 24x8 Tascam console before dropping the studio. It served mostly as a big pile of mic preamps with handy signal routing, though I do admit to mixing some things to 2-channel DAT, sans PC, and having a great deal of fun in the process.

      Mixer, mic, and preamp selection is a topic of endless debate, so I'll leave it at that, except for one final note:

      Ebay is the poor musician's friend. Just because most of this gear is usually fairly expensive, doesn't mean that it must be so.

    • I use a Boss BR-532 digital 4 track. It uses SmartMedia to record to and has all kinds of built in effects, lots of different inputs, etc. It does everything an old cassette 4 track would do and more -- plus, you can always pull the tracks off the SmartMedia, convert them to WAV, and then do whatever you want with them in software. Also nice that you can keep up to 32 virtual tracks, meaning that you can do several re-takes on one track and compare them in the mix, without deleting any of the old tracks. There's more information about it on Harmony Central. [harmony-central.com]
  • seeing as how noone's pointed this out, you forgot the body text to the article...

    Hold on, everybody's pointed that out. Oh well.
  • Digital 4-track recorders do exist. Glad I could help.
  • Comment

  • Off-topic?!?! (Score:4, Funny)

    by breon.halling ( 235909 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @01:09AM (#5384641)

    Hey, does this mean nothing can be considered off-topic? ;)

  • Great (Score:3, Funny)

    by Woodblock ( 22276 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @01:10AM (#5384645) Homepage
    I can't wait for the double post. I simply have too much work and don't need to waste any more time reading actual stories.

  • RE: Digital 4 Track Recorders (Score:5, Funny)

    by mfos.org ( 471768 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @01:11AM (#5384657)
    There are 3 basic problems in using a Digital 4 Track Recorders to pull a dog sled in the Iditarod.

    1) Current regulation prohibit non-canine devices from pulling the sled. However, a more liberal tone has been taken in recent years may allow this. Cats are supposed to considered for next year's race

    2) Current power consumption is pretty high, the solar power banks required to power it would be prohibitive.

    3) It may come as a surprise to you, but Digital 4 track recorders don't provide any locomotive capabilities. However, apparently some Japanese company is preparing to release in Q4 of 2003 a dual tread model, so keep the look out for that

  • Perhaps (Score:2, Insightful)

    by DarkKnightRadick ( 268025 )
    the /. editors are just seeing how many lame comments people will make as opposed to actual answers. So far, I've seen two or three actuall (aka serious) answers to the topic (there is no question since there is no post).

    Otherwise I think they've jumped April Fools Day by a month and some-odd days.
  • I think you forgot something.

  • Story (Score:3, Funny)

    by PD ( 9577 ) <slashdotlinux@pdrap.org> on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @01:20AM (#5384690) Homepage Journal
    That story must have been sent by Pioneer 10. Give it 12 hours or so, it's a long way out.

  • [n/t] (Score:2)

    by addaon ( 41825 )
    (see subject)

  • In case of slashdotting... (Score:3, Funny)

    by MattCohn.com ( 555899 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @01:28AM (#5384721)
    In Case Of Slashdotting:

    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .

  • PREVIEW! (Score:3, Funny)

    by buzzbomb ( 46085 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @01:28AM (#5384722)
    I think the post page says it all:

    (Use the Preview Button! Check those URLs! Don't forget the http://!)

  • Answer (Score:3, Funny)

    by aldjiblah ( 312163 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @01:31AM (#5384730)
    Yes.
  • Taco or Timothy will post the same empty article again later this week...

  • Digital 4 Track Recorders (Score:1, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Of course, the article is completely blank, but I'll take a guess at what you were asking..

    Simply: Don't buy one. Why: Too expensive, very inflexible and not expandable (unless you pay even more through the nose.)

    Instead, go for what the pros use: Protools. I've mixed extensively in the Protools environment, and I am constantly blown away by its power.

    Protools: Tracks limited only by the computer's power
    4 Track: 4 tracks, often 'virtual tracks', but at a great loss of flexibility

    Protools: Amazing expandability, FX, Midi, virtual instruments
    4 Track: Expandable only by FX units you can plug in

    Protools: Brilliant UI, ease of use blah blah, takes a while to learn, but the skys the limit
    4 Track: Simple, basic, not powerful

    I could go on and on, but I'm tired and busy at work.

    Protools can be expanded at your own rate, as you need it, and as you can afford it. Because it doesnt get 'damaged' or worn out (just out of date), it'll have a higher resale value too, if you ever decide to part with it.

    The only advantage a four track digital recorder would have is that its more portable. Easier to chuck into a car boot and jam at a mates place with it. You could also use it for the most basic live sound, but thats probably not a consideration.

    If you can afford it, get Protools, and remember that it will pay for itself in the long term. While you're at it, get a decent computer for it too.

    Hope this helped

    Rock or Doof on :)

    • What about Sonic Foundry's Acid [sonicfoundry.com]? Protools is probably the budget of most aspiring musicians.

      • I meant to say "Protools is probably beyond the budget of most aspiring musicians."

      • Re:Acid? (Score:3, Interesting)

        by Hank Reardon ( 534417 )

        As somebody who uses Acid a lot for creating music, I'd have to say that it's more of a production tool than a recording tool. Not to harp on Acid, but composition, rather than recording, is where it really shines.

        Typically, when laying down tracks, you're recording a live artist, where something like Acid works really well with loop-based arrangement; the two functions are really hard to mix together and still have a usable interface.

        Personally, I use Acid for most of my mix-down and rearrangements, as well as final post mix. I also use a simple USB-controlled 8-track mixer and Cubase to to my track layouts. In a pinch, since I'm the only person ever playing in my stuff, I'll use something like SoundForge and then go back and sync the tracks up manually with Acid.

        I'd recommend something like Cubase ($150 to $500, depending on your local music stores) or the Digi-01 pack from the makers of Protools ($450 to $700, again depending on the music store.)

        If you're looking for an all-in-one type solution, then the Digi-01 pack is probably the way to go. For the price, you get a very good quality professional (read: 96kbit, 24-bit sampling) four track (I think, it might be 8 tracks) with a variety of inputs. In addition, it comes with a Protools "lite" package of software that should be good for most of the home recording junkies out there.

        Another package to consider, although it's not out yet, is FruityLoops [fruityloops.com]4.0. Their new package has the sequencing, MIDI and, added in the 4.0 version, track recording capability from an ASIO source like the Digi-01 or Gina cards.

        I use FruityLoops 3.56 currently and, while it's a great music creation tool, it's really lacking in the track recording arena. Hopefully, this month's release will remedy that. Perhaps I'll review it in my /. journal when it comes out at the end of this month.

        Hope that helps!

        • If you are looking for something a little cheaper than the Digi-01, you might consider the MBox from DigiDesign [digidesign.com]. I haven't used one but have heard good things. It plugs in to a Mac or XP machine via USB and allows recording of 2 tracks at once. Although it isn't firewire it provides zero-latency monitoring. Also comes with the ProTools software which has just been updated for OS X. Worth a look. I believe you can get them for around $450.

          Has anyone had any experience with the Mbox?

    • Re:Digital 4 Track Recorders (Score:1, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Yup, but as I mentioned above, don't forget Pro Tools Free.. turns your computer into a sweet little multitrack recorder. You can also get basic plugins for it like reverb ($50), etc.

      Definitely avoid the special-purpose units though. Get a powerbook (or whatever) with a CD burner, an audio i/o module if you need it, and a small high-quality mixer (I have one of the tiny behringers).

      Infinite possibilities.
  • This is one of the most straight-forward and insteresting ask-slashdots in recent memory.
  • ...Instead Only Try to realize the truth
    What Truth?
    There Is no article. Only then will you see it is not the article you read, but ARTICLE READS YOU
    Stupid? yes Pointless? yes
  • echo audio [echoaudio.com] sells digital multitrack recording products. one product of theirs that my friend bought on ebay for only like $50 (retails for only a few hundred, i don't remember) is the Layla 20bit, which is a combination rackmountable piece of hardware for all the inputs, and a pci card for your computer connecting to the rackmount...they include software for it, and my over all opinion is its very good. I believe its a 4 track, but again, i could be wrong. Ebay search for Echo Layla, lowest price first [ebay.com]
  • Hasn't anyone come to the conclusion yet, that the entire question is "Digital 4 track recorders?"

    Sometimes all you need is a subject, without any elaboration. So, everyone talk about DIGITAL 4 TRACK RECORDERS. sheesh.
  • Or, what was the question again?
  • I'm looking for an entry level digital 4 or 8 track digital recorder to experiment with in the $500 range.
    Ok, Ebay might be the bet here if you're sure you want digital. I haven't done much shopping online for recording gear, so I might be off base, but I haven't seen a self-contained all-digital solution that is halfway decent for under $1100 US in my local music stores.

    If you don't have to go digital, you might check your local pawn shops to see if you can find a used 4- or 8- track Tascam. Even the cheapest Tascam recorders were fairly decent-sounding. Depending on how long it's been on the shelf, you might get away for under $100.

    Any product recommendations or warnings out there in the geek crowd? Something that uses mp2/mp3 natively a plus!

    The biggest warning I can think of is don't bother with anything that uses mp2/mp3 as a native recording format.

    I don't know about you, but when I write and record my own music, I don't want a lossy compression codec to remove any of the sound I've worked hard to produce.

    If it doesn't have to be portable, get 4 SoundBlaster-16 PCI cards and the cheapest copy of Cubase you can find. The cards should be less than $30 at your local computer store and the el-cheapo version of Cubase should be less than $300.

    Once you have that built and in the computer, see if you can find ASIO drivers for the SB cards; Creative doesn't make them but there is at least one free aftermarket (http://come.to/sblive) [come.to] ASIO driver package. Install those, and you've got a decent-sounding, 16-bit digital recorder.

    The 16-bit sound isn't going to give you studio quality mix-downs or anything, but it'll do for just screwing around at home.

  • software or hardware? (Score:5, Informative)

    by phaxkolumbo ( 572192 ) <phaxkolumbo&gmail,com> on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @04:21AM (#5385198)

    Please, people, if you don't know what s/he's asking, keep your trap shut, m'kay? We're talking audio here, so signal-to-noise ratio counts, you see...

    But, do you want to go the hardware or software recording route?

    If you have a decent enough computer (G3 macs or PII upwards x86s will do the trick for about 16 tracks), you might consider getting a good soundcard.

    I personally use a M-Audio Delta44 [m-audio.com], 4 inputs, 4 outputs, nothing more. Perfect for recording. They have nice break-out boxes, so you don't have to crouch behind your computer when plugging in your guitars, basses or mics, they work under Macs, PC's and have linux support via ALSA [alsa-project.org] (yes, linux can do multitracking as well). When you need more tracks, you can just add more cards and get 8/8 or up to 16/16 in/out-system.

    As for recording software, well... my delta came with a cut-down version of Logic Audio [emagic.de], which should be good enough for start. Most 'pro-sumer' soundcards come up with basic software, so you shouldn't need to cough up any more money for it in the beginning.

    Other software: Cubase [steinberg.de] is nice, and there's nice 'lite'-versions for beginners (some soundcards come with this instead of logic). Cakewalk [cakewalk.com] is quite popular as well.

    If you just want audio recording (the aforementioned do MIDI as well), then there's Cool Edit Pro [syntrillium.com]. For free, there's Audacity [sourceforge.org] (audacity does Windows, Linux and Mac) which is proficient enough multitrack audio editor. SLab [slabexchange.org] is a good linux multitrack recorder.

    And mp3, well, you don't want to use mp3 for multitrack recording, but most modern software can import mp3-sounds, and output the result to mp3 (some of them [cool edit/audacity] can do ogg as well)

    If you want a proper hardware recorder (which are nice, since you can take them to your rehersal space, summer cottage, ..., what have you), then there's plenty to choose from. Most of these are a couple of years old, so you can find them for reasonable prices used (or even new!)

    Roland VS-8xx series [sospubs.co.uk], they're nice, compact, can do 4-track recording, and 8-track playback. Loads of features, and useful later on even if you grow out of this one. Earlier models had inbuilt harddrives, the later ones have ZIP-drives (if I remember correctly). If you can get one for cheap (and i think you should), then go for this one.

    Korg D-8 [gearpreview.com]. A bit easier to operate, but quite useful nevertheless.

    And i think Fostex had some as well, just keep your eyes open in the pawnshops.

    • I'll sell my VS-880/VXPanded for $450 + shipping if you want. (-: I'll prolly be sticking it on Ebay in the next couple weeks.

      AWESOME machine, but I have access to a full 8-track/digital (cubase) setup, now, so I never use the 880.

      I call it my studio in a bag.

      email me sean[@caedmon.]NET

      S
    • This is one the one I'm going to buy... Fostex MR8 [fostex.com] Records to compactflash, 8 tracks, cheap as hell, predominantly hardware interface, built in mic for fooling around... I'm there! Unless of course some smart /. poster sways me in another direction?

  • Zoom MRS-4 (Score:1, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I am pleased with my Zoom MRS-4. In particular, I like the on board effects: compressors/limiters during recording, reverb at mixdown. These effects are useful to anybody using the device, and there aren't any guitar effects that I wouldn't use (I'm recording accoustic intruments and voice).

    It is also possible to mix down onto two "virtual tracks" without the need for an external recorder.

    You're welcome
    Tom
  • Recording live sets with digital media can be quite a pain in the... challenging. Make sure you have 1-2 analogue compressor/limiter per channel before the signal hits your deck. Digital distortion is nearly non-restorable and will ruin the recording beyond usability.

    Because of this I routinely record on analogue 4track (Tascam 424Mk3) and feed that into my PC for postprocessing. In fact, most of the time I do the mixdown on the analogue 4track and only record the pre-mixed stereo into the PC. Saves time and hassle.

    So where do you want the 4track for? If only for home studio use, a decent software (CoolEdit, Cubase) will be much more convenient and more flexible to use.
    • Good deal, but when looking at analog recoders pay lots of attention to those boring little charts in the manual. Those smallish multitracks that use cassettes can do a nice job in lots of cases, but they do have limitations. Make sure you can live with them before you plunk down the cash.
      • Exactly - that was the point: first decide on what you need (live? studio?) - then decide what fits your need.

        An analogue recorder can go way further without compressor/limiter (thus saving money). The analogue saturation/distortion on the cassette/tape is quite okay for most cases you run in in live recordings.

        But if you intend to pingpong or record "alternative" tracks - there the digital sisters beat the analogue deck hands down, no discussion.

        Well, recording capacity is another point. 20 hours live 4track = 28 cassettes = 25 GB (4x @44.1/16). You'll hardly find the latter in the smaller decks.

        So again: make a checklist on what you need - and only after that, choose wisely ;-)
  • Any [...] warnings out there in the geek crowd?

    Don't run with scissors.

  • Steer clear of software digital recording tools (Score:3, Informative)

    by LizardKing ( 5245 ) on Wednesday February 26, 2003 @05:36AM (#5385348)

    My personal recommendation would be the Boss BR-8 digital multitrack (http://www.musicstop.com/update/200008/product.ht m [musicstop.com]). It has eight tracks, and you can mixdown as much as you want - with no degradation of course. There are two multi effects devices built in, and a decent set of other features. It records onto Zip disks, which are more convenient than a hard disk based system IMHO.

    It looks like it retails for around $600 in the States (I picked up mine for £450 in the UK). In comparison, all the computer based digital recording systems I've used are unstable, unfriendly and overpriced. Why people still buy things like Steinbergs software is beyond me, they've not produced a stable release since Pro 16 on my humble Commodore 64.

    Chris

  • Krow: What, you wanted content with your story?

    Actually, I didn't see the original story. Could someone please post it? Thanks.

  • OT (Score:1)

    by borgboy ( 218060 )
    I realize this is offtopic, but just go get an ADAT off of ebay. They're 8 track digital, they can scale out, and they use VHS tapes.
  • Quartz Audio Freeware [digitalsoundplanet.com] - 4 tracks for free, more tracks for $
  • One of my friends is a hiphop artist and he uses a 4-track MD walkman to work on rough experimental tracks. (Sony isn't the only company that makes them either, if their DRM obsession turns you off.)

    It's not what you would use for final CD-quality tracks, but it does suit experimentation and ought to hit your price point.
  • Go looking for a Seasound SOlo with the expander. Seasound made some amazing hardware, but they unfortunately priced themselves out of business. Their stuff was way too expensive a few years ago, but since they've gone under you can get an excellent, pro-quality 8 track with 2 very nice preamps for something like $250, if you can find someone selling new old stock. This is a digital audio workstation, not a standalone. I switched to mine from an M-Audio Delta 88, and never regretted it. There are even new WDM drivers still being made for it on www.byteheaven.com. As of about 6 months ago, you could order them from www.sixtecycle.com, but Ihaven't checked recently. BTW, their page is frequently screwed up so you may have to call them. Great people though.
  • Check out M-Audio's Delta series. You can get a PCI card that will handle 10 inputs and runs on OS 9, OS X, Windoze, and Linux for around $500.

    http://midiman.com/products/m-audio/delta .php

    You may be interested in the Tascam Pocketstudio.

    http://midiman.com/products/m-aud io/delta.php
  • I use a midiman [midiman.com] DMAN 2044. It only works in Win98, but it's awesome. It has 4 in / 4 out 1/4inch jacks. I use CoolEdit Pro from Syntrillium [syntrillium.com] software for multitrack recording and editing. Everyone I know in a band smacks their head after paying thousands of dollars to rent fancy studios when they see this cheapo setup.
  • Hello, You might look at a used Fostex FD-4. It's a 4-track digital recorder that uses external SCSI storage. I used to have one and I used a Zip 250 with it. It will work with a Zip 100 but you only get about 12 minutes total recording time (and that's all four tracks), so figure about one Zip disk per song.

  • I picked up a used Akai DPS12 awhile back...haven't had the time to play with it as much as I'd like, but it's pretty nice. May be ore than you're looking for, though.

  • I'd also place an importance on:-

    - durability
    - portability

    Because these are the advantages 4-Tracks offer.
    Can you take it round pubs or the sqat? Will it survive? Will it not inhibit making decent music?
    Because of this I think a long record time and ability to quickly find the good stuff is important so you can just leave it going.

    Also I'm guessing that multitrackers may work nice with computers. Since the software method is mostly free (especially since the ASIO sound-blaster drivers) you might as well try it. My preference would be to:-

    - use the multitrack to jot down ideas / jam with mates
    - get this onto computer
    - polish it up / fiddle

    The 'get it onto computer' stage is what I know little about. Slashdotters to the aid. Hopefully a nice Firewire link would be nice. Unfortunately multitrackers and the industry isn't quite like the video industry so this sort of thing may be unavailable :/

    Finally don't dismiss minidiscs. Yes they are technically a bad idea but if there isn't any better... personally I like reliablity, proveness and removeable, cheap media over a HD for example.

    The main message I say to you is

    THINK PRACTICAL.

    Slashdotters may give you lots of handy advice but wether you are happy using the thing matters most. Power is pointless if it is not used.
  • leftist said:
    "I'm looking for an entry level digital 4 or 8 track digital recorder to experiment with in the $500 range. Any product recommendations or warnings out there in the geek crowd?
    If you already have a pretty beefy box to run it on, I'd go with software and a high-end sound card (e.g. this kind of stuff [sweetwater.com]). We used to use an analog tascam fourtrack, and it was somewhere in the $300 range. Now we are using Cakewalk's Guitar Tracks Pro, which gives us 32 tracks for the same price range.
    Something that uses mp2/mp3 natively a plus!"
    Cakewalk uses a proprietary file format, but you can export your projects to mp3. I've never tried importing from mp3, but would not be surprised if they are capable of that, too.

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