Different recording methods. what are you?

[Benreturns]

What is the essential difference between buying an all in one recording multitrack with faders etc... (tascam 424/yamaha AW etc...) or those rack mountable units that look like cassette players etc... except with little faders and displays. They are usually 2 space rack mountable and are more expensive that multitrack portastudios. Some of them record onto tapes.

Does anyone know what im on about?
What are the differences? What do you use/reccomend?

[13th_Omen]

Functionability, medium, and usability.