Why should I buy the MR-8?

[Fairmont]

I am currently recording using a TascamP01. It stinks when going in direct or micing guitars and vocals. I want simplicity, but I can't stand the hiss of the tape.

Will the MR-8 be much better for simply micing acoustic guitar, bongos, and vocals? I am trying, at my current stage, to sing folk music. The songs are junk, but I figure if they keep floating around in my head like this it's going to drive me (and my wife) nuts.

But recording onto this 99 dollar, piece of junk Tascam is equally nutty, and if I go and buy a nice mixer, then I might as well spend the 299 for a MR-8.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[mrx]

Originally Posted by Fairmont

Why should I buy the MR-8?

Because it's Da Bomb.

Seriously, though, for what you are looking at you could go with any of the low cost digital recorders and be happier. The MR-8 sounds so much better than anything in it's price range, and is the easiest recorder i've ever used, but you have to be aware of the space limitations going in - if you can into a process of moving your work off to a computer on a regular basis, it can't be beat. On the other hand, if you don't go into your recording sessions with a 'plan', it can get very frustrating when you run out of space half way through a take.

I'll typically record a stereo drum machine track, add bass and rhythm guitar, transfer those tracks to a PC, mix into a stereo 'rhythm track',clear the MR-8, transfer the rhythm track back over, record over dubs (transfering those to the computer as space runs out), until everything is on the computer for final mixdown. If you have the parts worked out, it's not that painful, but as you can see, it's not exactly ideal for 'working out ideas...'

Other units in this price range compress the audio data to save space, so get more recording time onboard, but at a sacrifice of sound quality. I used the Korg PXR4 and Tascam PS-05, if you have questions about the differences.

[cellardweller]

Originally Posted by mrx

but you have to be aware of the space limitations going in - if you can into a process of moving your work off to a computer on a regular basis, it can't be beat. On the other hand, if you don't go into your recording sessions with a 'plan', it can get very frustrating when you run out of space half way through a take.

This has kicked my arse more than once...
Being spontaneous can prove to be a challenges sometimes.
Other than the space limitation of CF cards, which is workable if you bounce to a PC, it's a pretty good buy.

[Reggaesoldier]

Originally Posted by Fairmont

I am currently recording using a TascamP01. It stinks when going in direct or micing guitars and vocals. I want simplicity, but I can't stand the hiss of the tape.

Will the MR-8 be much better for simply micing acoustic guitar, bongos, and vocals? I am trying, at my current stage, to sing folk music. The songs are junk, but I figure if they keep floating around in my head like this it's going to drive me (and my wife) nuts.

But recording onto this 99 dollar, piece of junk Tascam is equally nutty, and if I go and buy a nice mixer, then I might as well spend the 299 for a MR-8.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Hey man, What kinda mics are you using? The mr-8 doesn't provide phantom power for condensers, But niether does the po1. So if you were looking to upgrade simply the recorder I would say yes go for it! Its pretty damn easy to learn, just read the whole manual.
If you wanted to upgrade mics, (i am assuming you don't have a pre or anything. If i'm wrong let me know) depending on the mic, condenser or not, you may need a mixer or mic pre that can power the thing. And then you can go from the mixer/pre straight to the mr-8. follow me?