All-in-one recorder recommendation for total newbie

[speedfrk222]

I’m looking for a all-in-one recorder recommendation for my brother. He’s noncomputer literate so a mbox type set up won’t do.

Looking for something that is known to be easy to use for a total beginner recordist. He will record mostly just acoustic and electric guitar and vocals. He’ll want something that be can burned to CD so should have an internal burner.

Are their known decent out of box solutions any of you would recommend? Fostex, Tascam, Boss?

Thanks!

 

[raven46]

whats the price range...

 

[speedfrk222]

whats the price range...

I would say $800 or less. I would look for the recorder for him, then try and find it as a bundle most likely. So, $800 including a bundle. One mic, a cable and monitors.

 

[raven46]

i dont know thats not a lot but it can get you started

first i would get monitors : tascam vlx5, i have a pair and they are great for the price, music123 have em at $299

the recorder: something like the fostex mr-8hd might be suitable, i have heard good things about it but ask about it in the fostex forum, music123 have it for $399

mic not sure about this but i was just goin by your budget AKG Perception 100 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone ask about that in the mic forum, it got a 5 star review at music123 and they have it for $99.95

all that comes in just under the $800
im sure you will get a bundle deal somewhere but music123 did'nt have any

you should consider a set of headphones for tracking!!!

the monitors and the mic dont come with cables but it wont cost more than another $20 to $30 for them (you'll probably get em alot cheaper but cheap cables dont last, go for good cables)

 

[speedfrk222]

Thanks Raven,

He's got HD280's for headphones so he's good there. Seems that Fostex has the best deals.

 

[mikemorgan]

Try this: Zoom HD16CD at www.sweetwater.com

 

[timboZ]

Fostex VF160. I think it is one of the best units out there.
It has it's limitations but for the price it cant be beat.

 

[raven46]

the zoom hd16cd is $699 has a usb port and cdrw, but im not too keen on the combi jacks

the fostex vf160ex is $599 as far as i know it has no usb port could be wrong though

i had the older model of the fostex vf16, no cd drive or usb thats why i upgraded but it was an good unit for the price i payed for it

both these are seriously eating into your budget but both are well worth it,
if i deciding between those two id go for the zoom, hands down...

the fostex mr-8hd has a usb port so its easy to get your tracks onto the pc and then onto disc

 

[mikemorgan]

AFAIK no other machine can function as a HD recorder, DAW controller, while offering 8 simultaneous tracks of xlr input/thru. This thing functions as a standalone mixer, Daw controller, CD burner, has switchable phantom on all inputs, and built in USB. I don't know about sound quality and the only thing it doesn't do is act as an interface. It's brand new and I'll wait for more opinions, but if I was starting from scratch.......this would do everything I wanted. Oh and did I mention it's a drum/bass machine with sampler capabilities??