Anything Comparable to Boss Br-532?

[Bongo Boy]

My main objective in life (for now) is to learn to play guitar and congas. To aid in this, I'd like to record my practice sessions, and be able to store the results permanently as MP3s or whatever.

A distant second objective is to learn a little bit about digital recording. As far as I can tell, the BR-532 does way more than I need a recorder to do, but it has some conveniences I think will reduce the amount time I have to spend on getting what I want.

Anyone know how BR-532 compares to the ToneWorks Pandora PXR4 4-track, for example?

 

[alloutdrummer]

I think there are a few others

Hey--
There is really only one other option I am aware of and that is a Digital 4-Track that a company called "Zoom" makes. I have never personally used it, but it is supposed to be alright. I think your best bet is the Boss-532 as it provides the most features and it is very easy to use, all for a relatively low price. My next choice would probably be the Zoom 4-track because of its resemblances to the Boss-532. My last choice would obviously be the Pandora, simply because of its limitings features and INCREDIBLY, ANNOYINGLY SMALL controls and display screen. However, I would be more than happy to give you some more suggestions if you tell me your price range. Happy to Help!
--Ned

 

[pedro maldonado]

i own a zoom mrs-4 digital 4 track,it is a very nice machine for the price(249)it has most of the same features as the boss ,it is also very easy to learn and use.I was going to get the Boss but opted for this instead

 

[Bongo Boy]

Thanks for the responses--I was all ready to go with the Pocketstudio when I discovered it had 1/8" jacks for connectors, and discovered just how small it is. I hate adaptors.

 

[AlChuck]

Teac has one of these that, feature-wise, seems like the best choice of the bunch:

http://www.tascam.com/pocketstudio/

It has a MIDI synth onboard that can be triggered by MIDI messages, while the others have just bass and drum sounds that are pattern-driven by a limited onboard sequencer. It also has a USB port.

I have a Zoom PS-02 Palmtop Studio that I won from Home Recording magazine last year in one of those product giveaay contests, and it's OK, but it has some severe limitations that prevent me from using it much -- it can't play sequences from an external MIDI sequencer, only pattern-based bass and drum parts -- and I need a SmartMedia card reader to transfer anything from it to my PC.