Best recorder for $300?

[orangeamps87]

Hi,

I am in the market for buying the best overall 8-Track (minimum sized) recorder with a built-in drum machine for around $300 or a little more if it is worth it. My full intentions will be recording everything in my room and then basic editing through my computer. I am an experienced multi-instrumentalist so there will be a fair amount of guitar, bass, piano, synthesizer, vocals, etc. and searching for the most realistic/best/original sounding drum machine built into the recorder. The brand of recorder does not matter, but function and reliability do. I am finally recording music by music and without a band, so I am trying to record some of my material without using private studios. If you could lead me into the right direction then it would be greatly appreciated.

-Take care

 

[orangeamps87]

Also, I have been looking at the Boss BR-600 Digital Recorder for $349 and it seems like it is my best bet. I want an AC adapter as well so I do not have to rely on battery life and a decent set of headphones for hearing the previously recorded tracks. Thank you!

 

[RustyAxe]

Also, I have been looking at the Boss BR-600 Digital Recorder for $349 and it seems like it is my best bet. I want an AC adapter as well so I do not have to rely on battery life and a decent set of headphones for hearing the previously recorded tracks. Thank you!

Not a bad place to start. I bought a BR600 a month or so ago, and am happy with it. Download a little program BRWC.exe from rolandus.com, and it becomes very easy to overdub eight tracks (with multiple takes per track) and transfer to the computer for editing in your favorite software. The drum tracks in the BR are good, and the editing is flexible, but you'd have to do that in the BR, since it will only record to audio on a bounce or mixdown. Not a problem, since you can do that for JUST the drums and then import into your editor. Better is to use a drum machine that export MIDI, and then you have the flexibility of using VST plugins.

I bought mine at Guitar Center, and told them I wanted to pay $300 (was marked at $349) ... I paid $297, and they threw in the wall wart power supply for $3 ... cool!

 

[orangeamps87]

I have finally purchased the BR-600 and played around with it. I am already quite impressed with the sound quality, but still confused about why the drum patterns that I have chosen do not actually “record” with my other tracks when mastered. What is the basic procedure after using the selected drum pattern for recording my guitar/bass/keyboard tracks and then having the drums recorded in the mastered piece with the other tracks? Take care.