dit:
Well, of course being in the roland forum, we're all going to suggest you consider the VS units. So, I'll go beyond that and make a more specific suggestion. The recent release of the new
VS 1880 (18 tracks) means that the previous model,
the VS 1680 (16 tracks) might be found at a pretty good price on the used market. (I think most retailers have probably sold out their stock of the old 1680's by now?).
Before you assume 16 tracks is way overkill, I'd say consider the physical interface you'll be working with hour upon hour--the larger LCD screen of the 1680 is much easier to work with than any other self contained digital recording unit I've seen. And the 1680 offers higher quality recording options than the Roland 8-trackers (the "MTP" mode). These two features are the main reason I went with a 1680, rather than purely the number of available tracks.
Include 2 of the internal Roland effects boards in the 1680, and I think you have the most cost-effective and capable portable rig available. Those effects boards are *very* usable, in my experience, aprticularly as a starting point. And you keep everything in the digital domain at a reasonable price.
You mention school productions. My 1680 has the input and routing flexibility to do the live production mixes for stage work, while I simultaneously record to disc for future fund raising releases with the same unit. No muss, no fuss. A litle post-production work (using some of those 16 available tracks not recorded live), and my school clients are really thrilled with the production quality of the CDs they can sell to appreciative parents.
If you just can't see your way to 16 tracks, then the 880 is a fine machine also. But I think it's still a current model, so you won't be spotting quite the same discounts on it, I suspect. (And you'd be amazed how quickly you learn to *rely* on having all those 16 tracks at mixdown...).
Be aware that there is a killer digital recorder/mixer combo coming out from Yamaha at the end of the summer. But I don't think it is aimed (or priced) for an introductory type of market (24 tracks, I believe). There's also a new 8 track recorder from BOSS that's creating quite a stir which you should check out--it *is* aimed at an introductory consumer. Can't remember the model number right off hand...
Hope this helps?
[This message has been edited by rocky (edited 06-06-2000).]