Home multi track recorder advice and help required

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Tommygun786

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Hi

I'm new here and new to home recording

I'm currently looking at 3 multi track recorders and need some advice on which to pick for a complete beginner

1. Zoom R8
2. Boss Micro BR 80
3. Boss BR 800

My requirements are that it has to be portable and must have drum rhythms, guitar and vocal effects which all three above do. I want to be able to record, edit, bounce, mix and master the tracks on the unit without use of external software or computers. Most importantly the unit must be easy to use right through from recording to the final result.

Has anyone any experience with these units and if so which one is best for me ?

Many Thanks

Tom
 
I have one year of experience with a Zoom R24, it will do everything you describe, as will the R16, I'm not familiar with the R8. Think very carefully about your choice in respect of number of tracks. I sometimes find 24 a bit tight and can't imagine using a machine with less, almost to the same extent as I wondered what I'd ever do with 24 when I started out. My Zoom has been very heavily used, it takes a while to find everything and know how to apply it, but it's all there. Make sure you have space to grow, buying replacement equipment is tiresome, try to make a good choice from the outset. I have a post in the MP3 section (A Musing) if you want to hear what the recordings can sound like on a Zoom, I'm not saying my track is fantastic or anything, but it'll give you an idea of the recording quality. Everything I did to the track aside from some mixer reverb and pre recorder EQ, I did in situ, then mixed it and produced my master copy WAV all on the tracker.

All the best

Tim
 
Thanks Tim for your input
I don't think I'll ever need 24 tracks
8 should be more than sufficient for my needs
I'm more concerned about ease of use of these units
I've also been led to believe that it's not possible to master the tracks in the Boss BR 800 and a computer is required for that
I may be wrong so any help or advice is appreciated from experienced users of these units
 
Whatever you get, you'll have to learn it. I doubt there's much difference in learning one over another. Their problem, in today's world, is generally their crappy monotone GUI on a tiny screen, so if there's one that interfaces with an external monitor, I'd go for that... you may not need it to track - to speak to the "portability" issue -it but could be helpful in applying effects, mixing and mastering afterwards.
 
The R16 is great - but I still do lots in the computer.
The R16 would be even better.
the Disklab I have is pretty good and meets most of your requirements and even leads people to believe it can master completed tracks.
Any machine that suggests you can master inside is having a lend of you or you're not entirely aware of what mastering really is.
There are a few people around here with the ears, skill and gear/software to master their own recordings but only a very few.
When I feel I have a song performed, recorded and mixed well enough I get it mastered by a professional.
I tend to use between 12 and a couple of dozen tracks for a song. Some contain only a few seconds of audio but need to be a sep track for a variety of reasons.
I also like the option of recording a lot of stuff and then discarding much of it when I finally decide on what is going to be kept for the mix.
More tracks = more options.
I don't have the self disciplin or forward planning skills to stick with my old, but still cherished, 4 track cassette machine.
 
You can 'master' on the Boss, but mastering on any portable recorder is limited - what exactly are you trying to do with these recordings?
Also - how many simultaneous inputs do you need to record at one time?
 
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