I need some advice on what multi-track recorder to buy.

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misanthropy26

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Greetings,

I am in desperate need of a multi-track recorder! I have been using a very primative method as of yet (see post in "recording techniques") and the sound quality is very poor. I'm looking for something that I can use cassettes with. I have a very limited budget therefore I don't have a lot of money to work with. I'm talking in the range of $100 - $600 bucks. I basically need an 8 track recorder. And, I would like to ask a question if I may... I'm not really sure how these things work. If you record a track, does the recorder store what you have recorded and allow you to mix them in later or do you have to record everything live? I really don't like the "live" thing. I was looking into buying a KORG D-12... Are these any good? I'm basically looking for anything I can get here.

Please Help!

Thank You.
 
Recording the tracks then mixing them later is what multitrackers are all about. i.e. on an 8-track you record all the tracks, which are then stored on the recorder's hard disk, then mix them when you've finished. If you're the guy currently using the "Les Paul" method you'll find the difference amazing. If you buy a digital multitrack you'll find it even more amazing. You can find reviews of various multitrack recorders here:

http://www.sospubs.co.uk

Use the Search facility. The Tascam 788 is a digital 8-track which is just within your price range (without CD-RW). This is a review of the Korg D12:

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/jul01/articles/korgd12.asp

You don't fancy the PC option? You could get a good audio soundcard and useable software for around $300.

Just reread your post. What do you mean by "something you can use cassettes with"? Do you mean recording on cassettes? The Korg D12 is a digital 12 track recorder. It records to an internal hard disk (as far as I remember). Budget level cassette 8-tracks are hard to come by now. I don't think anyone makes one. The most recent was the Tascam 488 but they don't make them anymore, so they're only available used.

I'd recommend doing a lot more research and asking a lot more questions before you buy anything. At least you've come to the right place :)
 
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"I'm looking for something that I can use cassettes with"

Cassette is analog only.
Like Atwork said,8 track cassettes are avalible only used.

In your price range you might find somone selling a Roland 840.
It's a digital 8 track.
Check the big online dealers.

For a little more Tascam has the 788,and there's the D-12 you mentioned,all good units.

If you can use 4 tracks,there are a couple around.
The beauty of a digital 4-track is,you can bounce tracks without losing sound quality.

Hope this helps

Best to you,
Pete
 
Casettes?

Why casettes? If you get a Lexicon core 2 for 199$ with software oncluded, you can mae great recordings on your computer and when you are done mixing your 16 track sont, you can mix it down to casette format (output frm soundcard directly to your best casette deck. ) or better yet, burn a cd and throw it in the ol'e stereo and casette dupe from there.
The key point I need to make is this..
COMPUTERS OFFER THE WIDEST FORM OF FLEXIBILITY SHORT OF ONE THING... That thing is ...UNLITIMITED MONEY/TIME/SPACE!
If you dont have the latter, then dont paint yourself into a 16 track 3 effect corner for 1000$ when you can spend 200$ on a soundcard and a few hundred on plugins and have as many tracks as your computer can handle.
rj
 
misanthropy, here are some questions so I can better help you.

1) Do you own a computer?
2) Is the multi-track to be used just as a "sketchpad" to write
and/or perform songs?
OR is it to make demos to give someone else where you want
to make a better impression?
3) Does it need to be portable?
4) Did you mention cassettes because you're looking for
something simple to use with a short learning curve?
5) If you're concerned about recording quality did you already
budget at least $100 to get a decent microphone preamp?
6) Was there any other equipment you might want to get like
a reverb unit, compressor, CD burner, etc. that's part of the
$600 budget?

Chris
 
You've got a lot of people who'll recommend the 'puter,...

but for ~$600*, you could have a Tascam 38, 1/2" 8-track, and M30 mixer. Figure about $150 for the mixer, and $450 for the recorder, that's sometimes found at that price with dbx units included. [*... more or less, depending on the day.]

The 38/M30 is a nice, respectable, hifi 1/2" 8-track setup, that has the elegant simplicity of analog, and that distinct full analog sound. The analog recording experience is not as gadgety or fidgety as the digital recording experience, and the best thing, is there's no menus.

If you're thinking of strictly home use, for your songwriting and your own entertainment, the Tascam Portastudio, 4-track cassette is still an attractive option for starters. Again, the Portastudio is not nearly as gadgety as recording on your computer, which is a positive thing for some people.

If you want lots of hifi & punch in the analog world, the wider tape formats, & the faster tape speeds deliver more hifi recordings.

F/I, not that a cassette 4-track Portastudio sounds bad, it doesnt, but a 1/2"-15ips reel recording will sound a noticeable amount better.

Some people swear by 'puter recording, 'cause of the gadgety nature of it, with it's endless editing options, ultra-high fidelity sound, & stuff like that,...

... but someone like me, [and I'm in the minority], specifically does not want to record on a computer based recording system, with a mouse & menus, or on a workstation with a 3" LCD screen.

IMO, analog's the way to go, especially for the new-starter. ;)
 
Also you can get the Fostex VF-80 and a similar Roland recorder for $600. They both have 8 channels and also vitual tracks to increase your options. They also have mixing and built-in effects. I really think you should look carefully at what you want to do with this. Different purposes would dramatically affect what you would choose. For example, if portability is an issue, you probably want something like the Fostex or Roland. If you're never gonna move it, then probably a computer set-up. The flexibility and expansion capabilities are almost endless with a 'puter. If you're an analog sort of guy (that's me :) ) then you might be best off with a standalone unit and a board. There's a lot of possibilities here and only you can forsee what kind of uses you'll be putting this gear to.
 
A sleeper possibility that offers a nice combination of excellent sound
quality and convenience is the Tascam 564 4 track minidisc portastudio.
It offers a unique "bounce forward" feature where you can mix 4 tracks
to two, then forward them to the next minidisc track, opening up two
tracks for "fresh" recordings!
There is are two excellent articles at www.sospubs.co.uk/search on this
unit you can find by entering 564 in the search field.

As noted Sound On Sound writer, Paul White said elsewhere, minidisc
is fine for demos and independent releases of pop music with limited
dynamic range. (not suited for symphonic classical!/better than cassette)
Also note that with the "bounce forward" feature you're in essence getting
a decent 2 track mastering deck at no extra charge with a digital output!

They are typically sold on ebay with the sellers offering extra goodies like
minidisc data discs (they cost about $12-15 dollars apiece each otherwise),
which hold up to 37 minutes of 4 track recording time each.
Another positive is that you don't need to back up your recording like when
you make a recording on the computer because the discs are very stable,
and are removable. The 564's generally run between $300-400 in excellent condition.

Just a thought!

Chris

P.S. As "A Reel Person" (Dave) knows, I'm also a proud owner of a Tascam
244 cassette portastudio and a Teac (Tascam) 40-4 1/4" reel to reel-
both 4 tracks. All are great in their own way!
 
Yeah, there are lots of great formats out there, and many choices.

The Tascam 564 Minidisc Portastudio is a great recommendation, IMO, with removable digital media being an essential key feature. Not only that, but it has the same layout & design as the 424mkII cassette Portastudio, that's also one my fav's.

The 564 will definitely deliver that tape-hiss-free hifi 4-track recording, with all the nifty and futuristic editing features of digital, but with the basic hands-on feel of a Portastudio. The 564's just as simple to use as a cassette Portastudio, but quite a lot more bang for your buck.

They're found cheap, $300-400, often plus discs & accessories, and are well worth it, just like chess said.;)
 
Thanks Dave.
Of course if misanthrope wants the "James Bond" look, the coolest ever
looking unit was the Tascam 388 reel to reel PORTAstudio!
(just don't ask Dave if he wants to sell his)


Chris

P.S. Better get off to bed now it's late!
 
Yeah, the 388's another great unit, mentioned on most of my other posts,...

but not yet mentioned here.

No doubt, the 388's one of my favorite designs, and is really a one of a kind design. The 388's a 1/4" reel 8-track recorder w/built-in-integrated 8x8x2 mixer and dbx. It's literally the only 1/4" reel Portastudio ever, but at 87 lbs, Tascam wouldn't dare call it a Portastudio, so they named it the Studio 8.

The 388 is a great design for an all-in-one integrated analog 8-track. It is literally one of a kind, and w/built-in dbx, it has great hifi sound. The 388's a great unit for a starter, or recording first-timer, 'cause everything's self contained, right there in front of you, and it simplifies some of the patching scenarios you'd get with larger, external-mixer-&-reel setups. It's literally the Tascam Portastudio design, but being reel-8-track, it bridges the gap between the normal 4-track cassette Portastudio, and the larger reel/mixer systems.

The 388 was originally marketed in the mid 80's, targeted at the small studio owner, jingle-producing studio, and post-production or B-room studio setup, but is a primo setup for the home recording musician. Talk about "James Bond-looking", I thought more like "Star Trek-looking", with Checkov & Sulu seated at the board. If you haven't seen the 388, it's a large, heavy unit, with the multi-colored knobs of the mixer on the left, and the reels on the right, under a smoked plastic cover.

The 388 is only availble as used, currently for $350-$550, on Ebay, depending on the day.

I have a 388, right here in front of me. I love it, I think it's a terrific unit, and I'm not giving it up. In fact, I've gotta play with it more often. [Mental note: Do more tracking on the 388];)
 
Enough ideas misanthropy?
Let us know which kind you pick!

Chris
 
Ya know no one mentioned a Yamaha MD8. Mini disc with 8 tracks used at that price. Well, the high end of your price range
 
Ebay my man......
You should be able to get a Tascam 788 used for around 6 bones. Its a very easy to use machine that is worlds above the cassette machines. ......definitely worth a look-see:D
 
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