integrated drums or not??

[normnb]

I'm new to this forum and to recording. I have already made the decision to go with a digital multitrack machine (not a PC). Since I'm new to this, I would like something fairly easy to use. Here's the question. Am I better off getting a mulitrack with a built in drum machine or should I get a separate drum machine and hook them up via MIDI. I have heard stories that some multitracks w/ integrated drum machine dictate that the rhythm track must be set up before any audio tracks. I would think that a machine that allows you to record guitar to a click track and then later figure out the drums, may provide better flexibility. Any thoughts???

 

[AlChuck]

I guess it depends on the feature set of the multitrackers your are considering. The on-board drum sounds are bound to suck, but you can always switch to a different source of drums later, so maybe that's OK... unless the onboard sounds mean there is no MIDI output, in which case you are stuck. And something with onboard sounds that costs roughty as much as something that's simpler usually means there are bound to be some tradeoffs -- number of inputs, quality of the A?D and D/A converters, quality of mic preamps, effects -- there are all kinds of variables.

 

[normnb]

Thanks for the reply. I've been thinking about the Zoom MRS-1044. Looks like a nice deal ...comparing this to the Tascam 788 with a separate drum machine. A few of the BOSS products also look good but I heard the drums are not all that good. Any opinions on these products?