MR-8 Digital Multitracker Any good?

[jskillz89]

Hey im woundering if the MR-8 Digital Multitracker is any good ... cuz ive seen some other post where people are saying that they had problems with it and that they have to turn the gain up so high to get a good signal ... im new to this im not shure if i should buy this or not but if some one could help me out and im looking to buy the sm 57 mic with it im woundering if it will make make vocals sound good the two of them to gether im looking for some people who have the MR-8 Digital Multitracker and know about it..im getting this because im on a 400 dollar buget to get a little studio going im just trying to get my vocals sounding good and recorderd and i also have a cd burner on my computer and a copie of cool edit pro .. thank you - Justin this is the MR-8 Digital Multitracker

 

[dwillis45]

You might want to browse the Fostex forum on this BBS. There are a number of MR8 users who could give you feedback on the practical issues of recording on the unit. I don't own one, but I do own a Fostex vf16.

For the price ($299), it's a very affordable way to begin recording. It has onboard effects and you appear to be able to export Wav files to a PC via the USB port. There is also a SPDIF digital output. The gain issue you mention is one that tends to afflict other Fostex recorders (including the VF16/160) and becomes less of an issue with larger condenser mics. It is also addressed through the use of an external preamp, which you might want to consider down the road if you are looking to record better quality vocals. The gain issue, per se, is less of a problem than the quality of the onboard preamp. A preamp, in conjunction with a good microphone, is the heart of serious vocal quality and, to be honest, I don't think that the MR8 is capable of approaching this goal. In addition, remember that the MR8 records at 16 versus 24 bit and relies on A/D converters that are about what you would expect given the price of the recorder.

I would also worry about the compact flash card setup as a storage mechanism. Digital audio produces very large files and, unless you routinely export material to the computer, you might find yourself with storage issues. The unit comes with a 128mb card and--correct me if I'm wrong--that sounds like it might hold 2-3 songs? Fostex advertises mic simulation, amp simulation, and "mastering" and I have serious doubts about all three! Don't let these "hype" features lure you. I would same the same thing for the built-in mic! I would also worry about the eight tracks. If you record very simple arrangments this might work fine. However, the longer you record the more tracks you will need and I suspect that you will eventually wish for 16 or more.

Having said all that, if I only had $400 to spend including a mic, I would probably jump all over the MR8. Where was it in the 1980's! Four track cassette, OMG!

 

[Eric-Jensen]

I've had one for a few months. Used it a lot at first, less lately. I bought a 512M card immediately, which yields 90 track-minutes ($150) and a mic pre amp ($90, I think) because of the level problems (no preamp to speak of in the MR8) and need for phantom power. $220 for a scratch and dent MR8 that turned out to be perfect, so in total $460 to really get going on it (plus $40 for ntrack editing software, as you can't really do much besides record with the MR-8. Don't even think about using it without a computer to edit and mix the tracks on). Most people are paying $300 for the MR-8, so we're talking what, almost $600? Say $550 because you need n-track anyway. That's a good part of the way toward a real recorder, which is what I'm just about to go to. The MR-8 sound is good, but there are only two inputs and recording time is still limited (e.g., a live stereo recording can only be 45 minutes long, and even if a set were only that long, the cards are too expensive to just pop in another for the next set and I'm not going to be downloading to a computer via the USB when I want to sit down, have a beer and talk). I also have to rely on my computer for all sound editing, and it isn't up to the job. All are big drawbacks. I'm thinking a 12 or 16 track, maybe the Yamaha or the Korg, is the way to go.

 

[Moonrider]

If you want to hear some stuff done on an MR-8

LISTEN HERE

It's our bass player's solo music, and all tracks were done with his MR-8 and a sm-57

 

[jskillz89]

yeah

hey can u guys post stuff thats been done with teh mr 8 just like that guy did

 

[regebro]

And any sound quality problems you find at the above link is not the MR-8s problem.

Good link, that convinces me that an MR-8, an SM-57 and a set of good can's is an excellent way to start!

 

[craigmatic]

i am confused by moonrider..... i recognized that link from a user review on zzounds.com for the boss 532 or whatever it is called

---"Great digital recorder"
This is a great recorder.It took me only one evening to lay down several tracks with no previous experience and get a professional sound.After several weeks of trial and error i felt very comfortable using this recorder i highly recomend this.The cosmo amp modeling is great and for the $ it can't be touched. If you would like to here a sample of what this will do go to www.mp3.com/rickywild and have a listen.---

so.... is that recorded on the boss or the fostex? i realize the zzounds post is over a year old too... so therefore i understand you may have gotten a new recorder in that time.

just inquiring

 

[PeteHalo]

I've always enjoyed reading the Fostex forum where people have been ready to spend unbelievable amounts of time and money to overcome the obvious limitations of MR8 instead of spending the same money on some other more capable multitracker like Vf160.

To me the MR8 looks rather like a dead end than a start. As we all very well know without a computer the MR8 is next to useless so you might as well use the built in sound card of your computer and record directly to n-Track or buy a used laptop and a USB interface if you need to go mobile. In Finland we have a saying that goes something like this in English: "Poor can't afford to buy cheap stuff" which in this case means buying better stuff costing a little more right from the start will become cheaper in the long run.