Which digital multitracker for live recording?

[Fabkebab]

Hi there everyone-

I play in an Irish/Scottish traditional band, and we want to use a multi-track to make some presentable mp3 type recordings. The lineup is fiddle, flute, guitar, mandolin, single drum (bohran), pretty much all acoustic.

The problem is that we like to play together in a session, and the idea of recording one instrument at a time doesnt feel right given the musical style (we would mess up our loose timing and visual cues)

What I want is a system that allows us to record into about 4-5 microphones (converted to regular mono jack if needed) and then to give attention to the individual tracks afterwards to add the right effects and get the mix right. (one mic for each instrument)

The trouble is that I am realising many of the digital multi trackers out there only allow you to record 2 inputs at once.

Can someone please let me know if there are any multi-trackers which allow 4 simultaneous inputs onto 4 seperate tracks, and costs less than $1000 used?

I have 6 sm57's and an alesis microverb if that helps any

I hope this makes sense.

Great site by the way- I have just come up for air after reading for about 3 hours!!

THANKS!!

 

[camn]

I get an ADAT or a tascam DA-XX. If the situation is live you dont wanna fuck around with a computer... tapes a little more reliable.

xoxo

 

[Kelly Holdridge]

MD-8 is a great 8-track that'll take 8 simultaneous tracks at once. However, only 2 of the tracks are XLR, the other six (and the first two, as an option) are 1/4" (you can always use an impedence adapter or run it through a pre-amp with 1/4" patches). I love it, although with 8 tracks, a $15 disc will get you 18 min. Stereo, you get 74 minutes (and can use the cheaper $5 discs).

The discs are small, cheap, don't fuck up in strong magnetic fields (which is a feat in itself, considering how these work. search and find, it's amazing), and a used unit runs about $850 with some extra goodies.