Guitar Gear Forum

I am looking into experimenting with recording but need it to be as easy as possible. I don't see much mention of portable self-contained mulitrack recorders on here. I'm sure that computers are much more powerful but I like the idea of a more self-contained unit. Thoughts? Good used one for under $100?

Laptop?

Honestly, the multi-track digital workstations that still exist are hella expensive for way less power and features than you get with even the simplest DAW. A Laptop and a USB interface that'll probably fit in your mic case (if you have more than one mic you carry with you) will do a lot more for the same or less money.

I seriously doubt you will find anything like that for less than $100, but look in to the Tascam Portastudios

Devin wrote:I seriously doubt you will find anything like that for less than $100, but look in to the Tascam Portastudios

I am looking at older Boss and Tascam models. A few options at <$100.

For an 8 track Tascam, the DP-008EX looks pretty good for $150 band new.
8 channels, each with a compressor, exciter, de-esser and 2 band eq. It's also got 6 different reverbs to choose from.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... &A=details

I see ads for zoom and tascam stuff all the time. They pop up on Mf stupid deal pretty often. I sometimes wish I had done that instead of the usb Mic route.

nightflameauto wrote:Laptop?

Honestly, the multi-track digital workstations that still exist are hella expensive for way less power and features than you get with even the simplest DAW. A Laptop and a USB interface that'll probably fit in your mic case (if you have more than one mic you carry with you) will do a lot more for the same or less money.

This times a billion. A laptop + interface will be also smaller and lighter to carry than those huge mixers. Something like the Roland OctaCapture has 8 inputs and fits in your laptop bag.

Decided to go for it. Ended up with a Tascam DP-02CF for $120 and the MXL 990/991 kit ofr $50.

HNRSD!!! (Happy New Recording Studio Day!)
Congrats and have fun bro!!!!!

I had a DP-02 until about 4 years ago. Shoot me a pm if you have any questions on the unit and I'll try to help. Mine came with a dvd tutorial which was very helpful and I highly recommend picking one of those up on .

Speed Bag wrote:I had a DP-02 until about 4 years ago. Shoot me a pm if you have any questions on the unit and I'll try to help. Mine came with a dvd tutorial which was very helpful and I highly recommend picking one of those up on .

Cool! Thanks. What did you think of it?

It was pretty easy to use once I got the hang of it. IIRC the manual jumped around in an odd way which took a while to get used to. The built in cd burner was a big deal for me at the time (I know the CF doesn't have that feature).

Before I got the DP 02 I had whatever model came right before it. That gave me a head start as there are a lot of similarities throughout the Tascam line. Tascam does a good job of improving/building upon what they have already done so you can take what you have learned on an old unit and apply it to the new model.

Ultimately I got rid of it because it did not have mastering tools.

I like the idea of a decent portable for live & basic recordings, & then mixing in a DAW. Mixing on a unit is a bitch.


I really like my OLD Zoom 16 track. Its still good, but its only 16/44.1 to internal hard drive. 8 XLR in is more than I really use anymore, so its just bigger. I kinda like this: http://www.zoom.co.jp/products/r8