4 Track Recorders

wafu_vasco · #1 05-10-2009, 05:04 AM

Hi All - apologies if this thread has already been done, but I couldn't find it...

I'm looking into getting my first 4 Track recorder, and could do with some advice from you guys who've been there, done it and got the T-shirt. I was looking as the Tascam 004, as it can record 2 tracks simultaneously and claims to be able to deliver CD quality recordings straight onto a PC. I'm not too interested in effects and the like, I've got a good pedal rack for that; I just wanted something that can record a couple of tracks simultaneoulsy, easily double track to end up with four tracks on the same song, and then be easy to edit so as to have a simple, user friendly 4 track for recording a few song ideas and the odd band practise. Is the Tascam any good, or are there others out there which are better? Do I also need to invest in microphones, or will the 4-Track take care of that? By budget is about £200, any help and advice will be most welcome!

PaulMacCnj · #2 05-10-2009, 07:53 AM

I've been using the Tascam DP-004 for a few weeks and I really like it. It's truly portable and easy to use. It uses CD quality 44.1 KHz / 16 bit sampling. The built in stereo mics are pretty decent and handle loud, full band volumes well. The controls and menus are easy to navigate. Stereo mastering is done right on the recorder.

It's important to keep in mind that it's a "PocketStudio" recorder. This means that it's not going to have some features like those found on the famous cassette based "PortaStudio" recorders. There are no EQ controls, no effects loop and no XLR inputs. With that said, keep your expectations reasonable and appreciate what this recorder can do for you. This is a great tool for getting ideas recorded quickly and easily. It can be brought practically anywhere and operate with battery power.

Feel free to ask any more questions you may have.

derrenleepoole · #3 05-10-2009, 08:10 AM

In your price bracket is the new Tascam Portastudio as mentioned, but there is also the Boss Micro BR designed specifically for guitarist and singer/song writers etc. Very easy to use, has some good on board effects and drum loops and is very small and compact making it a perfect on the road recording tool as well as headphone practice utility. It only does drum loops in 4/4 mind (it will do other time signatures using the click), and it has it's own proprietory file formats, but you can export to CD format etc if required. It also has a built in microphone for grabbing quick ideas too. An all round good tool to have. Might be worth considering?

wafu_vasco · #4 05-10-2009, 12:55 PM

Thanks very much for the info there, just a couple of questions; I can only find the portastudio for £240 and it is an 8 track - am I looking at the right piece of kit? Also, with Tascam, the guitarist I work with has an 8 track Tascam - if I record a bass line on a 4 track can I then send that file to him via email so he can add his own guitar riffs and drums? Or once the file is on a PC, is that pretty much it?

PaulMacCnj · #5 05-10-2009, 01:20 PM

If it's an 8-track, you might be looking at the DP-02CF:

http://www.tascam.com/products/dp-02cf.html

It has a different feature set than the DP-004; XLR inputs, onboard EQ, effects loop, etc. I was seriously considering the DP-02CF, but went for the DP-004 because of the portability.

I'm not exactly sure if the file formats are compatible between the DP-004 and DP-02CF. My guess is that they are not. However, the DP-004 does have an export feature that allows you to convert the tracks into WAV files that are imported into another multi-track recorder, even computer based ones like ProTools, etc. Since each trackWAV file starts at the same point (0:00), they are still in synch with each other when imported.

wafu_vasco · #6 05-10-2009, 03:11 PM

Sounds good! Can files from other 8 tracks then be imported onto the DP004?

MoBeach · #7 05-10-2009, 03:13 PM

Tascam, Boss, Zoom, Korg all make good ones. I have a Korg 32 track I finally graduated to. I love it!

PaulMacCnj · #8 05-10-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wafu_vasco

Sounds good! Can files from other 8 tracks then be imported onto the DP004?

As long as each track can be exported as a 44.1 KHz / 16 bit WAV file, they can be imported into the DP-004. You cannot import the 8 track file.

4Mal · #9 05-12-2009, 09:53 AM

Used Zoom H4 is really convenient and it sounds great. I'm using mine as a field recorder and then processing the takes in Pro Tools on my studio rig. I could as easily be using the Cubase as provided but as I'm already deep into ProTools that would be silly...

This is of course not just a 4 track recorder. It's also a USB audio interface so really the track count is out the window to the extent that your PC Host has the guts to process tracks ...

Zombbg4 · #10 05-12-2009, 10:03 AM

I highly recomend the zoom H4. It does 4 track as well and great quality stereo recordings of you gig, rehersal ect...