Best Bang for the Buck Multitrack around $500.00

[LilRay]

Hi guys, I have searched the forums here and I wanted to get a fresh opinion on a new multitrack recorder. First I'll list what I'm looking for;
Standalone Multitrack w/CD burner (8-16 Track).
Fairly simple to use.
I'll be recording a three piece band with one vocalist.
Mostly rehearsals for critiquing new material. But it would be nice to produce something that could be used as a demo for small clubs as well.

I live in a small town very rural. the nearest music store is 25 miles away (GC is 100 miles). With fuel being as high as it is it has become quite costly to drive to a music store, especially with any decent amount of stock.

There are a lot of these available but I wanted to get real world opinions on one before I bought.
Let me know what you think.

Thanks

 

[hunta]

How many inputs do you need? Around $500 you're going to be limited to 2 inputs generally, like check out http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DP02/. Beyond that I'm not really a standalone user

 

[LilRay]

Does anyone know anything or have experience with the Fostex MR 16 HD/CD? I dont have a clue about Fostex personally.

 

[laboitenoire]

How good is your computer? For $500, stand-alone models are usually fairly limited in terms of inputs, but for that kind of money you could definitely get an 8-track USB or Firewire interface. Just get some decent software (I personally like Sonar, as it's pretty cheap while still being immensely powerful), and you can lay down as many tracks as you like.

 

[namraj]

Ebay it, the Zoom MRsomthing I bought i few years ago must be going for about that now, and i have no complaints, im selling myn now tho, I gotta macbook, audio interface and logic softwear which does a much better job, but for a multitrack cnt fault the zoom

 

[DWBass]

For rehearsals and scratch demos I suggest the Zoom H2 or H4. In your price range, you're only going to find limited input options. Proper recordings usually require separated drums and vocals otherwise everything is going to bleed through the mics anyway!

 

[patrickj]

Alesis io26

$400

It even comes with a good version of Cubase (PC and Mac). Use whatever CD burner you've got in your laptop/desktop.