Digital Multitrackers

This page provides a fairly complete overview over digital multitrac recorders currently 1) available. I am in the process of buying one and thought I might as well share my research so others in the same situation hopefully can save some time.

• composition (instead of DAW)
• vocal recording in studio (stereo guide track and room for several takes)
• basic drum recording (at least 4 channels)

• portability (but not necessarily battery powered
• midi out for syncing sequencncer
• any kind of wav export for postprocessing
• recording of up to 4 parallel channels
• basic editing and mixing functions
• all fx/eqs must be editable while playback
• virtual tracks (to keep clean signal but record a wet track)

• built-in compressor
• 2 mic preamps with phantom power
• operation as a soundcard

I finally settled for a Korg D16, because it allows simulataneous recording of 8 tracks, can easily be modded to run from compact flash instead of the internal hard disk. Besides it's well built, small, has a touchscreen, and comes cheap nowadays (I picked up mine for about €160 on ebay).

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may99/articles/portastudio.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar01/articles/16track.asp

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=32558

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep00/articles/akai.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/May02/articles/akaidps24.asp

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may04/articles/bossbr1600.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Oct01/articles/bossbr532.asp

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may00/articles/bossbr8.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Mar03/articles/fostexmr8.asp

not recommended, 4 stereo tracks, battery powered, no sends

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr01/articles/fostexvf08.asp

2 in, 8 tracks

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct00/articles/fostex.htm

8 (16) in, 16 tracks, 8 ghost tracks

http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/music_products/vf80ex.shtml

2in, 8 tracks, 16 ghost tracks, midi €250

http://www.korg.de/produkte/fruehere-modelle/d12-produktinfo.html

4 in, 12 (6@24bit) tracks, midi

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jan03/articles/korgd1200.asp

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb00/articles/korgd16.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan06/articles/korgd3200.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec03/articles/korgd32xd.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep05/articles/korgd4.htm

data compression, 32kHz max

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr98/articles/korgd8.html

2 in, 8 tracks, internal hd

16 tracks, data compression, €300

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun04/articles/rolandvs2000cd.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1996_articles/feb96/rolandvs880.html

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun07/articles/tascam2488mk2.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb01/articles/tascam788.asp

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr05/articles/tascamdp.htm

2in, 8 tracks, poor metering, can't edit eq freq in without stopping the machine

http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=9485

2in, 8 tracks, midi, xlr, €300, usb, many controls

http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=10883 http://www.tascam.com/products/dp-004 2in, 4 tracks, tiny, usb, no xlr, 200€, no midi

http://www.tascam.com/products/dp-008.html

2in, 8 tracks, small, many controls, xlr, no midi, € 300

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar01/articles/16track.asp

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct05/articles/yamahaaw1600.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct05/articles/yamahaaw1600.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug07/articles/zoom_hd16.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan02/articles/zoommrs1044.asp

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb03/articles/zoommrs1266.asp

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan05/articles/zoommrs1608.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jul03/articles/zoommrs802.asp