What is the simplest, and least expensive multi track recorder?

Question:I want to recored multiple tracks at home.
Layers of Bass and guitar line for loop tracks.
All the multi-track digital recorders look confusing and complicated to me.
Which one do you guys think is the simplest to use, and the best buy for the money?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I want to recored multiple tracks at home.
Layers of Bass and guitar line for loop tracks.
All the multi-track digital recorders look confusing and complicated to me.
Which one do you guys think is the simplest to use, and the best buy for the money?

in my opinion, the cheapest and best way to record at home is to use a mic, a mixer, and software.

You'll want to expiriment with microphones... but I'd suggest sooner or later getting a Shure SM57 for instruments and SM58 for vocals. These are both great, durable, microphones. They'll cost around 100$ each, and you will probably never see them on sale. =)

Behringer makes a 4-channel mixer for less than 100$, you can get it on musiciansfriend.com. Tapco (a generic of Mackie) also makes a 4-channel for a little more.

Now you'll need a mic cable to go from your microphone to your mixer, a mic stand probably, and the proper cable to go from your mixer to your computer - depending on what inputs your computer has. Upgrade your sound card as soon as you can, I'm really happy with my M-Audio 2496... anything M-Audio will be good enough for amateur work. There are a few decent cards out there, make sure they'll do at least 44.8k in/out and try to shoot for 24-bit in and out. Getting decent speakers (basically, the bigger the better) will help you greatly when you go back to monitor what you've recorded.

There are a few pretty dang decent free or inexpensive software DAW products out there. I use Reaper (link below). It's very cheap, with a long trial time. For the money, I think it's the best deal out there. It's got MIDI, VST, supports stems, has a built-in programming language for the plugins... yeah, it's pretty sweet. Pro Tools has an 8-track free version, I think, but I've not heard many good things about it. N-Track is another product that is inexpensive and very functional. I've used an older version of it for a long time and it's help up great.

So, if you're okay with all that, for less than 250$ max and some time learning how to use the software, you could be up and running, recording and layering and all that stuff.

I'm not a big fan of digital multitracking, which is why I went with computer software. It just makese sense to me - I can do so much more for so much less money, y'know?

Good luck!

Saul

Perhaps you should start with SOFTWARE that will allow you to do this on your computer. Check out the freeware and shareware sites - there are MANY software programs that will suit you. You will need decent mikes, and an interface box to allow you to do this ( since decent mikes are often XLR input, and your computer is RCA). Check them out on www.musiciansfriend.com or similar places - there are several, and you will learn by reading. Many of the publication like Mix and Electronic Musician also maintain help pages, or even have how-to issues that will guide you.

I actually spent a small pile - I have a great Marantz digital deck that I can take to my concerts, etc., and a nice pair of AKG mikes. Not all that complicated, but not what you want, I do not think - I am doing straight live stereo recording. I need to record clips for my websites, since I run a classical music agency and play chamber music professionally. Rockers ten to roll their eyes at classical musicians, but we are *incredibly* more fussy about sound than they EVER are - we are trained for many years to have superior listening skills, after all - not to sound snootty - but it's the essence of our education.

Easiest to use and best sounding is the Tascam - DP-01 is discontinued so they are on sale for $200 if any are left. The new model is the DP-02. The DP-02CF records to a flash card and has no built in effects for $300. The $600 DP-02FX/CD has a hard drive, effects, and a CD burner.
You can only record 2 tracks at a time with these units - but if it's just you then that's all you need. Once you understand "Arming the Tracks" the rest is easy.
The best 8 tracks at a time recorder is the Korg D-888 - $700. Easy to use and sounds great. I would avoid the Yamaha units - they sound thin and tinny to me.
Get a good condenser mike to go with it - the MRX990 is good enough for $70 - the MRX992 is better - the Rode NT1-A is the best ($230) Good Luck!