Help on choosing a CD recorder

[Terry Sneed]

Are there any good quality 8 track CD recorders out there for say, around $300 or less? I'd like to have one with a built in drum machine, a USB connect, and one that is very user friendly.
Thanks
terry

[Terry Sneed]

Well, appreciate the info fellow forumites.
I'd really like to try and get into simple home recording, if I could just get a few suggestions on recorders, please??
terry

[Bill Terry]

Terry, I'm not an expert but since you seem to be a little short on replies I'll give my opinion. I think when you say CD recorder, you're probably meaning you want to be able to record a song and put it on a CD, not record directly to a CD right?

Assuming that is correct, you probably want to look at some sort of small multi-track digital recorder. Tascam, Zoom, Boss (Roland) and other manufacturers make entry level recorders that record directly to some sort of internal storage, typically SD cards. They usually require you to transfer the 2 track 'mix' to a PC or Mac to burn it to a CD. That can be done via a USB port (if the recorder has one), reading the SD card (if your computer can do that) or even by just bouncing the stereo mix from the audio outputs of the recorder to the audio inputs on your computer. Once the song is on your PC you use your PC CD burning software (most PCs come with something) to make a music CD.

I know nothing about the following other than they seem to be sort of what you're looking for, and somewhere close to your price range. Maybe you can check these out and do some more online research. Recommending a recorder for someone is very difficult, since only you know how much 'technology' you want to deal with. Generally products in this price range tend to be designed for ease of use, but 'ease of use' is relative.

I know some of the guys here on the forum have used some of these stand-alone recorders, I haven't. So maybe some expert will jump in with some actual user experience and advice.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/R8zoom/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BR800/ (a bit more than your $300.00 budget)
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DP03 (this one has a CD burner on board, but no drums, also over your budget)

[Terry Sneed]

Appreciate the suggestions Bill. I think the Zoom R8 would be all I'd need. My computer takes the SD cards, and I can also burn CDs with it. I really appreciate your help, I was beginning to think I had no friends on the forum. Thanks again
terry

[Bill Terry]

Glad that helped Terry.. Good luck with your recording.

[Terry Sneed]

They usually require you to transfer the 2 track 'mix' to a PC or Mac to burn it to a CD.

Hey Bill, when you say 2 track 'mix', is just 2 tracks all you can record with the zoom R8? Or is it that you can only record 2 tracks at a time? I'd like to have at least an 8 track recorder, which I think will let you record up to 8 different instruments, but only 2 at a time. Is that correct, or have I got my wires crossed as usual? Thanks
terry

[Bill Terry]

Terry, I think you understand correctly. I didn't look at the Zoom too closely but it is an 8 track recorder, meaning you can record up to 8 tracks of digital audio, 2 at a time. What wasn't clear to me is whether the drum track is one (or two) of the 8 tracks, I'd guess it's not.

I tracked this link down, seems there is a video demo, and I also saw that youtube seems to have a lot of r8 videos, you might check that out.

http://www.samsontech.com/zoom/products ... orders/r8/

And sooner or later you'll have to deal with this, as it should answer any questions about how the R8 works:
http://www.samsontech.com/site_media/le ... ual_E1.pdf

As for 'transferring the 2 track mix', you'd need to check out the RM linked above to be sure how it works on the R8, but that would normally be the stereo 'mix' from your 8 tracks, or what would be burned on a CD.

I did see that you can transfer the 8 tracks to your PC individually via USB, and that the R8 includes a version of Cubase and can be used as an audio interface/control surface to record directly to Cubase (or some other DAW) if you'd like to go that way at some point (nice feature).

Edited: I was curious, so I looked at the manual. Several mix options, but you can mix to a 'master track' using the on board mixer, effects and EQ on the R8 and then transfer that track to the PC for burning to a CD. Check out Mixing starting on page 40.

[Terry Sneed]

Thanks for all your help Bill. I really don't know what 'cubase, audio interface, or control surface means. Now you see what a dummy I am about recording.
I got lots to learn before I will be able to record anything and put it to CD. Thanks for the R8 manual link, that should help if I decide to get the Zoom. Just hope I'll be able to understand the manual.
terry

[Bill Moore]

Terry, the Zoom r16 will record 8 tracks at a time. So you can record 8 separate tracks, then transfer all the tracks to the computer, then mix them as desired.

[Terry Sneed]

Thanks Bill. Recording 8 tracks at a time would be nice, but I noticed the R16 is $100 more.
A friend of mine let me borrow his Yahama 4 track cassett recorder. So maybe I can learn a little about the recording process, before I go and buy a new $300 or $400 CD recorder.
terry

[Mikey Phillips]

Terry,
Did you ever purchase or decide on a recording setup? I have been using a Presonus Firepod for about 8 years and they would do what you want. They are now called Firestudio, just an upgrade from mine, for less than $400.00. I use Band N Box with mine for the backing tracks. It comes with recording software and it is not that hard to use. You might check it out.
Mikey