Digital dilemma on a dime

[GibsonLP79]

I am a young country songwriter/musician aspiring to make it in Nashville. I
started out three years ago recording my songs onto a Tascam 414MK cassette
multi-track - essentially nothing more than a musical sketchpad. Now I'm
seriously thinking about upgrading to a digital format, and I'm not sure where
to start. Of course, using computer software would probably give me the most
bang for my buck in the long run, but I'm not very computer-savvy, and the
system I have is ancient and slow, so if anything, I'd buy a free-standing
digital multi-track. I've checked out "the usual suspects", i.r., Tascam,
Fostex, etc., and their didgital units start at around $500-$600. I wonder what
the worth of such items is: I realize that I'd at least be able to do away with
analog tape-hiss and track-bleeding, but I wonder just how good the quality of
these basement-priced digital recorders is. I'm primarily making demos
containing guitar/vocal tracks only, but I wonder if it's even worth spending
the money for something that, better though it is than what I presently have,
may or may not be worth it. Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially
if owners of any low-end digital multi-tracks could share their own
experiences.

Thanks in advance,
STeve

[Scott Dorsey]

GibsonLP79 > wrote:
>I am a young country songwriter/musician aspiring to make it in Nashville. I
>started out three years ago recording my songs onto a Tascam 414MK cassette
>multi-track - essentially nothing more than a musical sketchpad. Now I'm
>seriously thinking about upgrading to a digital format, and I'm not sure where
>to start.

Why? What do you want?

Of course, using computer software would probably give me the most
>bang for my buck in the long run, but I'm not very computer-savvy, and the
>system I have is ancient and slow, so if anything, I'd buy a free-standing
>digital multi-track. I've checked out "the usual suspects", i.r., Tascam,
>Fostex, etc., and their didgital units start at around $500-$600. I wonder what
>the worth of such items is: I realize that I'd at least be able to do away with
>analog tape-hiss and track-bleeding, but I wonder just how good the quality of
>these basement-priced digital recorders is. I'm primarily making demos
>containing guitar/vocal tracks only, but I wonder if it's even worth spending
>the money for something that, better though it is than what I presently have,
>may or may not be worth it. Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially
>if owners of any low-end digital multi-tracks could share their own
>experiences.

You might try alt.music.4-track. If you're making actual demos of your songs,
presenting them in the best possible light is always worthwhile. But if you
are just using it as a scratchpad to think about putting the arrangements
together, it may not help you at all.

The little handheld digital gadget from Zoom might make you happy as a
scratchpad; it's more convenient and faster to work with than your 4-track
although it won't really sound any better.

There are plenty of standalone hard disk boxes that are worthwhile, sound
good, cost more money but can be convenient, and you won't need to use a
computer with them. The computer route can tend to be expensive if you
don't already have a computer to dedicate to it, and of course you cannot
carry it around in your backpack for when you have an idea while driving you
want to take down.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."