All i want is a decent recording studio that all the tracks i record seperatly can sync together good which idk how to do i guess use a click track throuigh the recorder idk any help would be cool i just want to record cds of me and my band but all the parts seperate so idk if any of this makes sense but please help

I was looking at the fostex mr16 is that any good?

Welcome to RO.
I own this recorders little brother, Fostex MR8 mkII 8 Track Multitrack Recorder and have to say I am disappointed in the quality of the recordings even using good mics it works but....The effects are cheesy. It is small and easily portable, not real difficult to run but you have to scroll thru half a dozen screens to get things done. I guess what I am saying is I find the workflow difficult. I don't know which one you were looking at but a cd burner if you own a computer is pretty much unnecessary as these devices read to cards and transfer USB or firewire depending on which one you are looking at.
The mr16 has 4 inputs, assuming you are in a rock band this pretty much limits you to tracking everything seperately. Recording drums is typically two to four tracks, add bass, guitars, vocals etc. So you need to decide if thats enough.
Any multitrack recording set up will sync tracks if used properly. If you add another track the musician simply puts on headphones and plays to the previously recorded tracks and voila! Sync! Click tracks are most commonly used when recording the first base track in a layered recording (where each instrument tracks their part individually) to make certain that this part is in time. However musicians who have not trained with a metronome usually have difficulty doing this.
If you own a good computer you will probably be better off purchasing an interface and recording into your computer. Something like this
http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=3 though there are many different manufacturers offering similar products. This allows 8 inputs at one time and would allow you to record at least a good portion of the band at one time, which most people find helps the band give a better performance. These interfaces come with software that offer a huge amount of choices for mixing the music after recording. The recording quality IMO will much higher.

jg49 wrote: Welcome to RO.
I own this recorders little brother, Fostex MR8 mkII 8 Track Multitrack Recorder and have to say I am disappointed in the quality of the recordings even using good mics it works but....The effects are cheesy. It is small and easily portable, not real difficult to run but you have to scroll thru half a dozen screens to get things done. I guess what I am saying is I find the workflow difficult. I don't know which one you were looking at but a cd burner if you own a computer is pretty much unnecessary as these devices read to cards and transfer USB or firewire depending on which one you are looking at.
The mr16 has 4 inputs, assuming you are in a rock band this pretty much limits you to tracking everything seperately. Recording drums is typically two to four tracks, add bass, guitars, vocals etc. So you need to decide if thats enough.
Any multitrack recording set up will sync tracks if used properly. If you add another track the musician simply puts on headphones and plays to the previously recorded tracks and voila! Sync! Click tracks are most commonly used when recording the first base track in a layered recording (where each instrument tracks their part individually) to make certain that this part is in time. However musicians who have not trained with a metronome usually have difficulty doing this.
If you own a good computer you will probably be better off purchasing an interface and recording into your computer. Something like this
http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=3 though there are many different manufacturers offering similar products. This allows 8 inputs at one time and would allow you to record at least a good portion of the band at one time, which most people find helps the band give a better performance. These interfaces come with software that offer a huge amount of choices for mixing the music after recording. The recording quality IMO will much higher.

Ok, while i do have a ncie computer all my musical equipment is not in the house it is out in the garage upstairs and considering its a desktop and stuff im not really into lugging it up there everytime i want to record. Its kinda of a on the fly recording thing when i want to its there i have nothing but mics to setup yaknow? So is tehre any other multi tracks for arround the same price maybe a little higher that have good quality of recording? And what should i look for in the stats of a MTR that says its recording quality?
Thank you guys so much i just dont want to invest the money and have it sound like crap. Id like to stay away from computers too. But if thats the only route then i will take it.

Wow jg, I never knew you owned that. I have that unit too and I pretty much have the same experience as you. The built in preamp is horrible, but what do you expect in a portable all-in-one device. Recording to a desktop is really the way to go. It might be a little bit of effort to move around your computer prior to a session, but you get much more for your money. Your recordings will be much better with the firepod and your desktop.

Well it is certainly not the only route, just gives you the most bang for your buck. I could not recommend any particular brand of MTR. Since switching to an interface/computer you could not pay me to go back.

ehh ok well uhm what is a good one for the computer and how would i work it? idk if my computer has the right outlets and stuff for mics and stuff soo if you could point me in the right direction for a good computer setup for around that price thatd be cool or a good mtr with good quality

The interface I linked you to above connects to the computer via firewire sending a digital signal into the software which is included. The mics or instruments connect to the interface and each track is sent seperately. Go to the link, download the manual, and look at the wiring diagram it should help you concieve the set up. The Presonus device I linked you to is good, I use two of them linked together to get 16 tracks. There are others in that same price range all pretty similar. Read the independent magazine reviews for comparisons. After reading some reviews and the diagram touch back.

Alright well i have a new plan the computer stuff is out of the picture i think...im not good with computer at all. What i think now which i think is gonna be a big big money spnder which is fine, instead of an all in one would buying a recorder and a mixer seperatly be better? so basically whats the best non computer setup. price range 1000
Thanks you guys are a great help.

darkstar123481 wrote: ...would buying a recorder and a mixer seperatly be better?

It could be. Depending on what you get and how handy you are with a tone generator and a small screwdriver. No. I'm not kidding. You could look into a used 1" 16track reel to reel recorder and a mixer.

darkstar123481 wrote: so basically whats the best non computer setup. price range 1000
Thanks you guys are a great help.

Well, unless you happen upon someone who depends on $1000 for his life, you're scraping the bottom of the barrel for a few smears of apple. You could try to look for a used Alesis HD24 but that will be your $1000 right there if you're lucky.

I still think a computer interface is your best bet.

ok so a computer setup is my last resort i guess lol? idk ti hate computer is it possible to run one effectivly off a pretty cheap laptop?

ok so hows this look or ones similar does it look like itd have good sound quality by its stats? cause idk what to look for

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Korg-D3200-32-Track-Digital-Recording-Studio-103312005-i1126120.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Boss-BR-1600CD-Multitrack-Digital-Recorder-102539871-i1125975.gc

Im really liking the second one tell me what you guys think it has some good reviews

If I had to pick, I would go with the Korg.

and what would be your reasoning behind that? sorry about being annoying this is a lot of money to thow away lol.

1-32 tracks on the Korg as opposed to 16 on the Boss.

2-16 tracks of simultaneous recording on the Korg when using ADAT as well as the xlr as opposed to the Boss which is strictly 8.

3- An 80Gig hard drive on the Korg as opposed to 40 on the Boss

4- Midi Control, MTC on the Korg. None on the Boss.

5- On board drum machine.

There's other features but those are the main ones.

So do you think i would be set with the korg?

I don't know. Would you rather go with the lesser equipped Boss for about the same amount of money?

As I said, if I had to pick between the two, I would go with the Korg.

I still think an interface is a better choice. The Presonus as mentioned is a nice unit and many have found it to be of good value. You can spend the rest of the $1000 on an external USB 2.0 hard drive and a mic or two. You won't need a mixer. It will be as portable as the Korg since you are using a laptop. Though, you may have to invest $50 on a firewire card for the laptop.

It's entirely up to you at this point. No one can, should nor will make that decision for you.

Anything you buy will have a learning curve. That's just the way it goes. For me editing is much easier on a 15" LCD than on a 4" one. Less menus. Less scrolling. More effects which you can download legally for free.