4-track recorder?

I'm looking for a 4-8 track recorder for cheap. I'm wanting one to use it as a songwriting and practice tool, a scratch pad if you will. A digital one with some built in drum sample's/loops would be ideal, but that will probably be more than I want to spend. It can be new or used, but preferably around the $300 US range. Any suggestions.

I do my main recording on my computer, but that takes too much time to set everything up just for simple ideas. I want something I can keep by my guitar rig and if something pops in my head, plug it up and press record.

Tascam 424 mk III analogue 4 track very coool !

Not top of the range but it will do the job !

I have one and i love it !

what would be a reasonable price for one? I won't be getting one anytime soon, but would this be what you are talking about? I've never used one of these, so is there a big learning curve when starting out? Can you transfer what you record onto a computer?

Or, what about one of these . It "seems" like it's pretty close to what I'm looking for with all the extra's like the different beats and metranome patterns. Keep in mind this will just be used as a scratch pad, and not for the final mix.

That eBay guy was exactly what I was on about. I think they come in at 350 new. The Korg PRX guys are cool as long as you don't want to record high frequencies as the sample rate is not high enough to make a good job of it, for more info there is a PRX4 forum at korgstudioes (there is a link on the GT home page and in my instructors page).

The Tascam will only do analogue so to digitalize a mix you need to feed a Stereo out from the Tascam to your sound card and record your final mix.

A word of warning about bouncing on the Tascam, you do get a noticeable drop in sound quality after about 3 bounces !

For about 500 you could pick up a second hand D1200. I have one of there and they are cool ! The pres on the D1200 are not amazing however it will do a much better job than the PRX4 !

Id not pay more than 200 for the Tascam, Im not sure what they mean by "Case" however the videos come in two volumes and retail at 30 bucks a pop. They are quite good if you are new to analogue recording !

Check these out:

Click here

I don't know anything about them, but there are brands such as Boss, Tascam, Fostex, Korg, even Zoom and prices are from $179-$399 USD.

Id avoid the Boss and Zoom recorders and the Fostex blows its self out the water by not having enough memory.

I seriously need to learn to be more patient and wait until I have the money to get what I want instead of what will get me by. My PODxt with the metal pack installed came in yesterday. So, that ought to keep me busy for a while.