Right now, all of my recording is done with an iMic and Audacity. I'm tired of it.

Has anyone tried the BR-532? There's a lot of talk on here about the BR-600, but that is too expensive for me at the moment and has features I would never need/use. Other than the obvious limitations of 4 tracks, and the endless debate between analog and digital, what do ya'll think?

pt3r has one, i think. he seems to like it a lot.

as for the analog vs. digie's; people could go either way, especially madlib fans. it will end up on a cd right? i bet u could get a 4track and usb in(soundcard resemblance) for about the same as a used br-532.

I suggest digital. It almost perfectly reproduces what you put in. tape tends to discriminate with the freqs. For example too much low end in the mix will make it distort- not enough hi freq in the mix will bring up tape hiss.

I treat my tape recorder like an fx processor. Its natural sound can improve a mix or individual sounds sometimes- or make it sound a bit more fucked up.

The tape thing is real fashionable at the minute cos of madlib etc, but unless ur willing to work with all those limitations it's better to go with digital. I use a tape machine because thats just the "sound" I'm looking for right now and thats subject to change.

I just lost about 5 or 6 of my mixes the other day because the damn thing ate my tape. Pisses me off but thats the reality of working with that kind of equipment, u don't hold the control. Thing is I like all the "accidents" etc that happen in my music, thats a big part of the creative process for me, but if you're looking for something reliable and "true" to what u've just recorded, a tape really isnt it!

Olerud, i dont use a br-532...but i think...you must use a smartmedia? with 128mb limitation...and no more in the market, this is the problem i see...otherwise...the br-series are great!
i have a micro-br ...more portable, 4 track recorder, cosm fx, guitar or bass input, line in or mic input, mic-internal, mp3 player with center cancel and others tool fx, usb to and from pc and mac, 1 track plus with drums (5 tracks total)...and recording into SD card 1gb max available in all markets...work perfect and is soooo easy...

f.e. you have a mp3 making with any other source (including your micro-br) into your pc, plug usb and (with a boss-program) convert this mp3 into a track1 into a song (you have track1...with your mp3, track2 you can record a voice, track3....blabla, track4...blabla and if you want a drumtrack separatly).....then bounce a wav or mp3 and put your usb again to transfer a mix.

im sorry 4 my english...
vivi.

Thanks for the responses. Vivi the micro does look a little nicer, but the smart media issue is actually a plus for me since I'm on the 303. Most br-532's come with one, so I would have 3 total which would be nice. Again thanks for all the MOTHER FUCKIN INPUT!