My process of creating a song on the 404 is pretty simple. Record instruments, samples, melodies, re sample, re sample, re sample.
I like to keep it all 404, so I sequence and structure the whole song by re-sampling***. I just love that 404 texture, wish I had a 303. The hard part for me is matching the right BPM to the session when I want to record say another melody or groove due to lack of over dub. My beats and songs come out very choppy, off beat, with some feedback buzzing a bit.

Now my thought is to get a multi track recorder since ill be able to over dub record it. I think ill be able to get cleaner mixes down and learn some new stuff with time.
Any recommendations? I'm willing to spend up to $500. I was looking at the 'TASCAM DP-03 Digital Portastudio', just to look into what multi track recorders are all about. I'd want one that be able to loop though if that's possible, and remember im just working off thought so I might sound stupid.

My overall goal is too be able to smoothly throw some improv jams together rather than the re sample method. The 555 looked decent since you can do the over dub loop and save it, but it can only record a certain amount of time.

Thank you for your attention!

Tascam doogood portastudes .. swear down . yeah exactly what I'm doing now .. defo gives more options for editing .. best to look for one with eq+ sliding faders..

The Zoom r8/r16/r24s are worthalookin ..

1.1

Get the zoom r8 its the shit.
does looping on each of the 8 tracks
and works as an audio interface.

record your beat as a perfect loop onto one track then improv w the synth till you get something, then record that. you can either build tracks in there or just sample back to the sp.

The sound isn't the greatest tho really but def usable.

i think the tascam tape recorders will give you an overall better sound for starting out, the digitals are good for vocals and instruments, but I think they are too shiny sounding if you just wanna make beats, + the tape machines have a nice sound for beats. the digital porta studios are more serious and you need a bit more engineering experience for them to run smooth.

+1 for tape, I love the sound from my tascam, currently trying to intergrate it with my daw for editing purposes but a bit stuck as to how to do this, any heads use tape and a daw? Tips would be great!

I really don't want to hijack the thread but I've been thinking about the Tascam tape multi recorder (Portastudio 424??) aswell and have been wondering about a few things:

1. Does it overdub and loop like the before mentioned digital recorders?
and
2. How is the sound quality when you listen it back from the tape?

Could someone please explain his/her whole process when making a track with one of those recorders.

The idea of recording tapes and literally have alot of beatTAPES sounds just too dope.

And I hope the original poster can get something out of this aswell.

I got the 424...

1.There is no way to loop the tape (unless you use an answering machine tape).
You can set overdub locations (2 of them) and skip around to them with a single button. You can set it to overdub a specific part, so when the point on the tape is coming up, it will automatically start recording (good if you have to keep your hands busy)...
2. Pretty sure that everything I have up on my soundcloud page was recorded into the 424, if you want to have a listen. Turn on the Dolbys and blast the hell out of your recording, no clipping, good smooth lows high speed/normal speed, even a pitch wheel (good for getting real pitch for your SP)
I usually use the thing to color my samples, and also as a mixer. I have not used any software for two years now, and I'm not looking back.

My only problem with the 424 is that the keys on the transport are strictly "on or off", meaning you can't get weird effect by putting english on them.

I've got 424 mk iii tape and VS880 digital 8 track. Both have their pros and cons. But 500$? No, you don't need to spend that kind of money on a multitrack. I got the vs880 for about 80$ and the 424 for 40$ even.

I'd say unless you're buying something brand new, you shouldn't have to go over 120$. Brand new, I wouldn't spend more than 250$. You'll end up getting more than you will use, likely.

+1 to everything said about 424. The VS880 is nice because it also comes with on board effects and you can use virtual tracks, which I kinda treat like alternate takes and UNDO if I'm doing a lot of track bouncing (though there is an UNDO built into the machine, it takes memory, so I just do a manual undo with virtual tracks).

My only complaint about VS880 is that there's no dedicated mixer strip knobs. You have to menu dive to access those things and the 424 has all EQ stuff right on the face, which makes it super quick to adjust and get your sound.