Review: Track Stars

There aren't enough drugs in the world to make you Jimi Hendrix, but don't let that stop you from trying. With one of these portable digital studios, cutting a good demo has never been easier.

Track Stars

Learn How We Rate ##### Wired

Rocking combination of simple recording functions and advanced mixing tools. Simultaneous 8-track recording; play back up to 24. Excellent built-in sampler and drum machine. Saves tracks as easy-to-play WAV files.

• 1/10A complete failure in every way
• 2/10Sad, really
• 3/10Serious flaws; proceed with caution
• 4/10Downsides outweigh upsides
• 5/10Recommended with reservations
• 6/10Solid with some issues
• 7/10Very good, but not quite great
• 8/10Excellent, with room to kvetch
• 9/10Nearly flawless
• 10/10Metaphysical perfection

1. BOSS BR-800

A streamlined interface makes recording on the BR-800 as easy as microwaving popcorn—but with about as many options for tweaking the results. As the big EZ REC button implies, laying down tracks is a cinch: Hit the button, select a predefined setting (say, Electric Guitar), then pick a sound effect, tempo, and drum beat. Shred. Rock. Repeat.

2. Zoom R24

The Zoom R24 is wider, pricier, and has a lot more features than the rest of this band. But don't let that intimidate you: It's a logical, sophisticated tool crammed into a lightweight package. After a little setup, the R24 records and exports gorgeous audio. You can also use it as an audio interface for software apps like Cubase when recording to your computer.

3. Tascam DP-008

We're conflicted: The DP-008 is tiny and talented, but it frustrated the hell out of us. It delivers brilliant recordings and was the most compact workstation in our test. The built-in condenser mics are excellent, and using the external microphone jack resulted in clean, clear sound. But the interface is a hot mess: Most of the DP-008's face is devoted to a ridiculous number of pan and reverb knobs—we kept hitting them by accident while fumbling for the recording-level controls.

WIRED Great sound at a great price. Small enough to tote around all day. Easy file export is a slam dunk.

TIRED No drum machine. Barely audible metronome. Sucks down batteries faster than Amy Winehouse chugs vodka.

$300, tascam.com

4. Fostex MR-8 MkII

This unit was clearly designed for guitar players who fancy themselves producers. Jack in your strat and choose from a number of simulated amplifier sounds. But that's where the fun ends. This 3.5-pound monster is the bulkiest unit we reviewed—more like a permanent fixture than a portable. And whether you use the built-in mic or plug in an external, expect uniformly bad results. At least it's cheap; keep it around as a blunt object to toss at your drummer.

WIRED Inexpensive. Easily exports tracks with the push of a button.

TIRED Complex menus hard to navigate. Too many buttons, too few functions. Piercingly high-pitched metronome may drive you to Townshendian acts of destruction.

$250, fostex.com