Simple, low $, stand-alone multitrack for songwriting?

[infiniteposse]

Hi all-

I'm sort of in between spaces at the moment as I work out the building of my studio space and I'd like to get a simple tool for just making scratch performances that help me to get arrangements down and the like. I think 4 tracks would be plenty. I sold my cassette 4-track long ago, but that's the general idea that I'm after - a quick and efficient tool for getting down ideas.

I use a stereo MiniDisc recorder for getting simple song ideas down, but I've got vocal and harmony ideas swimming around and I'm dying to get them down without setting up an arsenal of gear. I'd really like something I could just plug a SM58/58 into and do the do.

Does anyone else have a good songwriting tool like this that you swear by? There's a glut of new stand-alone digi-recorders out there (HD and memory card-based it seems) and I haven't got a clue which one works simply and transparently. I'd prefer to spend around $300 if possible.

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

Lee

[RecTechMin]

the most underrated standalone multitracker must have been the kord d16. it is really compact -- smaller than their current 12 tracker. no compression on the audio files. the sound quality is good and it comes with a buttload of fx. but i think the best part about it is the price. they can be picked up for $350-450 used. That is a super deal for a 16 track recorder the size of a laptop.

PS it has a touch screen, which makes it really simple to work with.

[infiniteposse]

Thanks guys. I'll check both of those out. Simple and solid is all I'm looking for really...

Appreciated.

Lee

[guitarmonkey]

i used the yamaha aw16g for a variety of uses over the last several years and it is a nice unit.

here's a link to an mp3 i did with that and one Oktava MK319 mic... all F/X and processing was internal.

http://www.aronhalt.net/stuff/stuff.htm

it is the song "secret things."

my dos pesos...
gary