$300 - $2000

On the lowest end of the scale, you can't beat a $300 Portastudio. Whether it's a Tascam, Fostex, or Roland, 4 to 8 tracks for under $500 is a great deal. Plus, these are somewhat more portable allowing you to take it to the studio and back home, just plug it in and go. Take it to your show to record.

On the other hand, they're often difficult to use. Manufacturers try to pack in a lot of features, because that's what sells, but they're hidden behind menu screens and the features make the recorder more difficult to use. They're also difficult to upgrade and storage space is often expensive.

I know someone who bought a Roland VS-1824 (around $1700 at the time) and doesn't use it anymore in favor of his computer. I knew someone with a Fostex and he used it, but for weeks couldn't figure out how to mix down. On the flip side, I know a band who recorded their album on a Tascam 8 track cassette based portastudio.

For sampling & sequencing, hardware would be the way to go. Whether it's a keyboard with a large sample library, the MPC-4000, or a simple drum machine, these integrate both the hardware and the software to create everything from drum loops to strings and more.

Next: The Computer

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