Fostex MR8 8-Track Digital Recorder with Built-In FX

by Fostex

Product Features

• 8 Tracks recording & playback, .WAV import/export
• Built-In Microphone
• 2 XLR Mic Inputs, 2 Guitar Inputs

Product Details

• Item Weight: 7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• ASIN: B0002D0IM0
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,904 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #23 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Multitrack Recorders > Digital

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Fostex MR-8 is the first solid-state memory recorder in the industry that offers 8-tracks of recording on the very popular CompactFlash card media. The MR-8 comes with a very competitive price point, especially compared to the current digital 4-track memory recorders already on the market.

Fostex's design goal for the MR-8 was to create a digital multitrack recorder with unprecedented ease of operation for musicians who want digital recording and superb sound quality, but also offers the simplicity of their favorite old analog machine. Nearly all the functions of the MR-8 are on the physical knobs and buttons of the top panel. User frustration caused by having to flip through pages and pages of LCD menus, is not an issue with the MR-8.

While the MR-8 may be simple to operate, all the features and functions expected from digital recorders in today's market are present: on-board digital effects, guitar amp/microphone simulators, digital bouncing, auto punch in/punch out, etc. Communication with a PC is provided via the MR-8's standard built-in USB port making it easy for data editing, CD-burning, and file backup.

Product Features

• 8 tracks recording & playback
• 128MB CF Included!
• No menus to navigate; Knob/Button for each function
• Full Timecode Capability Inc. 30df and Jam Sync.
• On-Board Effects including:
  - Reverbs
  - Delays
  - Guitar FX
  - Amp Simulator
  - Mic Simulator
  - Mastering
• USB Port
• .WAV import/export
• Archiving
• CD Burning
• 2 XLR Mic Inputs
• 2 Guitar Inputs
• S/PDIF Digital Output
• Built-In Microphone

Product Description

Fostex has broken the digital recorder price barrier with their new MR8. It's the world first 8-track that records into solid-state, Compact Flash Card memory ? and there's more! It's got a USB port for WAV file data transfer to a Windows PC for data editing, CD burning, and backup. And operating the MR8 is more intuitive than many other digital recorders ? it's ideal for users who have no experience in digital multi-track recording.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Place to Start, September 22, 2004

By 

Thomas R. Niles - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fostex MR8 8-Track Digital Recorder with Built-In FX

The Fostex MR-8 has it's ups and downs, luckily it has more ups than downs. What the greatest perks of the MR-8 is that it's one of the cheapest digital recorders around and doesn't feel cheap. For just three hundred dollars you get a digital recorder, and the fact that it is a digital recorder offers enough flexibility to get around it's shortcomings.

The MR-8 records onto a Smart Card reader. It has a couple of onboard effect options and mastering effects. The recorder has a simple menu screen to work from and it's also backlit so it's easy to see. You have eight tracks to work from and the first four of these you are allowed to add effects from the actual MR-8. This isn't necessary if you already have an effects pedal, but it's a nice thought. It's very easy to record onto this thing and within minutes after scanning the manual I was able to start recording. Within a day of reading the manual I was able to almost fully use every function on the MR-8. The MR-8 also allows you to bounce tracks one though four onto tracks five and six and then you can bounce tracks one through six onto tracks seven and eight, you can than master these two tracks into a wav file so your completed song can be exported onto your computer. This is the MR-8's strongest feature, the ability to transfer tracks and songs back and forth from the computer. It makes the fact that the Smart Card has only a little amount of memory easier to digest. If you use a USB cable to transfer songs you might run into some problems, as I did. Every now and then, about one in every twenty transfers, a file would become corrupted and unusable. But I just bought a Smart Card reader and use that now to transfer songs and I have yet to have a problem.

I have found after having this product for over a year, it best works as a recording device instead of a recording/mastering device. If you just use the product to record and than a computer to handle the mixing and mastering you will soon discover you have a powerful combination in your hands. For it's price it is a nice place to start a budding recording carrier.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simplicity and clarity - perfection no doubt., February 8, 2005

By 

James G. Henderson "jimghenderson" (IA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fostex MR8 8-Track Digital Recorder with Built-In FX

I'm an independent artist publishing under the name "Alpha Terminus" and "Dancing Baptists." The genre is electronic/synthpop/new wave. I tried recording vocals on the computer soundcard and a mic and it was in essence, horrible. On someones advice I bought the Fostex MR-8 and a good mic (Sure SM58) and it was remarkable.

Simple to use, I never read the manual. I don't use any of the effects as I'm just using it for vocals. Any professional could use this to get identical "big studio sound." But the incredibly cheap price is great for amatures.

The CF format is cheap. You can easily add a 1 Gbyte card for under 100 dollars and have hours of recording time.

Transfer it to your computer, enhance it, edit it, and you can have studio quality perfection. The best and most important equipment I use (But get a good mic too!)

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly What I wanted, July 4, 2005

By 

D. Makson (CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fostex MR8 8-Track Digital Recorder with Built-In FX

I recently began writing and recording, and I am the definition of technologically impaired. My brother who is an electronic music major recommended this unit because I am a beginner, and he was right. It is perfect for what I want. Extremely easy to use, but the recording quality is amazing. I have only had it for a month and have already recorded 10 songs in my spare time. It may not have effects and extras, but if you are like me and want to get started, this will be perfect for you.