Recording Handbook - Hol.gr

Preamps are designed to boost a mic level signal to a line level also.
Q1.2 What should I look for in buying a 4-track machine?
Adapted from correspondence with Ben Last :
First, understand how 4-tracks work and how you would use the unit
you're thinking of buying in a real, working, setup. Consider how
you'd record and mix a track with it, from 'which instrument plugs in
where' to 'how many bounces will I need' to 'how will I eq the final
mix.' If you can't answer these questions, you're not going to get
something *wrong*; it's just that the more you look into it, the more
you will (hopefully) understand about what the various systems on the
market can do.
Below are some specific questions to ask:
(1) How many simultaneous tracks can I record?
Most modern 4-tracks will handle 4 at once; lower end systems only
operate with a single stereo bus, and can therefore handle only two at
once. Consider how many people you might have playing at once.
For example, I work with one other guy (I suppose two is too small a
number to constitute a 'band' :-); both usually play guitar. Thus,
since the synth backing (all the MIDI) comes in as two tracks
(stereo), we need to be able to record 4 tracks as well so that the
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