What’s the best solution for portable simultaneous multi-track recording?

Back in the day, practically every band going cut their recording teeth on a four-track tape recorder, and descendents of these products can still be found today. Of course, you no longer need to use cassettes – SD cards are now the recording medium of choice – but if you simply want a product that has standard analogue inputs and a mixer-style layout, a PortaStudio-style device could still work. You’ll likely get a few effects thrown in, too.

If you already have a laptop, another option is to use that and your DAW. You’ll need an audio interface with the right number and type of inputs, obviously, but the advantage here is that your multi-tracks will immediately be in a sophisticated production environment, so you’ll easily be able to move ahead to the mixing and mastering stages.

Similar benefits are to be had if you use an iPad, though with even more portability. Again, you’ll need a multi-track audio interface – and one that’s iOS-compatible – but apps such as WaveMachine Labs’ Auria and Steinberg’s Cubasis are perfectly suited to dealing with large multi-track audio projects, and will feel pretty familiar if you’re au fait with desktop production software.

One final option would be a standalone recorder/mixer that will also work as an audio interface, so you can pick and choose how you record in different situations. Zoom’s new LiveTrak L-12 looks a strong contender in this regard; it should be available by the time you read this priced at around $600.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this, as it really depends what’s wrong with your mix in the first place. In order to find out, a reference track A/B plugin such as Sample Magic’s Magic AB 2 or Mastering The Mix’s new Reference could be useful. The latter actually offers features that enable you to compare the frequency balance, stereo width and compression of tracks, so could be particularly useful.

Alternatively, you could try Sound. Tools’ Matchering, an online tool that promises to automatically master your music so that it sounds like the reference track that you feed it. It’s still in beta, but you can give it a try at https:sound.tools/matchering.