Having been in the fore front of home studio recording for many years, I am always on the look out for new or interesting bits of equipment that will enhance my operations or performances within the studio environment. A friend popped round the other day and showed me his new mini portable digital recorder by 'BOSS'. It boasted 8 track recording, on board stereo condenser microphone, direct in guitar jacks, headphone socket, built in multi-effects including drum patterns and much more, and I think I am right in saying that it is the smallest digital recorder of its kind on the planet. The only draw back if it should be called so is…being it is portable it must use batteries to provide mobile power and they don't last long, a couple of hours maximum. If a mains adapter is available I will certainly get one, or if not, then rechargable batteries will be a definate cheaper alternative to constantly buying new ones…..so other than that I can not see any other down falls.

After a while of mucking about with this little gismo I realised what a boon it could be for my acoustic guitar compositions! With this device I could rehearse, compose, record such compositions and hear them back instantly, no more would I have to power up my whole studio just to practice my guitar pieces and commit them to tape just to hear what they sound like.

So after a little research I discovered that 'BOSS' do a 4 track version (pictured above) with all the same built in functions. 8 track is fine, but a little over the top for my own needs when 4 does the same job! Apparently all the data is stored on a flash card, the same type of card you find inside modern digital cameras, so for instance a 1GB card would probably give me up to 8 hours of hi-definition digital sound…..way more than I need but the extra space would be handy sometimes.

Now….when the inspiration takes me and I feel in a composing mood, I can just reach for this little gismo, turn it on, set up the track and record away, play it back, add to it, or do whatever I want until I'm happy with it….and when I have written the composition to my satisfaction I can then crank up the studio and record it in a more controlled environment for superior sound etc….

The device (BOSS Micro BR 4) retails for about £135 but I have seen it advertised for £125 on certain web sites…..so I think I am going to buy one soon…..ya hay for me!