About the only thing music production and portability share in common are the letter ‘p’. That is, unless you find yourself equipped with the new Zoom R8 ($299). The 8-track portable controller takes Zoom’s renown on-the-go audio capture capabilities and meshes it with an all-new controller capable of 2-track simultaneous recording via its built-in mics or external inputs to an included 2GB SD card (up to 32GB via a SDHC slot). But the controller’s capabilities don’t just end there. A built-in drum machine, over 150 guitar and studio quality master effects and compatibility with digital audio workstation software (Cubase LE is included) make it an ultra-versatile tool in an ultra-compact design — it can even run off 4 AA batteries, power adaptor or USB port and fits in a guitar case.
Buy Now: $299