Hello to all! For starters I thought that I would add the description directly from the company web site:

BR-8: Digital Recording Studio


Features:

The BOSS BR-8 is a 24 bit 8-track digital recording workstation for guitar players and other musicians seeking a simple, high-powered alternative to tape-based personal studios. Its acclaimed V-Studio technology—including Virtual Tracks, COSM™ effects processing and true non-destructive operation—is enhanced with unique features for guitarists including a Rhythm Guide, Phrase Trainer, and a built-in chromatic tuner.

    * 8-track digital recording studio with 64 Virtual Tracks
    * Zip100 drive for recording to convenient, inexpensive 100MB Zip disks
    * Simplified user interface with graphic LCD making digital recording very easy
    * 3 stereo effects processors including COSM Guitar and Bass Amp models, acoustic/bass guitar modeling and dynamics and vocal processing
    * Innovative Rhythm Guide with over 80 built-in rhythm patterns
    * Built-in chromatic tuner and dedicated Hi-Z guitar input
    * Phrase Trainer for slowing down recordings to half-speed for learning guitar licks
    * 24-bit analog inputs, including 2 microphone inputs
    * Optical digital output for connecting to digital devices such as DAT or MD
    * Note that this product is no longer in production. Similar capabilities can be found in the BR-1180/1180CD Digital Recording Studio.

End of Company Description. Now for my take:

I have owned this recorder for a while now and have learned just about every good and bad thing about it. In my overall opinion it's OK for an individual unit....but even the newer models to this one are just about the same thing with more add-ons. So be sure to browse around and do your homework before you invest something in recording music. Don't pay more than 100-125 at the most for one of these. I looked around for a decent review on this thing but you never can trust the one paragraph 5 star rating from big companies. You really just don't know who posts that stuff.

I know what you are thinking...why such a detailed guide? I want to make sure that I do all I can to inform the public about a recorder in an honest way.

So to put it simply, here are some of the good things I found useful:

1) Very User Friendly - It came with a very detailed video and manual that basically covers every control that one might use. So if you are a beginning rookie that just got a hold of this thing, it's easy to figure out.

2) 64 Virtual Tracks - You have 64 to work with (but only 8 running at the same time). That means that on 8 total channels of recording, you can have alternate takes of something you might want to try differently on 7 different v-tracks below your original. That way you don't lose what you started with just in case your next take is better.

3) Built-In Tuner - always convenient before a take. It defaults to 440.

4) Good For Writing Riffs - This would be a ideal recorder for someone just putting some riffs or ideas together quickly.

5) Helps You Keep Time - It has a built in metronome with over 100 different beats you can use to help you keep time.

And now for my take on the bigger inconveniences:

MOST IMPORTANT: These recorders have been recalled for faulty disk drives and power supplies. Unfortunately, I was a victim of the drive, but was replaced by their company free of charge.

PLEASE NOTE: It has been known on some of these recorders to erase data if you do not eject the zip disk out before you power down. Conversely, if you push the disc in before you power up it may have the same effect! Be careful and don't lose your hard work!

1) Limited Recording Space - you use 100 MB zip disks (which on the basic level of recording time) gives you about 49 minutes total time for everything (although you can optimize for about an hour and twenty minutes, you increase the risk of losing your work)! So you better be prepared to buy a zip disk per song you are working on.

2) Limited Inputs & Outputs - you get a 1/4 inch guitar input, a 1/4 inch mic input, and rca (red & white) line-in input. So your mic can only be half as good in quality as it could produce. For outputs you have an rca (red & white) out, a 1/4 inch headphone out (with separate volume knob), a digital out, and a midi out. There is no guitar cable out to anything else (if that is what  you need). So unless you have a rca to headphone plug to go to your machine (while managing to get your cpu sound program to take a line-in in stereo) good luck putting it anywhere else than on the disk you started with.

3) Preamp - are VERY digital - Every preamp for your bass, mic, acoustic, electric, keyboard, and rca inputs kind of have the Line 6 POD sound going on; either there isn't enough gain or there is too much. More than that, at the most you get 3 band EQ pre-record (high, mid & mid frequency, low) and only 3 band post-record (high, mid & mid frequency, low).

4) Effects - You can also have Reverb and Delay/Chorus/Tap delay but can only use ONE of these running at a time while recording live.  During playback you can only have one of these effects running as well. The only exception to this is if you put effects on your guitar/mic/line tones separate from the effects for the eight tracks.

5) Exporting Data - After talking to some fellow owners, I have learned that if you try to export the data to a disc that the built-in recorder drum beats will not transfer with the rest of the music (data). If you want drums on your track to transfer to a computer, you'll have to record them on there.

6) Sticky Buttons - The buttons have a tendency to stick if you are purchasing a used/pre-owned model. Keep that in mind.

7) Be Careful With Power Cord - The power cord that comes with the unit is almost impossible to replace. You rarely can find them for sale...so be careful with where you plug it up as well as crimping the cables.

8) No Phantom Power - As I recently just received a question about this, I just wanted to clarify that if you want phantom power, you will have to use something to give you that: This recorder does not provide phantom power, so if sellers say it does, it's false.

I will now post the links for the documents and downloads listed with this recorder:
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BR-8 Product Specifications & Information:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?dsection=d_downloads&ObjectId=437
This is the main page for the BR-8. All the links provided below are on there.
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Turbo Start Manual:
http://www.rolandus.com/uploads/CMS/Downloads/181/br8ts_turbo.pdf
This is the 2 page manual on how to turn it on and go manual.
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An Introduction To Recording A CD:
http://www.rolandus.com/uploads/CMS/Downloads/128/Intro_to_Recording_a_CD.pdf
This is the manual with some good tips and strategies for recording.
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BR-8 Wav Converter (For Windows 1.0) Owner's Manual:
http://www.rolandus.com/uploads/CMS/Downloads/107/Br8Win_E.pdf
This is the manual for the BR-8 WAV Converter program for Windows.
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BR-8 WAV Converter Software for PC (338K)
http://www.rolandus.com/support/downloads_updates/eula.aspx?DownloadId=376
This version of the WAV convert application adds compatability with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
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BR-8 System Update 1.04 (Mac) (584K)
http://www.rolandus.com/support/downloads_updates/eula.aspx?DownloadId=613
This .hqx file contains a file to update the operating system of the BR-8 from a Zip Disk. Read the README.TXT file for installation instructions.
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BR-8 System Update 1.04 (PC) (400K)
http://www.rolandus.com/support/downloads_updates/eula.aspx?DownloadId=614
This compressed file contains a file to update the operating system of the BR-8 from a Zip Disk. Read the README.TXT file for installation instructions.
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I would advise that you find a good deal on this recorder that way if you are not pleased with it that you won't be too let down. 6.5/10 rating on a owner who has owned it for 6+ years.

I will be adding more and more as it comes along to me while I happened to be logged onto eBay. If you (seller or potential buyer) have any questions about this recorder please make it known in the subject header (i.e. BR-8 Recorder Question) and email me at musicman5025@aol.com. If any of the links on here are broken when you paste them in please let me know. I wouldn't want to provide information that isn't as accurate as it can possibly be.

As I have spent a lot of time to inform you, please remember to help out by saying "Yes" to this guide being helpful. Before you vote "No", help me out more by emailing me what you want to know and I will be happy to put it on here. Cheers!

version 4.2
03/23/2009