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• Drum loops and tracks = As mentioned above, some multitrackers have their own drum sounds. They may also have their own loop creation function, which is the equivalent of a drum machine. You can let the multitracker create your rhythm tracks, and record your instrument in vocal tracks to their accompaninent. 

• DSP effects = Every musical performance involves reverberations and echoes. In a live concert, a large percentage of the sound perceived is actually bounced off the walls, floors and ceilings. Most machines today include the capacity for re-creating those reverberations and echoes. This makes a recording sound truly live. Most common effects are reverberation, delay, and chorus. The number of effects sends and simultaneous effects that can be run increases with the quality of the multitracker.

• Dynamics compression = This feature is somewhat like an automatic fader. It keeps the track from getting too loud or too soft. For example, if the singer has too much of a range of volumes going from too soft to too loud, you would apply compression. If you've ever downloaded a professionally mixed song into a wave editor, you will notice that the waveform often looks like a rectangle or block. That is the result of compression, where the softer areas are amplified and the louder areas are softened. When you don't apply compression, it has much more fluctuation, and the waveform has many more peaks and valleys.

• EQ = Every sound has what's called a frequency range. The tone of the sound is influenced by the relative volume of each frequency. The more control you have over EQ, or equalization, the more you can shape the tone of the sound to your specifications. For example, a lower voice can have higher frequencies boosted in order to let it stand out more in the mix. The two types of EQ most in use are parametric and graphic equalization. Parametric EQ raises or lowers the volume of an adjustable frequency. They commonly come in three bands, meaning there are three choices of frequencies you can adjust. Graphic EQ has a fixed number of set frequencies. Thus it is less flexible.

• Fader pairing = When you record groups of instruments, it can become unwieldy during the mix to have to raise or lower a lot of faders simultaneously. For example, if you record five people singing backup harmony, you can group those five tracks and move all five faders by just moving one of them. Because they are paired, or grouped, they will all move together.

• Hard disk = This is where all of the data will be stored. 40 GB is the standard here. To ensure good quality, the machine should record uncompressed audio. Some less expensive machines compress your recordings to MP3 format or some other compressed format at a loss of audio quality.

• Input types = These include analog and digital inputs. In the digital world, there are two main types: electrical and optical. The most common digital format is called spdif, developed by the Sony Corp., and it comes in both the optical and electrical variety. Another popular format is the Adat optical. This refers to a popular digital 8 track recording machine of the last decade, made by the Alesis Company. This standard allows transmission of eight channels simultaneously through one optical cable.

• Mic inputs = quality microphones use what's called a balanced input. It is a three pronged plug, and the number of such inputs is what is meant by this term. More basic microphones use what's called a " quarter inch input" , which is a single large metal plug.

• Number of mixer tracks = You may wish to in include audio tracks from another source besides the multitrack recorder. Depending on the amount of inputs, you can combine the maximum number of recorded tracks on your recorder with additional tracks from an external source. For example, if you have all 16 tracks of your recorder filled with your band, you can record your choir on to your computer and send those tracks into your multitracker when you mix them all together.

• Number of tracks = As you record, you can place different instruments and different singers on different tracks. The amount of tracks you will need depends on the size of your project. Some instruments, such as drums, will require two tracks to capture their stereo ambience. If you will be recording background vocals, you can put each singer on a separate microphone, or record the group with two microphones for a stereo mix. 16 tracks is the average nowadays, but for small projects you can do with less.

• Phantom power = condenser microphones require a small electrical supply. This can be supplied by batteries, or, as is most often the case, by the mixer or multitrack recorder itself.

• Scene memory = After you have set up your tracks for the mix, you can have the machine memorize those settings. This means that you never have to start from scratch if you wish to remix a song, or simply close it for a day and come back tomorrow. Also, within a song you may have different settings for different sections. You can take a snapshot of all of these, and recall them instantly when you need them. If you will be working with a lot of songs, you will want to have a lot of scene memory snapshots avilable to use.

• Simultaneous recording = An important feature. If you are going to record a group live, you will want to have a number of microphones hooked up and recording at the same time. The more tracks you can record simultaneously, the more microphones and input sources you can use. If most of your work is going to be overdubbing and recording individual tracks, you won't need as much.

• Stereo mastering tracks = The tracks that the final mix will reside on. This track is a stereo track, meaning that it's a combination of two mono tracks that are locked together.

• Tone generator / synthesizer = Some multitrackers have their own sound banks. You can send or record MIDI to the multitracker, and assign each track to the instrument sounds included with it. Some multitrackers only have drum kits included, while others have an entire GM library. (GM is an industry accepted map of sounds.)

• USB port = Absolutely vital if you wish to use your multitracker with your computer. This is how you'll connect them.

• Virtual tracks = These are alternative takes for your main track. For example, if channel 1 is going to be your lead vocal, you may record many virtual tracks on that channel and then choose the best one to be your " channel 1." This way you do not have to eat up open tracks in order to record a number of takes.

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