Even though the sound quality left much to be desired, the 4-track cassette was a clever sketchpad. In the 1990s, the advent of digital hard-disk recording led to the first 8-track digital recorder/mixer. By 2000, for less than the cost of an old 8-track tape machine you could buy a digital mini-studio that combined 8-track recording, CD quality, editing, mixing and sound effects – all in one compact package.

Some musicians now record directly onto computers. If you are seriously interested in songwriting, I recommend that you make your own 8-track recordings in whatever medium – analogue or digital – suits your taste, wallet and available space. A couple of guitars, a drum machine and an electronic keyboard give a range of sounds and possibilities. Recording 8-track demos will improve your musicianship, teach you about production and arrangement, and sharpen your appreciation of the finer parts of songwriting.

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