Hi Kate I do not use such units never have .....probably never will. If I want a live recording I would use a passive USB or firewrire mixing desk straight into PC or laptop. Each track can then be mixed and edited etc separately. They cost about the same as a Zoom and some have FX so can be used in a live situation as well as a studio setting. There are however a lot of folk who use Zooms or similar and they have pretty good reviews. It is all down to taste and what you are comfortable with.