The D888 is indeed a 16 bit 44.1kHz recorder, but none the less good enough for recording classical concerts with (well, that's what I use it for and I'm very happy with it). However, for any kind of multitracking etc it's hard to beat the PC/DAW route, rather than hardware. The D88 is a great location recorder for those wanting 8 channels on a tight budget, but that's all I would use it for.