sweetbeats
Reel deep thoughts...
The 244 is incredible. I had no idea a 4-track could sound so good. There are guys on the net bashing cassette. I don't think they get it.
I have Cubase, but I'd much much much rather record on the 244. It's a blast.
Ideally I am going to integrate the two because both methods have strengths. Guys get too attached to some ideology/methodology, entrench themselves in it, and wind up missing the big picture.
And let 'em miss it.
It really IS fun to record to 4-track, and cassette in particular. Its not for everybody for sure, but it does a couple things for the process IMO, one being the sheer lack of bells and whistles and drawing the focus on the music and the up-front prep (or LACK of prep...the whole "screw it let's have some *fun*!" aspect), and the other being the limitation of tracks which kind of does the same thing.
Again, not for everybody but I find it to be really enjoyable...there is a pressure that is absent that I often feel with digital...like "I *should* be able to get this *perfect*...its DIGITAL and I have all these plugins blahblahblah".
How many times do we go back much later and review work we did or takes we captured and, after time away from it, realize the first one was the best one? The one that wasn't over-thought...
Have great fun with the 244. They sure DON'T make them like that anymore and it is great there are still parts available and good community support for them to keep 'em going.