tascam 34 reel to reel

[lo beam]

Anyone have any experience of using these machines?
Any help or info would be cool
Many thanks.

[The Ghost of FM]

I have owned and used Teac and TASCAM 4 track reel to reels in the past and have found them to offer an incredible degree of fidelity, way beyond what a Porta-studio cassette based recorder can offer and give you that golden analog warmth quality to your sound that many digital recording enthusiasts long for and try to emulate with exotic pre-amps and simulators.

Tape running at 15 ips on a standard track width can give you this professional level of sound quality without all the "hamburger helper" jazz.

Did you have a specific question about your machine or, were you just looking for some positive re-enforcement of your purchase decision?

Cheers!

[lo beam]

Originally posted by The Ghost of FM

Did you have a specific question about your machine or, were you just looking for some positive re-enforcement of your purchase decision?
Cheers!

Yeah, pretty much
I've always loved the way open reel decks sound - I did a lot of my early recordings on them, but was at the stage where gear really wasn't a big deal - just a means to an end.
I've been working in the digital realm for the last few years and, while I love it for different reasons, I really want to get my teeth into analogue. From the engineers' side as much as the artists' this time.
I've checked out a lot of decks & really the main things I'm looking for are : at least 15 ips speed, 10.5" reels, sturdy build quality, good rep, etc.
Got my eyes on a Revox B77, or mebbe a Studer B67 for mastering - but I love these Tascam 34 4 tracks.
Any tips, info at all would be great!
Thanks.

[The Ghost of FM]

Any tips, info at all would be great!

When you press the record button, be prepared to record your soul's expression and play as if your last will and testament were being recorded on tape.

If you can't do this, sell your equipment and take up another hobby.

Cheers!

[philboyd studge]

I remember using those 4 tracks, weren't they called 3340's? Anyway, they were reliable and had great fidelity. Didn't like the VU meters.

[DigitalSmigital]

Hmmm. And I thought I was happy recording heart and soul to Porta. Would selling a used 464 and a 424 mk III cover the price of heaven on earth? What's the cheapest reel to reel TASCAM, and what other must-have-items besides tape would I need to buy?
Already have mics, instruments, racks of effects, compressor, etc. I use a two buss, twelve channel PA head for mixer to tape and tape to mixdown deck purposes.
My wife would frown upon more equipment purchases in these troubled times. But she doesn't have to know if I sell two and buy one better unit, now does she? But then, external bouncing would be more difficult. "(Fidelity) Way beyond what you can get with a Porta", indeed! Oh, what a can of worms you have opened with your insensitive comparison!

[The Ghost of FM]

Oh, what a can of worms you have opened with your insensitive comparison!

I basically wanted to get across the point that if you weren't putting your heart and soul down on tape or hard drive, you weren't getting full value out of your equipment.

Play it, don't spray it, are the operative words here to live by.

Cheers!

[DigitalSmigital]

Well, the proof is in the pudding, and your recording of "Set Myself Free" clearly shows a fidelity and expertise in the studio beyond what I can show with my Portas.
So, what of the other questions in my post?

[The Ghost of FM]

Well, I haven't heard your recording to be able to say what is lacking from your efforts thus far.

How's about a link to some of your stuff an then we can see where you need to improve either your equipment or just the use of it that you all ready possess.

A four track reel to reel would be the obvious next step up in fidelity over cassette and an eight track, half inch the next beyond that but let's hear what you have been up-to and go from there.

Cheers!

[DigitalSmigital]

Just me in the studio on this one: http://www.soundclick.com/atg


Lacking the compressor on this, vocals and guitar need it. Will keep trying!

[Mark7]

Sounded pretty good to me. Nice fingerstyle guitar and chorused (doubled?) vocals. The keyboard pads were a nifty touch too

Did I hear a subtle hint of bass?

[The Ghost of FM]

DigitalSmigital,

It sounds like you are getting a pretty high degree of fidelity with what you have there already as a recording medium.

Moni's Song was very nicely played and composed. I am impressed!

After hearing it, I am more tempted to tell you to invest in a better quality Microphone for your vocals and possibly a better sounding keyboard with more realistic string patches.

Trying to attack this from a recording medium stand-point, you would have to get an 8 track reel to reel to avoid the aspect of bouncing too much and also obtain a decent mixing desk to go along with it. You couldn't do the two for one deal you mentioned in your previous post, I am sorry to say.

Either way, you are doing well with what you have right now. It's probably best to just concentrate on the compositions and performance skills as this will 99 times out of 100, make up for any equipment deficiencies.

Cheers!

[lo beam]

Originally posted by The Ghost of FM
When you press the record button, be prepared to record your soul's expression and play as if your last will and testament were being recorded on tape.

Always do!
But I think it'll have a greater sense of urgency & commitment seeing those wheels rolling & hearing the clunk of the buttons than pressing record on my digital multi.

[The Ghost of FM]

seeing those wheels rolling & hearing the clunk of the buttons

There is an unexplainable experience to that very factor, ya know!

Maybe it's akin to tricking out a nice old car and hearing a well tuned engine purr.

Computer simulation hasn't quite achieved that level of reality.

Cheers!

[lo beam]

Originally posted by philboyd studge
I remember using those 4 tracks, weren't they called 3340's? Anyway, they were reliable and had great fidelity. Didn't like the VU meters.

I think the 3340 was an earlier model, originally issued under the Teac label. These 30 series models date from the early/mid 80s.

[DigitalSmigital]

Sorry for trying to hijack your post, lo beam. I would like to hear how your first few projects on that 34 turn out. I guess that I'll have to plug away on my Portas until I can gather enough coin for an upgrade.
Thanks for the encouragement and kind words.

[lo beam]

No worries - I think you should look further into an open reel deck too. The portas are good, but they've never matched anything I've recorded on 1/4" or 1/2" tape.
There's some great deals on ebay these days too - saw a Revox B77 in what looked to be immaculate condition (& recently serviced by the owner) on there today.
U.S based, but would ship anywhere, and it was about $250!
Tempting...

[cjacek]

Originally posted by lo beam
Anyone have any experience of using these machines?
Any help or info would be cool
Many thanks.

I have the 34B which essentially is the same machine but with balanced 1/4 inch mic inputs and can be used without a mixer. As you're talking the 34, however, you'd have to get a matching mixer. The TASCAM m-30 would be a perfect match among others. The TASCAM 34 & 34B are an amazing machine to say the least. See this thread:

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthr...hreadid=103925

Please note that this is the 34B and not the 34 but but it's essentially the same machine with the differences noted above.

Daniel

[cjacek]

Originally posted by The Ghost of FM
I have owned and used Teac and TASCAM 4 track reel to reels in the past and have found them to offer an incredible degree of fidelity, way beyond what a Porta-studio cassette based recorder can offer and give you that golden analog warmth quality to your sound that many digital recording enthusiasts long for and try to emulate with exotic pre-amps and simulators.

Tape running at 15 ips on a standard track width can give you this professional level of sound quality without all the "hamburger helper" jazz.

Did you have a specific question about your machine or, were you just looking for some positive re-enforcement of your purchase decision?

Cheers!

I agree 100% but wish to add that at 7 1/2 ips the machine still sounds waaaaay better than any cassette based portastudio and even sounds nicer than digital. Amazing fidelity to be sure.

Daniel

[cjacek]

Originally posted by lo beam
Yeah, pretty much
I've always loved the way open reel decks sound - I did a lot of my early recordings on them, but was at the stage where gear really wasn't a big deal - just a means to an end.
I've been working in the digital realm for the last few years and, while I love it for different reasons, I really want to get my teeth into analogue. From the engineers' side as much as the artists' this time.
I've checked out a lot of decks & really the main things I'm looking for are : at least 15 ips speed, 10.5" reels, sturdy build quality, good rep, etc.
Got my eyes on a Revox B77, or mebbe a Studer B67 for mastering - but I love these Tascam 34 4 tracks.
Any tips, info at all would be great!
Thanks.

Definitely go with the TASCAM. If the machine is in good condition be prepared to be shocked by the quality of the sound. It's that good.

Daniel

[cjacek]

Originally posted by The Ghost of FM
I basically wanted to get across the point that if you weren't putting your heart and soul down on tape or hard drive, you weren't getting full value out of your equipment.

Play it, don't spray it, are the operative words here to live by.

Cheers!

Just to add that what you basically get with the 34 or 34B or any good reel to reel machine is essentially an accurate representation of what you hear with your ear, though perhaps a bit better 'cause there's the tape saturation effect which sounds damn nice and mic freq response which changes the sound a bit, for the better I think as is the case with the sm-57. None of the cassette based portas, even the superior 234, 244 and 246, can give you that particular sound. These are "lo-fi" machines.

Daniel

[cjacek]

Originally posted by DigitalSmigital
Just me in the studio on this one: http://www.soundclick.com/atg


Lacking the compressor on this, vocals and guitar need it. Will keep trying!

Could you please tell me the exact TASCAM porta that was used to record this particular song ? Also, can you list ALL other gear used ?

Great sound! I too am impressed!! "DigitalSmigital" indeed!

Daniel

[cjacek]

Originally posted by DigitalSmigital

Lacking the compressor on this, vocals and guitar need it.

Not necessarily.

Daniel

[lo beam]

Originally posted by cjacek
As you're talking the 34, however, you'd have to get a matching mixer. The TASCAM m-30 would be a perfect match among others.

Hey Daniel - thanks for the info man!
That's certainly a beauty you got there, I'm incredibly jealous
One thing - I'm not clear on why I would need a separate mixer - does the 34 not have 1/4" inputs built in?
Could you explain more?
Thanks.

[cjacek]

Originally posted by lo beam
Hey Daniel - thanks for the info man!
That's certainly a beauty you got there, I'm incredibly jealous
One thing - I'm not clear on why I would need a separate mixer - does the 34 not have 1/4" inputs built in?
Could you explain more?
Thanks.

Yeah, I'm pretty happy with my baby .

Well, the 34 has 4 RCA "ins" and 4 RCA "outs" so there's no way to plug in your instruments and mics direct. You have to use a mixer with the same RCA 4 ins and outs. The 34B, however, as you have seen from the photos, also has additional 1/4" inputs for your mic signals and input and outputs gain controls. You, in essence, can record DIRECT to the 34B, without a mixer using the 1/4" inputs for your mic level signal from any instruments you desire. You use the gain to set mic level etc ... You can then monitor (mono only), overdub and anything else you desire on the 34B itself. It's a self contained 4 track recorder that doesn't require an external mixer to record or overdub. On the other hand, if you have all the tracks recorded, you have to mix these down. ONLY then must you have a mixer to do this as each track corresponds to each of the RCA outs. (ie: Track 1 = RCA 1, Track 2 = RCA 2 etc). A neat trick I learned, but it only works if you're using 2 of the 4 tracks, is to get a regular stereo RCA cable (L / R), attach one of the ends to one track (vocal for example) and the other end to another track (backing) and send these 2 tracks to your cd recorder or you may use a 1/8" stereo plug to go direct to your pc (make sure it has a good sound card) and then dump it to CoolEdit Pro (multitrack). You then have the vocal on one side (on one track) and backing on the other (other track). You can then process each indivicually with any and all software plugins you desire and then mixdown to mono . So, really, the only main difference is that you can record without a mixer, direct, into the 34B and the 34 you can't. Other than that they're basically the same machine. Most, however, probably would benefit from an external mixer.

Let me know if you wanna know anything else.

Daniel