Newbie question...

[SuperHiper]

If i have, let's say, a c60 cassette on my 4-track, i can only record 30 minutes on it (on standard speed), right? And only 15 min(!!) on double speed(??) Am i right?
If this is right it is a bit limited...

Thanks!!

[A Reel Person]

Recording in one direction is needed to achieve 4-track format recording.
(This cuts recording time in half of standard).

Recording at double speed is implemented to boost the fidelity.
(This cuts recording time in half, again, yielding total recording time at 1/4 of standard).

Those are to worthy tradeoffs, IMO.

[SuperHiper]

Do you recomend double speed recording?

[A Reel Person]

Is this a 424mkIII we're talking about?

[SuperHiper]

No, i'd like to have one of those so i could choose the recording speed and get more tape time for sketching. I haven't bought one yet, but i think i'll go with the 414 mkII (wich is only double speed ) since 424 is no longer being produced.

[SuperHiper]

do you have any better sugestion for an analog recorder on this price range? (aprox. $250) Do you think it a good buy? I'm worried about the hiss...

[A Reel Person]

$250 of used Ebay analog gear would get you a like-new-in-box-never-used 424mkIII, but it's a waiting game. If you want instant gratification and the pride of owning brand new equipment, there's the 414mkII again, which is a decent sounding Portastudio with adequate features. Of course, the 424mkIII would be better, but you're back to used equipment again.

There's nothing wrong with the 414mkII. It's a shame the 424mkIII is out of production and not available new any more, but the 414mkII's decent for what it is,... which is a scaled back smaller version of the 424mkIII.

When it comes to buying gear in any price range, you can talk yourself into circles, up until the point that you plunk down the cash and make the purchase.

My point is,... eh,... that $250 is Ebay-gear dollars buys you quite a lot, that the subject is almost wide open, but if you prefer to have brand new analog recording gear, the 414mkII's about as good as it gets,... and there's nothing to be worried about. It's a fine unit that gives good features and sound.

The dbx noise reduction virtually eliminates hiss.

[SuperHiper]

Ok!

I'm going to sleep now. It's 6 am here! (i'm in Portugal, that right... no ebay here! )

Thank you very much Reel for your advice, best of luck for you and your projects!

[A Reel Person]

Still a few hours for me to cruise the web checking out equipment!

I'd never recommend that anyone buys anything that I'd not buy myself. The 414mkII Portastudio was Tascam's midline machine, but is worthy in it's own right.

The 424mkIII was top of the line, but is no longer available new at retailers. There's still several like-new 424mkIII's on Ebay, if you have a chance to check it out, but the 414mkII's still a nice, tight little package. It has less deluxe features than the 424mkIII, but it is still a highly capable and good sounding Portastudio. It's small, fun & easy to use, and it sounds good. I'd not worry too much about hiss, as long as you use the dbx NR and keep levels near "0VU"~average.

[sbr223]

Recording on 60 minute cassettes at double speed is kinda limiting but like A Reel Person said its for better sound. And I don't know about you but high bias tapes here are relatively cheap. I buy a 3 pack of C60's at Radioshack for about $8. Thats not too bad.