mixing

[myan]

I just got into recording with a 4 track cassette machine. Have been playing guitar a couple years. I'm just trying out ideas, etc., and am not serious at this point in making permanent recordings. Is it necessary to mix down every thing you try out on another tape to hear what it sounds like? In other words if I record 2,3, or 4 different tracks and rewind the tape and play it back, making my adjustments (panning, etc) is this what it will sound like if I mixed it down to another tape? I just want at this stage, to play it back, hear what it sounds like, rewind and try something else erasing what I just recorded.
Thanks.

[Dr Biscuits]

It's not necessary to do that to hear it, but it is necessary if you want to play the tape on a regular tape deck and not your 4 track.
Remember though that each time you record from one tape to another you lose a 'generation', and the sound quality will go down (like making a copy of a copy of a copy of a etc...) so your 'mixed down' tape will not sound exactly as pristine as it did straight off the 4 track.

[musicstew]

There is a great advantage to having a mix of your recordings that you can play outside of your studio.

Some times its necessary to hear what you are working on out of the studio in order to gain "perspective".

To make a 4 track mix will only take a few minutes and is well worth the time spend.

Then you can also play your music for other people who are not in your studio and get other opinions.

-Stew

[myan]

Thanks a lot for answering and for the advice.